First, I have to apologize to Robbinsdale Armstrong. I said last week that I didn’t think they were a Top 10 AAAAA school, and I still believe that, but they played great in their road win at Buffalo. Overall, I am 28-6 on the season, after going 7-2 last week. This week is the best week so far for matchups, and a tough week to make picks, but it should be a lot of fun! Good luck to all the teams!
All games subject to change.
All games are scheduled for Friday, October 2nd at 7 PM, unless noted.
#5AAA Holy Family Fire (4-0) @ #1AAA Annandale Cardinals (4-0.).
Last Week: Annandale defeated 3-0 Watertown Mayer on the road, 42-7, while Holy Family defeated Glencoe SL, 49-14.
The Matchup: The Cards unleashed another weapon last week in Jr. RB Colton Henson who had 204 total yards and three TDs. The Cards also racked up six interceptions in their win at WM. For Holy Family, they have a really good QB in the lefty Ethan Ryan but have relied much more on the running game this season, led by Levi Trout. The Fire did unleash Ryan a little last week, as he threw for 144 yards in the Fire win over GSL. Special teams could be huge in this one, and both have excellent kickers in Reynaldo Ayala from HF, who has already won a game with a FG this season, and Hunter DeBoer for the Cards who is 14/15 on XP this season.
The Pick: Last year the Fire led the Cards for two minutes, and that was the only time Annandale trailed all year. Two things concern me for the Cards. #1. In the first game against Little Falls, the Flyers ran the ball well against the Cards and that is the Fire’s strength. #2 The Cards could possibly be without two D1 prospects in Jr RB Rylan Horsch. Despite winning every game last year, and being ranked #1 in AAA again this year, many experts are picking the Fire and not many people realize how loaded and talented this team is even without two of the most talented players in the state, and trust me, the Cards have heard the noise. On homecoming, the Cards will show again just how good they are. Playing under the radar is what they thrive on, Cards 28-10.
Above, #1 Colton Henson, scored three TDs in the Cards win last Friday night.
#2AAAAA Monticello Magic (4-0) @ (2-2) Buffalo Bison.
Last Week: The Magic cruised to a 41-10 win over St. Francis, while Buffalo lost on homecoming to #10AAAAA Armstrong, 19-16.
The Matchup: Buffalo has to get its offense going! Last week the Bison passing game completed just 3 of 13 passes and had a hard time running the ball consistently. Tony Jordan, did have 75 yards rushing in the loss for Buffalo, and they will need someone to get some tough yards on the ground against Monti’s physical defense. The Bison also gave up 320 rushing yards to the Falcons last week and will need to shore that up to have a chance against Monti. For the Magic, they just continue to roll! Monti has scored 40 or more points in three of their four wins, led by RB Cale Holthaus, who rushed for 130 yards and 3 TDs in the Magic win last week. The Magic can also throw it with Sr. QB Carson Deibele, who tossed two TD’s last week and has two big time WR’s in Johny Moore, and Jeron Schlangen.
The Pick: The Bison have to find a way to get Sr. Matthew Jordan the ball this week if they have any chance to win. Jordan had 10 rec for 219 yards and 4 TDs in the first two games. In the last two, just 3 receptions for 42 yards and zero TDs. Last year Monti blew out the Bison, 52-14, and with all the injuries to the Bison and the physicality of the Magic, I don’t see it much different this season. Magic, 42-14.
Last week, Tony Jordan, above, led the Bison with 75 yards rushing on ten carries, but he will miss tonights game with an injury.
#10AAAA Delano Tigers (4-0) @ Marshall Tigers (3-1).
Last week: Delano defeated Big Lake 42-24, while Marshall upset #5 Hutch on the road, 27-13.
The matchup: Delano has been all year by multi threat QB Cade Bruett, but last week it was So. RB Dacarri Lowery who broke out with 190 yards rushing and two TDs. Landon DeCoteau may not be big in stature at 5’7 170, but he is force on defense as he registered 12 tackles and a sack last week against the Hornets. Marshall has received votes for the Top 10 in Class AAAA this year with their only defeat coming against #6 Willmar. Marshall loves to run the ball with Samuel Meier, and Cannon Craigmile, and are coming off an upset win on the road at #5 Hutch last Friday.
The Pick: Delano has to establish the running game. In last year’s Marshall win, the Tigers were held to a total of 42 yards. On the defensive side, Delano has to win on first down, or it will be a long day against Marshall. Unlike last year, Delano will hang with Marshall, but I’ still taking the Tigers…….Marshall Tigers, 21-13.
So., RB Dacarri Lowery, from Delano, above, introduced himself to the HS football scene with a breakout performance against Big Lake last week.
Litchfield (1-3) @ Howard Lake WW (2-2).
Last Week: The Lakers won at Morris, 28-18, while the Dragons won their first game of the year over Montevideo, 59-6.
The Matchup: Last week Jaxon Ewert busted loose for the Lakers, rushing for 234 yards and 4 TDs. The Laker defense has been outstanding all year, only allowing 16 ppg and held high scoring DC and Holy Family to a combined 35 points in two games. For the Dragons, they have had a lot of tough luck this season, losing three games by a total of twenty-two points. They still have one of the top RBs in the state Anthony Taylor, who rushed for 111 yards and 4 TD’s last week, but hold your breath…..Litch is also throwing the ball this season! Jayden Fenich threw for 249 yards last week with 4 TDs.
The Pick: Normally I would say this game will be over in less than two hours with all the running in this game, and Litch will still run it a lot with Taylor, but they also like to throw this year, especially to their big WR Cole Palmer. I feel like the Dragons are close to being a really good team, but I think Ewert and the running game will be too much for Litch on Friday night. Lakers in a close one, 21-17.
Anthony Taylor, above #37, is headed to UMD to play football after his senior season at Litch.
(0-4) STMA Knights @ (1-3) Edina Hornets.
Last Week: #2AAAAAA Eden Prairie dominated the Knights, 54-7, while Edina lost big as well to Maple Grove, 45-6.
The Matchup: Until last week STMA’s defense has carried the Knights all season, but they finally cracked as the Eagles ran for over the Knights defense for 317 yards. Offense has been an issue all season for the Knights, who have scored seven points or less in three of their four games. Braylon Bohm, has had a nice season at RB for STMA, and rushed for 120 yards and a TD last week. The Hornets are the defending 6AAAAAA Champs, but without QB Mason West and RB Chase Bjorgaard, they are a shell of the team they were last season, as they have been out scored in their three-game losing streak, 129-20. They do have good RB in Jason Solberg (82 ypg) and WR Mason Parks (10 Rec, 132 yards and 2 TD’s.)
The Pick: Both teams have had brutal schedules and are desperate for a win. I believe in the Knights defense, but where in the world is RB Wyatt Mosher for STMA? Last year he rushed for 858 yards and 13 TD’s, while this season he is avg. 29 ypg. I don’t know if he is banged up, focusing on defense, or saving him for later in the season, but would love to see him get the ball more. Knights win, because I like their defense better, 28-14.
Above, Mason Parks, leads the Hornets in receiving this season.
Morris (1-3) @ #7 Dassel-Cokato (3-1).
Last week: DC lost a 14-0 lead over New London Spicer in the fourth quarter and lost, 16-14. Morris lost at home to Howard Lake WW, 28-18.
The Matchup: Last week the Wildcats did a nice job of limiting the DC run game and found some holes against a very good Chargers defense in their comeback win. DC overall has been outstanding on the defensive side of the ball, allowing just 12 ppg. For Morris, Benton Schaefer rushed for 108 yards last week, but Morris moved WR to Alex Asmus to QB this season, and it has resulted in mix results for the Morris passing game, as Asmus was just 7-17 passing in the Morris loss to HLWW last week.
The Pick: DC is going to be extremely ornery after losing a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter last week. The Chargers run game, needs to be more consistent and QB Ryan Asplin might need to make more plays through the air to loosen up the defenses that they will be playing in the next couple weeks. Last year was a shootout with DC winning, behind Elijah Torola, and 396 yards rushing. I don’t think DC is at that level this year, but their defense is much better, Chargers, roll, 35-14.
Jackson Aho, above, leads both the offensive and defensive lines for DC this fall.
(2-2) Rockford Rockets @ (1-3) Glencoe SL.
Last Week: Rockford won its second straight game over Jordan, 28-20, while GSL lost to #5AAA Holy Family, 49-14.
The Matchup: The Rockets have won two straight, thanks to a balanced offense, led by QB Max Ladman (116 ypg passing), RB Canon Braun (75 ypg and 3 TD’s) and WR Ethan Robran (8 rec for 210 yards and two TDs on the season.) The defense has also been solid, led by Ladman, Benton Blanchard and Ian Faber. The Panthers are showing signs of life after being outscored, 110-14 in their first two games, since then, the Panthers defeated, Montevideo, 37-22, and only trailed #5AAA Holy Family, 21-14 at the half, before losing 49-14. WR Connor Neid is underrated, and they have a big strong-armed left-handed QB in 6’3 Jr. Trevor Engelman.
The Pick: Last GSL won an ugly, 6-0 game at Rockford, as GSL limited the Rockets to 105 yards of total offense. This is a much more balanced and disciplined team for Rockford this season, and if they can stop the pass the Rockets will have three straight wins’ going into next week’s matchup with #1AAA Annandale. I think the Rockets get it, 20-14.
Max Ladman, above, is not only the starting QB for the Rockets, but also their leading tackler on defense.
Belgrade Brooten Elrosa Jaguars (3-1) @ (1-3) Maple Lake Irish.
Last Week: The Irish lost to Benson, 46-6, while BBE defeated Browerville, 42-26.
The Matchup: The Irish haven’t been bad on offense, led by QB Jackson Diebold, who is avg. over 150 ypg passing. The problem is on the defensive side where the Irish are giving up 38 ppg in their three losses. For the Jaguars they feature a nice passing game, led by QB, Aiden Mueller who threw for 177 yards and touchdown last week, and doesn’t have a favorite receiver, as he spread the ball to everyone, so it’s hard to key on one player. Noah Deroo leads a BBE defense that has been up and down all season.
The Pick: Last season the Irish shocked the Jags, 14-12. This season I don’t see that happening again, unless Diebold has a monster game, and the Irish can slow the Jags offense. I don’t think they will be able to stop this BBE offense. Jags, 42-12.
BBE, above, celebrates their win over Browerville last week.
