It’s already the halfway point of the High School football season, and this week many teams will be celebrating homecoming, while others will be Homecoming opponents, looking to spoil Homecoming for the host school. Last week, I went 6-3 as there were a lot of close games. Overall, I am 17-8 on the season. Good luck to all the teams tonight!
All games are scheduled for Friday, September 19th at 7 PM.
Eden Prairie (2-1) @ STMA (1-2). You can hear this game, tonight, at AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. with a 6:30 PM pregame show.
The Eagles were ornery after losing to Maple Grove two weeks ago and took it out on highly ranked Edina last week, 40-19, outscoring the Hornets, 19-0 in the second half. EP, per usual relies on a punishing ground game led by the bruising Owen Konrad who avg. over 150 yards per game on the ground. For STMA, they picked up a much-needed win last week when they knocked away a two-point conversion late and held off Wayzata, 15-14. The Knights got their running game going behind Braylon Bohm last week, as Bohm rushed for 110 yards.
The Pick: I think STMA is improving and has momentum coming into the game, but I don’t see how they stop this Eagles running game, and last week although got their running game going, they also threw three interceptions and have had a hard time throwing this year. Eagles, 42-14.
EP in black, above, harassed all Metro QB Mason West into three interceptions last week in the Eagles blowout win.
Buffalo (2-1) @ Armstrong (3-0).
This is a big Section matchup! The Bison won on a last second two-point conversion from Grant Benson to Thomas Jordan to defeat Bemidji, 32-31 last week. Benson did it all once again for the Bison, passing for 227 yards and rushing for 88, while contributing four TDs. For Falcons, they have rolled so far but haven’t played a tough opponent yet. The Falcons are a very balanced team led by QB Gabe Hall, who avg 238 yards passing per game with 5 TDs. Ben Francis, and Zahki Nix avg 221 ypg between them at RB for Armstrong.
The Pick: I think this will be a physical game, and should come down to the wire, like every Buffalo game. I feel like the Falcons have a little more balance on offense and the better defense. I will take the Falcons in a close one, 21-13.
The Falcons offensive line, above in red has dominated its opponents through three weeks.
Watertown-Mayer (2-1) @ Annandale (3-0).
The #1AAA Cards continued to roll last week with a 40-6 road win at Foley. The Cards first string has outscored their opponents, 122-6 so far this season. The Cards can beat you with the passing game outside with Colton Purcell and Gabe Westman, and inside with Isiah Turner. Cam Ergen is also a bruising RB when they decide to run. WM got off to a 2-0 start, but was shutout by New London Spicer last week, 22-0. Matthew Isakson is a solid QB, but Royals will need a running game to have a chance tonight.
The Pick: Star Trib said this would be Annandale’s first challenge. Homecoming, superior offense, dominant defense, don’t think so! Check back next week when they go to #5 Holy Family, that will be a war. This week, Cards, 42-6.
The Royals, above in white, will try and spread the Cards defense out and hit some big plays as they try and upset Annandale on their homecoming.
Monticello (2-1) @ St. Francis (2-1).
The Magic found their offense last week in their win 48-0 shutout win over Cambridge-Isanti last week. They never lost their defense, as the Magic only give up twelve points per game. The Saints come into the game with a 2-1 record, but were blown out by #1AAAAA Elk River, 50-14 last week. Tanner Rothbauer throws for over 170 ypg, and has two solid WR in David Downs and Adam Jordan (combined 27 catches and seven TD’s.) Owen Darsow also rushes for over 100 ypg for the Saints.
The Pick: This is another big Section game in the area this week. The Saints have some weapons on offense, but Monti is way too physical for St. Francis and should have a hay day running the ball with Cale Holthaus. Magic, 34-17.
David Downs above is a big play WR for the Saints.
Big Lake (2-1) @ Delano (2-1).
Once again, another big Section matchup at Delano tonight. The Tiger’s defense has been elite, just giving up 10 ppg. Last week the Tigers limited the high scoring Zimmerman Thunder to just 14 points and 250 yards. Unfortunately, the Tigers only scored two and need to find another gear on offense behind QB Grant Bruett. The Hornets got blown out at Orono last week, 48-6, but overall are off to a good start, led by RB’s Carter Stromberg, and Monetell Harris.
The Pick. Big Lake is really improved, but physically still can’t match up with a rugged Delano D, led by Davin Clare, and Noah Connor who combined for twenty tackles last week and two fumble recoveries. Tigers, 27-14.
The Big Lake defense, above in white, will need to have this kind of physicality to keep up with Delano’s defense.
Morris (2-1) @ Howard Lake WW (1-2).
The tough luck Lakers lost another close game last week due to a late game coverage breakdown to #5AAA Holy Family, 24-20. I say this every week, but HLWW is a solid football team, led on defense by Zach Murphy, who just received an offer from Wisconsin Stout this week. Their opponent, Morris Area, is another good team! Morris led by QB Ozzy Jerome and WR Alex Asmus (6-136-2 Td’s last week) offer another challenge to the Lakers secondary.
The Pick: With the way Morris can throw the ball, I should be picking them, but I have a hunch the Lakers get that stop tonight when they need it! Lakers, 24-20.
Above, WR Alex Asmus had two TD’s last week for Morris.
New London Spicer (1-2) @ Dassel-Cokato (2-1).
What was I thinking picking Jordan over DC last week! DC coming off a loss the previous week at home against HLWW was not in the mood to mess around, and ran over Jordan last week, 38-20. This week it’s the Wildcats. NSL lost to two top ten teams to start the season in Holy Family, and Litchfield, but bounced back last week to shutout Watertown Mayer, 22-0. Liam Macik rushed for 221 yards in last week’s shutout for NLS.
The Pick: Not making the same mistake twice! DC will run all over the Wildcats tonight and win 34-14.
New London Spicer, above, will need a balanced offense to upset DC on Friday.
Benson (1-2) at Maple Lake (2-1).
Last week the Irish shutout Long Prairie Grey Eagle, 48-0 and improved to 2-1. This has been a year of massive improvement for the Irish. Can they continue their hot streak on homecoming? Their opponent tonight is the Benson Braves. The Braves started the season, 0-2, before blowing out Ashby last week 48-14.
The Pick: The Irish are playing their best football in years, and should be fired up for homecoming, but Benson still has just a little more firepower, and win a shootout, 34-20.
The Benson Braves, above, will look to spoil Maple Lake’s homecoming tonight.
Rockford (1-2) @ Jordan (1-2).
This is a battle of two inconsistent teams. Jordan opened the season with a nice win over Howard Lake WW on the road, but the offense has fizzled the last two weeks against Holy Family and DC. For Rockford they picked up their first win of the season last week against Milaca, 28-8. Providing the spark was QB Cody Miller, who came off the bench to go 5-8 passing with two TDs. Bradly Graunke led the D with 12 tackles.
The Pick: I think the spark Miller brought Rockford last week, and the improvement of the Rockets defense, they should give Jordan a real battle, but at home I’m going with the Hubman, 20-7.
It’s Jordan, above in white, hosting Rockford tonight in a big section showdown.
