2023 Champion takes down 2024 champion in 5A
by Mike Sonntag, Let’s Play Football
Photos by Liz Westerhaus
Chanhassen Storm senior defensive back Peter Vidmar’s inception in the endzone with 1:37 left in the game stopped Elk River’s Prep Bowl aspirations of a repeat in the state class 5A semi-final at U.S. Bank Stadium Saturday night.
Storm senior running back Kade Bush took broke through the middle on the first play of the fourth quarter and darted 42 yards for the touchdown to give Chanhassen the lead 22-19. The Elks went on an impressive and grinding twenty-play, seventy-four-yard drive that took over ten minutes and got as close as the Storm four-yard line. Elks senior quarterback Levi Harris recovered his own fumble on 3rd and goal back on the eleven-yard line which put them in a passing situation. Elk River had only attempted one pass the whole game, and on the desperate attempt by Harris, Vidmar made the interception to seal the victory for Chanhassen.
Elk River built a lead of 12-0 in the second quarter on a 98-yard touchdown run by Harris, followed by a 37-yard touchdown run by junior running back Braedon Becker with :25 seconds left in the first half.
Chanhassen’s Barrett Nelson converts on a two-point conversion to help lead them past defending 5A champion Elk River 22-19 at U.S. Bank Stadium Saturday. LPF PHOTO BY LIZ WESTERHAUSStorm senior quarterback Nathan Ramler completed four of four passes, including a 22-yard strike to senior wide receiver Loghan Gustad as time expired to cut the Elks lead to 12-7. The Storm took five plays to go 59 yards and give themselves momentum into halftime.
The Storm would take their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter when junior running back Graham Delger ran 18 yards around the left side for the score. After a successful two-point conversion try, the Storm led 15-12.
Elk River would answer on the next series going on a five play eighty-yard drive with Becker doing most of the work including a 37-yard touchdown run, his second of the game to put the Elks back out front 19-15.
Ramler finished the game 18 of 23 passing for 121 yards, a touchdown pass, and an interception. Storm senior defensive back Coleman Zielinski led the defense with seven solo tackles and five assists.
Becker led the Elks rushing attack with 171 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.
The Storm beat St. Thomas Academy in the 2023 Class 5A Prep Bowl will look to win their second title when they play Spring Lake Park on Saturday November 22nd at U.S. Bank Stadium with kickoff set for 4PM.
Full Game Stats: https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025-fb-sf-aaaaa-chanhassen-elk-river.pdf
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