Sadly this is the final week of the regular season in football. Sad personally because my son is a Sr. and time is running out, and sadly because it means cold weather is immanent. The good news? It’s almost playoff football time, the best time of the year in Minnesota! Last week I nailed some picks, and missed badly on others (Sorry, Buffalo.) Anyways’ I went 6-3 last week and overall I am 39-12 on the season. This week there are games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I will make picks on Tuesday, and the rest on Wednesday. Good luck to all the teams!
All games subject to change.
Tuesday, October 20th.
(3-4) Litchfield Dragons @ #10AAA (5-2) Dassel-Cokato Chargers, 7 PM.
Last Week: DC lost at #3AAA Holy Family, 29-24, while Litchfield defeated Morris, 42-22.
The Matchup: For DC, they fell into a big hole last week trailing Holy Family, 29-8 in the fourth quarter, but rallied to make it close, 29-24. The Chargers got their running game going in the second half as Elijah Torola, Kaleb Kraemer and Owen Nyquist all scored TD’s in the loss. Defensively the Chargers have showed some leaks, giving up an avg. of 27 pp vs. Morris and Holy Family in two of their last three games. For Litch, they have the dynamic RB Anthony Taylor, headed to UMD next season. Taylor rushed for over 200 yards and 4 TD’s last week in the Dragons, 42-22 win. After a 0-3 start, the Dragons have won three of four and scored 59, 62, and 49 points in their three wins.
The Pick: One of the best rivalries in the state the past few years, and with both teams scoring a lot of points and playing there best football of the season, this should be a great one! Litch has shown it can throw the ball a little this season, but running, per usual will decide this one. I feel like DC has the slightly better defense, and I give them the edge, but last team with the ball might win this one! Chargers, 31-27.
Anthony Taylor, above, is headed to UMD to play football after this season.
(2-5) Browerville Tigers @ (2-5) Maple Lake Irish, 7 PM.
Last Week: Maple Lake lost to West Central Area, 36-8, while Browerville lost to Benson, 61-16.
The Matchup: The Irish are struggling. They have lost three of four and been outscored in their three losses by a combined score of 135-26. For Browerville, they are in the same boat. The Tigers after starting 2-0, have lost five straight and last week gave up 61 points in a loss to Benson. For Browerville they will need a big game from RB Brayson Coyer, who avg. 102 yards per game on the ground. These two teams almost always seem to play close games. Last season, the Irish won 12-6.
The Pick: Both teams are desperate for a win. The Irish should be able to lean on the running game, led by Alexander Paumen, and QB Jaxon Diebold should be able to hit enough passes to lift the Irish to a home win to end the regular season. Irish, 20-16.
Maple Lake, above in dark green on offense, look to end the regular season with a home win over Browerville.
Wednesday, October 21st.
Park Center Pirates (3-4) @ Buffalo Bison (3-4), 6 PM. You can hear this game live on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame starts at 5:30 PM.
Last Week: Buffalo won on the road at Spring Lake Park, 31-27, while Park Center defeated Bloomington Kennedy, 42-14.
The Teams: After losing three straight, the Bison rose from the dead last week to pick up a big road win at SLP. Buffalo trailed 20-10 in the third quarter, but a late TD from FB Dolan Brisk won it for the Bison. QB Reiker Wignes was the star again for Buffalo on offense, throwing for 239, and rushing for 89 yards and two TDs in the win. The Bison found a second receiver as well, as Oliver Sanders caught balls at WR for 107 yards. For the Pirates it’s been a weird year. They have won three of four, and have outscored their opponents, 86-26 in that time, and also narrowly lost to #10AAAAA Armstrong, 23-19. On the other hand, PC has lost to Irondale, and barley beat also ran Cooper, 27-26 and was blown out by SLP, 41-8, so they are hard to figure.
The Pick: Buffalo could finish anywhere from the #2 seed to the #5 seed, depending on how tonight goes for them and the rest of the Section. Last week Buffalo found some more offensive weapons and got a confidence boost with a win at SLP. Park Center has athletes, but Buffalo needs this game more, and it’s at home, and honestly, they just have the better team. Bison, 34-13.
Sr. QB #2 Reiker Wignes in white, scores one of his two rushing TDs in the Bison Road win over SLP last week.
#10AAAA Delano Tigers (5-2) @ #6AAAA Stewartville Tigers (5-2), 6 PM.
Last Week: Delano lost to #1AAAA Orono, 42-0, while Stewartville lost their first game of the year to #4AAAA Byron, 24-7.
The Teams: Delano has lost two of three and have been outscored in their two losses to #9 Marshall and #1 Orono, 63-7 combined. They just can’t throw the football against good teams. Last week the Tigers didn’t complete a single pass and threw an interception in their loss to Orono. The defense lead by Noah Wentzel is solid but is starting to wear out. For Stewatville in their first loss of the season last week QB Noah Jurgenson who is in for the injured Pete Tschetter was limited to 52 yards passing. On defense Stewartville is very stingy, last week was the second time all year a team scored more than two TDs against them.
The Pick: Both teams are coming off a loss and are looking to get right before the playoffs start. Stewartville is playing a backup QB, but overall Jurgenson has done well avg. 110 yards passing per game. For Delano it’s Groundhog Day again. They just can’t throw the ball against good teams. Unless QB Cade Bruett and So. RB Dacarri Lowery have huge games, I just don’t see a Delano win. Stewartville, 27-12.
Above, action from last week’s ranked matchup with Byron in black and Stewartville in white. Byron defeated Stewartville, 24-7.
Jordan Hubmen (1-6) @ #1AAA and #19 overall in the state Annandale Cardinals (7-0).
Last Week: Annandale defeated Milaca, 48-7, while Jordan lost to Foley, 47-14.
The Teams: How good was Annandale’s offense last week? Well Sr. QB Braylon Fobbe had more TD’s passes (5) then incompletions (2)! Three went to Jr. WR Brody Berggren and the other two to So. WR Blake Luebker and Sr. WR Cooper Broman. Want more? The Cards scored on three of their first four plays! Defensively the Cards have only given up one TD with their first string in all year in regulation. Hard to find a weakness. For the Hubmen, they have struggled to find any consistency on offense. They like to throw the ball, but it hasn’t been great, and they have struggled all year running the ball. Not a good recipe against Annandale. On defense the Hubman have given up 30 points or more five times this season.
The Pick: The only win this season for Jordan, was 23-17 over Glencoe SL in overtime. That second win will have to wait, because it’s not coming tonight. It’s Senior night, and Annandale has a huge Senior class that wants to finish the regular season right. The Cards have won 21 straight games…..make it 22, 49-0 Cards.
Sr. QB, Braylon Fobbe, above, has helped lead Annandale currently to a 21-game winning streak and a Class AAA State Championship last fall.
#1AAAAA, and #5 overall in the state Monticello Magic (7-0) @ Bemidji Lumberjacks (0-7), 7 PM.
Last Week: Monticello defeated #1AAAAA Elk River, 36-29, while Bemidji lost to Sartell, 37-20.
The Teams: Monti picked up its signature win of the season with a close victory over #1AAAAA Elk River last Wednesday behind two TD passes from Carson Deibele, and a defense that did just enough against the high-powered Elks. Deibele also rushed for 102 yards, while WR Jeron Schlangen caught four passes for 56 yards and a TD. On defense Johnny Moore had 10 tackles as the Magic defense “held” Elk River to 282 yards rushing. That might sound like a lot of yards, but the Elks avg. over 450 rushing yards per game. The Lumberjacks have had a lot of tough luck this season, losing three games by six points or less. Josh Arel is avg. 144 passing yards per game and has three receivers he likes to throw too, so there are some options on offense for Bemidji.
The Pick: #1 in the state vs. a 0-7 team, money in the bank, right? Sorta, I guess, but this could be the ultimate trap game. After an emotional win over Elk River and with sections starting next week, will Monti be ready? Again, the Lumberjacks have lost three games by six points and almost upset #7 Brainerd earlier this season. It could be close for a while, but Magic win on the road, 34-12.
Above in white, #6 Carson Deibele celebrates a TD in the Magic’s 36-29 win at Elk River last week.
#7AAA Holy Family Fire (6-1) @ Rockford Rockets (2-5), 7 PM.
Last Week: Rockford lost to #3AAA Pierz, 65-7, while Holy Family held off Dassel-Cokato, 29-24.
The Teams: Rockford lost their starting QB Max Ladman in the first half against Annandale two weeks ago and 6’5 Sr. WR Ethan Robran had to take over at QB, which hurt the Rockets passing game, not having Robran at WR. Things weren’t much better on the ground last week vs. Pierz as RB Cannon Braun rushed for -8 yards. The o line and d line have size for the Rockets, but it hasn’t helped against #1AAA Annandale, #3AAA Pierz, as the Rockets have been outscored the last two weeks, 112-14. Holy Family had two running backs combine for over 200 yards last week in Damian Komtangi and Max Simpson, with Komtangi scoring two TDs. The Fire secondary is as good as anyone in the state at the 3A level as well.
The Pick: What did Rockford do to the Class AAA schedule makers? #1AAA Annandale, #3AAA Pierz and now #7AAA Holy Family in back to back to back weeks? Geesh! The Rockets are too beat up both physically and emotionally to hang with a physical team like Holy Family. Fire, 34-6.
The Holy Family Fire, above, come into the game against Rockford with a 6-1 record.
Montevideo (0-7) @ Howard Lake WW Lakers (4-3).
Last Week: HLWW won a thriller at Watertown-Mayer, 28-27 in double overtime, while Montevideo lost to Minnewaska, 56-0.
The Teams: The Lakers have won three of four and have been great rushing the football this season, led by Benjamin Gatz and Jaxon Ewert. HLWW has a really physical and dominating offensive line, that loves to run block. The Lakers consistently score around 28 ppg and defensively the Lakers have only given up twenty points or more on defense twice this season and one of those games was last week, but it was a double overtime game. For Montevideo, yikes! Last week Montevideo gave up 546 yards rushing and 7 TD’s to Minnewaska. On the season, Montevideo has given up 40 points or more, five times, and have been held to six points or more six times! QB Nolan Tostenson is really their only threat on offense.
The Pick: Montevideo has provided the Washington Generals role to the Harlem Globetrotters this season. In a tough section, when you need a win, and rest some guys, Montevideo is the team. It’s too bad for Montevideo, have to feel for them with the schedule they have faced, but a great way for HLWW to head into the postseason as the Lakers should cruise. HLWW, 56-0.
Alex Stueven, above, is the top target at WR for the Lakers.
Friday, October 23rd.
STMA Knights (2-5) @ Hopkins Royals (0-7), 7 PM.
Last Week: STMA lost to #1AAAAAA Moorhead, 48-28, while Hopkins lost to Coon Rapids, 29-28.
The Teams: Here come the Knights! STMA has won two of three, and last week only trailed the Spuds, 28-22 in the third quarter. After a slow start to the year, where the Knights only scored fourteen points in three out of their first four games, they have scored 28, 21, and 28 in their last three. Braylon Bohm avg. over 100 yards a game at RB has been the bell cow for the Knights, but Jr. QB Lucas Bryan is finding his stride at QB, thrwing three TD’s last week against Moorhead. Defensively the Knights have been strong all year, with a bend but don’t break mentality. For Hopkins it’s all about QB Tre Moore. Last week Hopkins lost on a two-point conversion late to Coon Rapids, but Moore threw for 138 yards and a TD and rushed for 202 yards and three TDs in the loss. Moore is one of the top basketball and football players in the state, and has Minnesota hot on his tail in football.
The Pick: Moore is incredible, but coach Essler always has a solid plan, and over the Knights defense is just too stingy to give up too many big plays to Moore, don’t get me wrong, Moore will make a couple, but overall, I like the Knights defense. On offense, the Knights should have no problem moving the ball against the Royals. Knights, 35-14.
Above, Lucas Bryan tossed three TD’s last week in the Knights loss to #1AAAAAA Moorhead.
