Last week I went a perfect 8-0 to improve my overall record to 33-15. Nothing to brag about! Last week was an easy week to pick, this week is a whole different story! We have some great matchups as we head into the final two weeks of the regular season. In fact, it’s just eight days until the regular season ends, and the playoff brackets are released! Here is this week’s pick! Good luck to all the teams!
All games at 7 PM on Friday, October 10th unless noted.
#2AAAAA Spring Lake Park (6-0) @ Buffalo (4-2). You can hear this game on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame begins at 6:30 PM.
Here we go! The Bison found there mojo again last week after a 52-14 loss to Monticello the week before, as Buffalo crushed Irondale on homecoming, 42-6. Grant Benson bounced back at QB for Buffalo, throwing for 225, and rushing for 85, to go along with four TDs. The Bison also got Jackson Coss going, as Coss had three catches for 85 yards and two TD’s, including one via the ground. For SLP, it’s a tough guy town, and they have another dominant defense, as no team has scored 20 points on them this year. The real story this year is their offense, avg. over 40 ppg, led by the one two punch of RB’s, Marquel Mitchell, and Lamari Brown.
The Pick: This one could be for the #1 seed in the section, and honestly, it’s hard to tell how good SLP is because of their weak schedule. The Panthers have to stop Benson, and the Bison have to stop the run. This one will be a defensive struggle with SLP pulling it out, 17-14.
Jackson Drumm, #75 above, a 6’3 227 Senior leads a dominant Panthers O-line.
#6AAAAA Elk River (5-1) @ #8AAAAA Monticello (5-1). This game is Thursday, October 9th at 7 PM.
It’s a Thursday night showdown between two teams that are battling for the #1 seed and are very familiar with each other. For Monti, there offense has been rolling, avg. 46 ppg in their four straight wins! Last week, Cale Holthaus (4) and Garett Bauer (2) combined for six TD’s as the Magic rushed for 263 yards in their 52-29 win at Brainerd. For the Elks it’s the same old story, lean on their wing T running game. The Elks have thrown the ball just 10 times all year! On the other hand, the Elks have an incredible eight RB’s with over 100 yards this season, led by Braedon Becker, who avg. 108 yards per game.
The Pick: The defending state champs from Elk River knocked off Monti in the state quarterfinals last year, 36-29. I expect another close game, but for Elk River defense is optional, while the Magic defense is much more stout. How about this? Magic…..36-29.
The Elks offense, above in white, once again is the story for the defending state champs.
#8AAA Holy Family (5-1) @ Dassel-Cokato (4-2).
The Chargers have found their running game, behind Jackson Nyquist, Elijah Torola, and Isaac Salmen, as the Chargers have won two straight, averaging over 50 ppg in those wins. For Holy Family, they looked sluggish after their loss to Annandale two weeks ago but still found a way to defeat Watertown Mayer last week, 30-13. Ethan Ryan, a lefty is an outstanding QB, and has a lot of weapons to pass too, while Levi Trout is a load at RB for the Fire.
The Pick: This should be a great game! I love how DC is playing right now, and their running game will be a challenge for Holy Family. On the other side, I think the Fire defense is a little underrated and they have too much balance on offense for DC, but it should be great game. Fire, 34-28.
Holy Family, above, in blue and gold is looking to get back to the state tournament this fall and are 5-1 going into the DC game.
Delano (4-2) @ #7AAAA Orono (4-2).
Delano has a defense! The Tigers crushed Mound, 28-2 last week and is giving up only 8 ppg, (Not counting Marshall.) this season. They also found their passing game last week, as Grant Bruett was 7-9 for 146 yards and a touchdown. Bruett also rushed for 130 yards and three TDs. For the Spartans, their two losses came against #1AAAA Byron and #2AAAA Marshall. They lost to Marshall last week, 13-12, but held Marshall to just 263 total yards! Dane Kanwsicher, 6’4 210 leads a very tough Spartans defense, while Rory Kvern Sr. RB leads the offense.
The Pick: It was nice to see Delano get its passing game going last week, and they will need it again this week vs. the Spartans. I think Orono will focus on Bruett, slowing the Tigers offense, and behind a strong o line will pull away late. Spartans, 24-12.
Rory Kvern, above #23, is the catalyst for the Spartans offense.
STMA (1-5) @ Moorhead (3-3).
When you take a deep dive into the STMA season they have been very competitive, especially the last three weeks vs. Edina, Eden Prairie and Maple Grove, but haven’t been able to finish. I was really impressed with their effort last week vs. #1AAAAAA Maple Grove, and they found their running back in Wyatt Mosher, who rushed for 130 yards and two TDs in the Knights loss. For Moorhead, it’s been a tough introduction to AAAAAA football due to the tough schedule and the loss of D1 QB prospect Jett Feeney. Last week though the Spuds put up a very tough fight in tight loss to Eden Prairie and will be a dangerous team once Feeney comes back.
The Pick: Not sure if Feeney will play, but oh boy did his backup Austin Dryburgh have a game last week (257 yards passing, 5 TD’s), and they still have David Mack (11 receptions for 150 yards and 3 TD’s.) Another good effort, but another close loss for STMA, 32-21.
David Mack, above, has already received scholarship offers from both South Dakota St., and Minnesota for football as a Junior.
#3AAA Pierz (6-0) @ Rockford (1-5).
Saw Rockford play last week vs. Annandale, and I can’t figure out why they have been held under 14 points or less in five of their six games? They have a great scrambling QB, a bull at RB in Bradley Graunke, and a smooth WR in Sean Aswange, yet they struggle to score. The positive is they have a very solid defense. For Pierz, it’s business as usual! Run the ball and play dominant defense. The Pioneers allow only seven points per game. Pierz also has a dominant running game with Paul Nieman (100 ypg) and Brayden Foust (81) ypg leading the way.
The Pick: As I said earlier, I think Rockford has a lot of talent on offense, but hasn’t shown it yet, and against this defense you probably won’t see it again this week. Pioneers, 30-12.
The Pierz defense, above in red and black, once again is the strength of their team.
Watertown Mayer (2-4) @ Howard Lake WW (4-2).
The Lakers are red hot! HLWW has won three in a row and was dominant on defense in a 20-7 road win at New London Spicer last week. Raydon Graham rushed for over 100 yards, and Jaxon Ewert scored three rushing touchdowns as HLWW chewed up yards on the ground. Watertown Mayer has been hard to figure out this season. They looked good in wins over Milaca and Rockford, and put up a great fight vs. Jordan, and last week against Holy Family. On the other hand, they were no shows against Annandale, and New London Spicer. Matthew Isakson, the lefty is a nice QB and will be the key for the Royals on Friday.
The Pick: The Royals will try to exploit the Lakers secondary, but the pass rush of HLWW will be too much for WM to handle. The Lakers will ride their running game to the victory. HLWW, 30-14.
It’s been feast or famine for the Watertown Mayer offense, above in blue and black, this season.
Milaca (1-5) @ #1AAA Annandale (6-0).
The Cards had a little of hangover last week in the first half vs. Rockford, after defeating #3AAA Holy Family the week before. In the second half though, the Cards got rolling, outscoring the Rockets, 21-0. Isiah Turner scored two TDs on the ground, while Cam Ergen added one in the first half. Gabe Westman and Colton Purcell also caught TDs in the Cards win, as Purcell ran both past and over Rockets corners in the win. For Milaca, it’s been a long season with their only win coming against 0-6 Apollo, 8-6. The defense is ok, but they are always on the field. The lone bright spot on offense for the Wolves is RB Logan Cramlet.
The Pick: This is a just don’t get hurt game for Annandale! They can pick the score, especially after a slow first half last week against Rockford, I expect the Cards to come out aggressive and blow it open early. Cards, 54-0.
Logan Cramlet, above carrying the ball, has been a bright spot this season for Milaca.
West Central Area (1-5) @ Maple Lake (4-2).
The Irish had their three-game winning streak snapped by a very good Upsala team last week, 52-8. Maple Lake will look to bounce back behind the running game led by Danny Reilly. For the Knights, they have shown flashes this season, but overall, it’s been a struggle, until last week when WCA blew out Long Prairie Grey Eagle, 44-16. The Knights have a nice passing combo, with QB Owen Gruchow (150 passing yards per game) to Austin Bennett, but have been way too inconsistent on both offense and defense this year.
The Pick: Both teams have a lot of common opponents this season, and you can’t always lean on that, but the Irish have done much better against common opponents and have Danny Reilly at RB. That will be the difference, Irish, 34-16.
Owen Grochow, above, is avg. over 158 yards passing per game for WCA.
