Last week was insane! #1AAA Annandale walks off #4AAA Holy Family in OT. Howard Lake WW hits a late FG from a sophomore to win. STMA picks up its first win of the season on the road at defending 6AAAAAA state champion in Edina, Rockford loses a shootout to Glencoe SL, 34-33, and last but not least, Maple Lake win on safety in the fourth quarter to win on homecoming! Who knows what’s in store this week? Here are my picks, and good luck to all the teams.
All games subject to change.
All games scheduled for Friday night, October 9th at 7 PM, unless noted.
#7AAAAAA Maple Grove (3-2) @ STMA (1-4). You can hear this game on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame begins at 6:30 PM.
Last week: The Knights picked up their first win of the year at defending 6AAAAAA champion Edina, 28-16, while Maple Grove lost to #1AAAAAA Moorhead, 40-21.
The Matchup: The Knights finally got their offense rolling last week in their road win at Edina, led by RB Braylon Bohm, who rushed for 215 yards and 3 TD’s in the win. On defense Kyan Beumont had a pick six which ignited the Knights 21 point second quarter. The Crimson have lost two games. To #3 Eden Prairie and #1 Moorhead, so yeah, just like the Knights they have been tested. The Crimson throw the ball more this year, with QB Graham Greseth avg. 200 yds passing per game with 8 TD’s, but he has also thrown seven picks.
The Pick: Although Maple Grove throws more this season, they still like to run the ball with Luca Maciej who rushed for 100 yards and two TD’s last week, and still rely on a tough defense. If STMA can run the ball like they did last week, they have a chance, but their passing game led by QB Lucas Bryan has to be more consistent than last week, where they were as a team 7-21 for 80 yards with a TD and Int. Bryan has improved every week, so he has the ability. I’m still going with the Crimson, 28-14.
The Knights will have to limit RB Luca Maciej, above, if they are to upset the Crimson on Friday night.
#6AAAAA Brainerd Warriors (5-0) @ #2AAAAA Monticello Magic (5-0).
Last Week: Brainerd defeated Bemidji, 28-27, while Monticello shut out Buffalo on the road, 41-0.
The Matchup: The Warriors are walking the tight rope this season, kind of like the Vikings, undefeated but with a lot of holes. The Warriors have won four games by one score or less. One thing I don’t question is the passing game led by QB Malik Lauer (200 ypg, 10 TD’s.) to 6’4 WR Brady Vanek (35 rec 100 yards per game and 4 TD’s.) Vanek is one of the most impressive receivers I have seen all year. For the Magic, they intercepted the Bison three times last week, and their opponents are only avg. 10 ppg. On offense, Cale Holthaus led a rushing attack that racked up 300 yards against Buffalo last week.
The Pick: Their is no doubt that the Warriors have a dangerous passing game, but Monticello will be able to run the ball all day against the Warriors, and it won’t just be Holthaus. Last week, Max Lofgren joined in on the fun with 89 yards on only six carries. Brainerd has been great in close games….this won’t be a close game, Magic, 42-21.
Brady Vanek, above in blue #1, avg. over 100 yards receiving per game this season for the Warriors.
#1AAA Annandale Cardinals (5-0) @ Rockford Rockets (2-3).
Last Week: Annandale won on homecoming over #4AAA Holy Family, 14-13 on a walk off two point conversion in OT on Homecoming by RB Colton Henson, while Rockford lost to Glencoe SL, 34-33.
The Matchup: The Cards turned the ball over four times, threw a pick six, and played without the #9 ranked player in the state….and still won over #4 Holy Family. How? The best defense in the state at 3AAA. The Cards limited the Fire to 139 yards, led by the fantastic front four of Kane Fobbe, Adam Klatt, Ezra Manuel and Zach O’ Konek. For the Rockets they lost a heartbreaker to GSL, but QB Max Ladman threw for 287 yards and four TD’s, with WR’s Ethan Robran and Ian Faber, combining for six catches, for 310 yards 3 TD’s. RB Cameron Braun rushed for 127 yards and a TD as Rockford piled up over 400 yards of offense.
The Pick: It should be a fun matchup with the passing game of Rockford against maybe the best secondary in the state in Class AAA. Last year the Cards came out flat against the Rockets after beating Holy Family the week before, but they are not happy with their last game offensively and the pass rush from the Cards will limit the Rockets passing game. Cards win, 42-7.
Above, Annandale in black, lines up for the game winning two-point conversion in their win over #4AAA Holy Family.
New London Spicer Wildcats (3-2) @ #8AAA Howard Lake WW Lakers (3-2).
Last Week: HLWW walked off Litchfield, 31-28 on So. Kicker Corbin Long’s 28 yard field goal, while NLS routed Montevideo, 35-6.
The Matchup: The Lakers are a passing team now? No way! Actually, they are both, but seeing Hunter Bush throw the ball 21 times for 236 yards was eye opening. Why wouldn’t you though? Bush is a really good QB and he has a great weapon in Alex Stueven who had 7 receptions for 144 yards last week. For NLS, they love to throw the ball, and their good at it. QB Ethan Nelson avg. 163 yards per game through the air, and has two big time receivers in Brecken Westby and Weston Steele. The Wildcats defense has been suffocating all year, allowing just 13 ppg against a tough schedule.
The Pick: Could this be a high flying passing game? Maybe, that sounds crazy with these too traditional running teams play, but seriously, both teams have great defenses, and the offense that kind find the other teams weaknesses more often will win. I think it will be HLWW, but it will be close, 17-14 Lakers.
HLWW’s defense, above in white will have a big assignment Friday night against the passing game of New London Spicer.
Buffalo Bison (2-3) @ Irondale Knights (3-2).
Last Week: Buffalo was shut out by Monticello, 41-0, while Irondale defeated Cooper, 28-20.
The Matchup: It’s been a rough couple weeks for the Bison, which has lost two straight and has been hit by the injury bug, big time. Buffalo has been outscored, 60-16 the last two weeks, and is only avg. 10 ppg on offense over the last three. QB Reiker Wignes has done his share with over 750 yards of total offense and nine TD’s. Another good sign for Buffalo last week, was WR Matthew Jordan was back in the mix with four receptions for 72 yards. For the Knights, they are starting to gain confidence as they have won two straight ant are 3-2 on the season, albeit against soft competition overall. The last two weeks Caden Hanson has 4 TD’s on the ground and QB Wehso Cooper has tossed a TD in both of the Knights wins.
The Pick: The Bison come limping into Irondale on a two game losing streak and facing a team that is starting to get it’s confidence, led by Cooper and Hanson. Last year Buffalo won handily, 42-6. It won’t be that easy this week, but the defense led by Sr. LB Dolan Brisk, get the W on the road, 28-16, Bison.
Caden Hanson, above, #20 in white, has scored four TDs in the last two games for the Knights.
Mound Whitehawk’s (1-4) @ Delano (4-1).
Last Week: Delano lost to Marshall, 21-7, while Mound lost to Big Lake, 22-18, blowing an 18-6 lead in the second half.
The Matchup: Marshall shut down Delano last Friday, allowing only 166 yards of total offense, and only 32 yards passing. This week the Tigers will look to get their offense rolling on the ground again, but at some point will have to find a little bit of a passing game. Defensively, the Tigers have been stout all year, and last week So. Dacarri Lowery had 12 tackles in the loss. For Mound it’s been brutal! Their schedule is stacked, losing to ranked AAAA teams (#1 Orono, #3 Willmar and #9 Marshall.) by a combined score of 164-21, with the Orono score being 76-7! They did play better last week in a close loss to Big Lake. If Mound has any chance they will need big games from their RB’s Blake Reinbold and Wyatt Stepanek.
The Pick: At some point Delano will have to find a little bit of a passing game, but not this week. Last week, Mound gave up 370 yards on the ground, and the Tigers strength is running the ball with QB Grant Bruett, and RB Dacarri Lowery, so this one should be all Tigers on Homecoming, 35-6.
Blake Reinbold, above reaching for a pass, is a threat as a RB or a WR for Mound.
#4A Upsala/Swanville Patriots (5-0) @ (2-3) Mape Lake Irish.
Last Week: Maple Lake won on homecoming over Belgrade BE, 8-7, while Upsala/Swanville defeated Browerville, 42-8.
The Matchup: The Irish sure are unpredictable, and last week they upset BBE on a safety in the fourth quarter by Michael Kubian. It was a big win on homecoming for the Irish, as Maple Lake’s defense stopped a very good passing game from BBE. Alexander Pauman scored a TD on the ground and the Irish offense did just enough to pull out the win. For the Patriots, they have dominated all season long! There offense had been unstoppable, even scoring 84 points against Long Prairie Grey Eagle! Last week in their win over Browerville, the Pats rushed for 300 yards, led by RB Dalton Welinski with 129 yards and a TD. Calvin Leners is the Pats top receiver, and he had five receptions for 63 yards and a TD for Upsala last week.
The Pick: If the Irish are to pull the major upset they will need more from their offense, especially in the passing game. If Jaxon Diebold can have a big game behind center, the Irish could keep it close for a while, but no way can they keep up with this Patriots high flying offense. Pats, 56-14.
Upsala/Swanville, above in red, white and blue, has an offense that is avg, over 50 ppg this season.
#7 Dassel-Cokato Chargers (4-1) @ Montevideo Thunderhawk’s (0-5).
Last Week: DC defeated Morris, 40-25, while Montevideo lost to New London Spicer, 35-6.
The Matchup: The Chargers found their offense last week, rushing for over 300 yards in their win over Morris. Elijah Torola, the speed back for the Chargers, rushed for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, avg. 16.5 yards per carry! The only negative for DC is that Morris scored 25 points against a defense that was only allowing 13 ppg. For the Thunderhawk’s, its been a long season, especially on offense. Montevideo has scored six points or less in four of their six games this season. It hasn’t been much better on defense, as the Thunderhawk’s have allowed 49 ppg three times and over 30 points in every game. For Montevideo the lone bright spot has been an ok passing game, led by WR Collin Day, and Lathan Nipple.
The Pick: Poor Montevideo, they have become everyone’s feel good game this year in a loaded section, and I don’t see this one any different. The Chargers should be able to run roughshod over the Thunderhawk’s on the ground, and the DC defense shouldn’t have a problem getting off the field in this one. Chargers, roll, 52-7.
The Montevideo line, above will have its hands full against the physical DC defense.
