The regular season is over, and if you look outside, it definitely feels like the HS Football playoffs are here, and they are! Tonight the Quarterfinals for Sections start all over the state. Not every team is in play tonight, but there are five teams from the Wright County Area playing tonight. Here is a look at those games and my picks. Good luck to all the teams! Last week I went 7-2 and now am 46-14 on the season.
All games subject to change.
All games scheduled for Tuesday night, October 27th at 7 PM, unless noted.
Section 6AAAAA Quarterfinals.
#5 Seed, Buffalo Bison (3-5) @ #4 Seed, Park Center Pirates (4-4). You can hear this game live on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame begins at 6:30 PM.
Last Week: Park Center defeated Buffalo on the road, 25-13, to earn this home game as the #4 seed.
The Teams: After Buffalo shocked Spring Lake Park on the road last week, to me it was just as shocking that they lost to Park Center at home, but that’s what happens when you turn the ball over five times. The Bison have now lost four out of five games coming into tonight. On the other side of the field, the Pirates are red hot, winners of three straight to end the regular season. In last week’s win over Buffalo, the key play was Joseph Jacobs kick return just before half that tied the game at 13. It was all Pirates in the second half as they outscored the Bison, 12-0.
The Pick: The Bison have lost three of four, they will be playing without their top RB, Thomas Jordan, and WR Matthew Jordan, and they just lost to Park Center last week, and the Pirates just won at Buffalo last week. So, it’s got to be the Pirates, right? Who knows? Reiker Wignes has been great both throwing and running the ball this season for the Bison, and honestly, I think the Bison have a great chance, but I am going to try and help them out, how? In my picks this season, I am 2-6 picking the Bison games, and 44-8 in every other game, so I’m going with the Pirates, 24-21, your welcome Buffalo, see ya on Saturday in Robbinsdale.
Reiker Wignes, above, leads the Bison in both rushing and passing this season. Wignes will play at Eau Claire next season.
Section 2AAA Quarterfinals.
#6 Seed Rockford Rockets (2-6) @ #3 Seed Howard Lake WW Lakers (5-3). You can hear this game joined in progress at the end of the Buffalo/Park Center game, and hear updates throughout the first half at AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com
Last Week: Rockford lost to #6AAA Holy Family, 28-13, while HLWW shutout Montevideo, 62-0.
The Teams: It’s been a brutal three week stretch for Rockford as they have lost to #1AAA Annandale, #3AAA Pierz, and #6AAA Holy Family in their last three games. The good news is they were very competitive with Holy Family last game, only losing 28-13 and they got their QB back in Max Ladman. Ladman had a nice game last week, throwing and rushing for a TD, and he has a nice WR combo in Ian Faber and 6’5 deep threat Ethan Robran. For the Lakers their offense has been on fire as of late, avg. 38 ppg as they have won four out of their last five. RB’s Benjamin Gatz and Jaxon Ewert are combining for 217 rushing yards per game.
The Pick: The Rockets showed last week that they can compete with the best, while the Lakers have been playing their best ball as of late. I think this one is pretty simple. The Rockets can compete with the Lakers, but they have gotten beaten up the last three weeks, while the Lakers had a layup last week vs. Montevideo, and on a short week at the end of the season, I’m going with the Lakers, 34-13.
Max Ladman, above, the QB for the Rockets, tossed a TD and ran for a TD in last week’s game against Holy Family.
Section 2AAA Quarterfinals.
#7 Seed Jordan Hubmen (1-7) @ #2 Seed Dassel-Cokato Chargers (5-3).
Last Week: DC lost to Litchfield, 58-46, while Jordan lost to #1AAA Annandale, 35-10.
The Teams: Before last week I would have dismissed this game as a blowout for the Chargers, but I saw this Hubmen team with my own two relatively good eyes, and I liked what I saw. The Hubmen have an accurate mobile QB, and a deep threat, and moved the ball through the air well at times vs. the #1AAA Cards. Maybe the Cards just had an off night, but if Jordan plays like that tonight, they have a chance. Meanwhile, DC’s defense is leaking oil big time! Last week the Chargers gave up over 450 yards rushing and eight TDs to their rivals from Litch. Anthony Taylor, the Litch running back, scored all eight TDs. Overall, the Chargers have lost two straight and given up 87 points, but it was against #6AAA Holy Family, and the dynamic Taylor.
The Pick: I really do think Jordan could challenge the Chargers tonight, but throughout the year, the Hubmen have proved they are anything but consistent, while the Chargers have three backs, led by Jackson Nyquist that can run you over or run around you. Chargers get a nice bounce back, with a 34-13 pull away win at home over Jordan.
Above, QB #5 Ryan Asplin leads the Charge for DC.
Section 4AA Quarterfinals.
#5 Seed Maple Lake Irish (3-5) @ #4 Seed Norwood YA Raiders (2-6).
Last Week: The Irish defeated Browerville, 16-6, while the Raiders lost to Goodhue, 28-0.
The Teams: Talk about an up and down season, that is the Irish season in a nutshell. Six times this season the Irish have scored two TD’s or less in a game and have given up forty points or more three times, and their still 3-5. How? Because when the Irish play well, they control the ground game, led by RB Alexander Paumen and they stop the run, something they have to do on Tuesday night. For the Raiders, they dropped their first four games but have won two out of three coming into the playoffs. The Raiders have really struggled on offense, scoring one TD or less in six of their eight games. One thing to keep in mind though is the Raiders schedule. They have gone 0-4 against ranked teams, Goodhue, Cannon Falls, Waseca and Tri City United.
The Pick: The Irish have a shot! If Paumen has a big game on the ground and QB Jaxon Diebold can hit some passes, the Irish can keep it close. For the Raiders they need to control the game on the ground, led by RB Mason Miller who avg. 72 ypg on the ground. I think this will be a good game, but the Raiders are more prepared for a game like this after the brutal schedule they had in the regular season. Raiders, 27-13.
The Raiders, above, will rely on their run game tonight against Maple Lake.
