After this week we will be halfway through the regular season already. Last week was a rainy sloppy night around the state, but there was some great action involving Wright County Area teams. I went 8-1 with my picks and am 21-4 overall this season. This week offers some great matchups! Let’s take a look and good luck to all the teams.
All games subject to change.
All games at 7 PM, Friday night, September 25th, unless noted.
(3-0) #10AAAAA Robbinsdale Armstrong Falcons @ (2-1) Buffalo Bison. (You can hear this game on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.) Pregame starts at 6:30 PM.
Last week: The Bison won a defensive struggle at Bemidji, 15-13, while Armstrong defeated Irondale, 33-14.
About the Teams: The Bison found some balance in their passing game last week as Oliver Sanders became more involved, with 5 receptions for 90 yards and both Bison TD’s. On defense the Bison came up with two big picks by Grant Beckman, and Tony Jordan in securing their road win at Bemidji. The Falcons have rolled to a 3-0 start behind RB Zahki Nix, who rushed for 150 yards and 2 TD’s last week in their win over the Knights. The Falcons also like to get the ball to WR Kyson Wanjara (21 rec, 144 yds and 4 TDs on the season.)
The Pick: Sorry, but I’m not buying the Falcons as a top ten team in the state. The combined record of their first three opponents is 1-8, and they barely beat Park Center (0-3), 23-19. Nix is a great RB, and the Falcons defense has been good, but the Bison dbacks could have a big day, and unless the Bison stall on offense and turn the ball over, I think the Bison roll on homecoming, 29-14.
Zahki Nix, above, is the key player Buffalo will need to stop if it’s going to win on homecoming Friday night.
(3-0) #1AAA Annandale Cardinals @ (3-0) #10 Watertown Mayer Royals.
Last Week: Annandale cruised past Foley at St. Cloud Tech, 41-7, while the Royals won late, 21-20 over New London Spicer.
About the Teams: The Cards weapons where on full display last week led by QB Braylon Fobbe, 2 TD passes, WR Cooper Broman, 7 rec for 122 yards and two TD’s, Jack Newman caught a TD, while RB Colton Henson ran for a TD…..Oh, and RB Rylan Horsch, ran for a TD, threw for a TD, and returned a int for a TD! So yeah, the Cards had it rolling! For the Royals they have won with a dominant defensive line! The Royals are only allowing 13 ppg. They also have two big play WR on offense in 6’1 Jr. Ben Guetzkow, and 6’4 Sam Plahn.
The Pick: This is the biggest game for WM in a long time! It’s salute to military night. They are ranked and undefeated. WM is also celebrating the 40-year anniversary of the last Royals state championship in football. One problem. Annandale is used to this environment, and being the hunted, and did I mention there first team defense still hasn’t allowed a TD in three games? First challenge for Annandale, they will be tested, a little…..25-7, Cards.
Cooper Broman, above, had 7 receptions for 122 yards and two TDs in the Cards win over Foley last Friday night.
(0-3) STMA Knights @ #2AAAAAA Eden Prairie Eagles (3-0).
Last Week: The Knights lost at home to Wayzata, 28-20, while Eden Prairie shut out the defending 6AAAAAA champs from Edina, 36-0.
About the teams: The Knights have played the #3, #5 and #10 teams in the state so far this season and now they get #2 Eden Prairie! The STMA offense finally got something going last week, putting up 20 points on a very good Wayzata defense. Braylon Bohm, rushed for 106 yards and a TD and also caught a TD pass from Lucas Bryan. For Eden Prairie, just like I said about Wayzata last week, they are so back, outscoring their opponents by an avg. score of 31-9, behind bruising RB Owen Conrad, and his speedy running mate Wynlan Hall.
The Pick: STMA is a really good football team, but once again going up against another Top 5 team. STMA can keep it close if Bohm has another big game and Bryan hits some clutch passes like he did against Minnetonka two weeks ago, but EP just will do what it always does! Wear you down and then run over ya! Eagles, 24-7.
Owen Conrad, above, helped lead the Eagles to a win over the defending AAAAAA champs from Edina last week.
#8 (3-0) Dassel Cokato Chargers @ (1-2) New London Spicer Wildcats.
Last week: DC rolled over Jordan, 48-17, while NLS lost a heartbreaker to Watertown Mayer, 21-20.
About the teams: The DC defense has been the story early in the year for the Chargers, allowing only 12 ppg. Last week though the offense really woke up behind QB Ryan Asplin and RB Jackson Nyquist. It’s been a tough luck start so far for NLS, losing 17-7 against #5AAA Holy Family and by one point last week to WM. The Wildcats can play defense, allowing just 13 ppg. They also have a very dangerous WR in Weston Steele who is avg. 17 ypc for NLS.
The Pick: Two great defenses face off. DC will have to contain Steele, but have the better running game, which will carry DC to the win. One note, last season Asplin threw a 92-yard TD pass to Kaleb Kraemer in the OT loss. This season that combo will combine again, but this time the Chargers win, 20-14.
Weston Steele, above in black, is the big play threat on the Wildcats offense.
#10AAAA Delano (3-0) @ Big Lake (2-1), 6 PM.
Last Week: Delano rallied from a 25-21 fourth quarter deficit to come back and defeat Zimmerman, 35-25, while Big Lake lost to #1AAAA Orono, 48-14.
About the teams: No one has been able to stop Jr. QB Cade Bruett and the Tigers offense. Bruett is avg. 216 ypg in total yards with 8 TDs for a team that is avg. 30 ppg. For Big Lake, they ran into reality last week. After blasting two weak opponents in De La Salle and Spectrum by a combined score of 137-18 in the first two weeks, they lost to #1AAAA Orono last week, trailing 35-0 at the half. They do have a solid offense, led by QB Dillon Spaeth (4 TD passes), Abraham Koop (142 ypg, 8.2 ypc), and WR Caleb Martin (12 receptions for 148 yards and 4 TD’s.)
The Pick: The Hornets have all kinds of offensive weapons and can throw the ball, but the Tigers have Caleb Erickson in the secondary to neutralize that BL advantage. Erickson has two interceptions on the year already. Last season the Tigers rushed for over 450 yards in their win over Big Lake, I don’t think anything changes this season. Tigers, 35-12.
Cade Bruett, above, is not only a star on the baseball diamond, but is also the QB for the #10AAAA Delano football team.
St. Francis Saints (1-2) @ #2AAAAA Monticello Magic (3-0)
Last Week: Monti won on the road at Cambridge-Isanti, 40-14, while St. Francis lost to #1AAAAA Elk River, 52-6.
About the teams: Cale Holthaus is having a season for the Magic! Last week the RB ran for 137 yards and a touchdown and also led a defense that forced three turnovers with an interception. The Magic defense is also getting better every week, led by Bradley Holker, Dom Marschell, Johny Moore. The Saints have been inconsistent on offense all year but do have a very good RB in Owen Darsow who rushed for 136 yards in the Saints opening game win over Cooper.
The Pick: Last year the Saints were pesky in their 30-15 loss, but Monticello is a better team than last season, and they should be able to force a few Saints turnovers. The big advantage though for the Magic is their running game! Last week the Elks rushed for 484 yards and seven TDs. The Magic run game isn’t quite as good as the Elks, but it’s close! Magic, 44-14.
Cale Holthaus, above in red #3, shown from their game one win over Sauk Rapids Rice, rushed for two TD’s and also had an interception in the Magic Road win over Cambridge Isanti last week.
Maple Lake Irish (1-2) @ Benson Braves (1-2).
Last Week: The Irish picked up their first win of the season on the road at Long Prairie Grey Eagle, while Benson also picked up their first win, a 30-14 win over Ashby.
About the teams: The Irish have gotten better every week. After giving up 300 yards rushing to Menagha, they were much improved the next week vs. Ashby, only losing 28-22, before dominating LPGE last Friday night. Benson also got off to a 0-2 start, but defeated Ashby, 30-14 last week and has been competitive in two of their first three games.
The Pick: You tell me! There is so little information on both teams, I really have no idea! I can only go by the scores. Pretty simple, Benson beat Ashby, Maple Lake lost to Ashby, plus Benson was very competitive with (3-0) Breckinridge in week one. Benson…… I guess, literally, 26-20.
Benson, above, relied on their running game last week to pick up their first win of the season over Ashby.
Howard Lake WW Lakers (1-2) @ (1-2) Morris.
Last week: The Lakers lost on a last second field goal against #5AAA Holy Family, while Morris lost to Sauk Centre, 34-21.
About the teams: The Lakers defense has been lights out all season, only allowing 14ppg against a very tough schedule. The Lakers also got their passing game going with Hunter Bush hitting Alex Stueven for a TD against the Fire last week, and Jaxon Ewert leads a tough Lakers running game. For Morris, things haven’t been great, with their only win against a 0-3 Montevideo team, but they do have a big time WR in Alex Asmus, who had four receptions for 140 yards and 2 TD’s against the Mainstreeters last week.
The Pick: Finally, a breather for the Lakers? I think so! HLWW has had such a tough schedule early in the season, and Asmus is a very good WR, but the Lakers defense will shut down the Morris offense, and Ewert will do his thing on the ground, and Bush will hit a couple big pass plays. Lakers, 27-6.
Morris will need a big game from Alex Asmus, above, to hang with the Lakers on Friday night.
(0-3) Jordan Hubmen @ (1-2) Rockford Rockets.
Last Week: Rockford picked up their first win of the season over Milaca, 22-6, while Jordan dropped to 0-3 with a 38-9 loss to 8AAA DC.
About the Teams: Rockford was balanced and steady in a 22-6 road win at Milaca last week. Max Ladman ran for a touchdown and also tossed one to his big play 6’5 WR Ethan Robran. After two inconsistent games to start the season, the Rockets played well in all three phases of the game last week. Meanwhile, the Hubmen continue to struggle against a tough schedule. Jordan has been outscored by an avg. margin of 37-11 so far this season. On high note for Jordan is So. QB Liam Halvorson who is taking his lumps this season, but has a bright future.
The Pick: It’s homecoming for the Rockets, and once again this week Ladman will do it with his feet and arm (most likely to Robran), plus the Rockets found a running game last week, led by RB Cam Braun, so I feel good about the Rockets this week! Rockford, 27-13.
Rockford, above, picked up their first win of the season last Friday night and will look for their second straight on Friday at home for Homecoming.
