High School Football, State Tournament

Kickoff to the Semifinals: A recap of the quarters and a look ahead as 28 teams vie for a shot at the Prep Bowl

Posted on by Bryan Zollman
08
Nov

The state semifinals kick off this morning at U.S. Bank Stadium. The field of 56 has been whittled down to 28 as teams are now four quarters away from playing for the coveted state title in the prestigious Prep Bowl.

The semifinals start with Class AAAA Marshall (10-1) taking on Becker (11-0) at 10:30 a.m. A pair of 9-Player games follow as Hills-Beaver Creek (11-0) takes on Mountain Iron-Buhl (12-0) at 1 p.m. Fertile-Beltrami (11-0) will then take on LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli (12-0) at 4 p.m. The first night caps off with a Class AAAAAA battle between Anoka (8-3) and Minnetonka (9-2). Minnetonka shut out Blaine 28-0 in the quarterfinals and Anoka scored a last minute touchdown to defeat Lakeville North 14-10 to advance to the semifinals.

Friday’s Schedule:

Class AA: Jackson County Central (11-0) vs. Kimball (11-0) 9:00 AM

Class AAAA: Orono (9-2)  vs. Totino-Grace (11-0) 11:30 AM

Class AAAAA: Chanhassen (8-3) vs. Elk River (10-1) 2:00 PM

Class AA: Staples-Motley (11-0) vs. Chatfield (11-0) 4:30 PM

Class AAAAAA: Shakopee (10-1) vs. Maple Grove (11-0) 7:00 PM

Saturday’s Schedule:

Class A: Springfield (11-0) vs. Mahnomen/Waubun (11-0) 9:00 AM

Class A: Parkers Prairie (9-3) vs. Minneota (11-0) 11:30 AM

Class AAA: Dassel-Cokato (10-1) vs. Pequot Lakes (11-0) 2:00 PM

Class AAA: Albany (11-0)  vs. Stewartville (12-0) 4:30 PM

Class AAAAA; Alexandria (9-2) vs. Owatonna (11-0) 7:00 PM

Here is a rundown of the quarterfinal results:

Peyton Podany has helped lead Anoka to the cusp of the Prep Bowl. He has thrown for more than 2,200 yards and 19 touchdowns. LPF PHOTO BY LIBBY AUGER

 

Class 6A Quarterfinals 

Anoka 14, Lakeville North 10
The Panthers opened the scoring as Riley Grossman connected on a touchdown pass with wideout Blake Krause in the endzone.
Anoka returned the favor on the ground with a Zach Welch three-yard rush. In the third quarter, kicker Drew Kolander drilled a 22-yard attempt to give Lakeville North back a field goal lead.
It was the Tornados who rained victorious after a last minute touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Podany who finished the day going 25-for-31 with one touchdown and 236 all-purpose yards.
Anoka will play Minnetonka Thursday at US Bank Stadium.
Lakeville North ends the season with a 9-2 record.
Shakopee 24, Mounds View 17
It was all Sabres in the first half of play in the 6A quarterfinal round as Shakopee racked up two rushing touchdowns on a keeper from quarterback Judah Forsberg and running back Zach Docteur.
After a 14-0 lead at half, the Mustangs responded with two touchdowns of their own. This was an almost identical sequence with quarterback Jacob Sampson cutting the lead to seven after a four yard scamper.
Sampson would then connect with Godson Rufus-Okomhanru with a 46 yard pass. It would be Shakopee who scored the game winning touchdown at 5:12 in the fourth with an O’Fallon six-yard run.
The Sabres will play Maple Grove Friday at US Bank Stadium.
Mounds View ends the season with a 8-3 record.
Maple Grove’s offensive line has led to some high-scoring games for the Crimson offense. LPF PHOTO BY JEFF ANDERSON

Maple Grove 42, Edina 14

Maple Grove continued their dominance in 6A football with a resounding 42-14 win over Edina Thursday at Park Center High School.

The Crimson scored early and often, opening up a 35-0 lead midway through the third quarter. By then the lead was insurmountable even for Edina’s potent offense.

The win solidifies Maple Grove as the favrotie heading into the state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. They will play the winner of Mounds View vs. Shakopee on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Crimson QB Caden Harney threw for two TDs and ran for one to lead Maple Grove to the win. Charles Langama and Patrick Wright also scored touchdowns for the Crimson who improved to 11-0 on the season.

Minnetonka 28, Blaine 0

Minnetonka continued their solid 2024 season with another convincing win, defeating Blaine 28-0 at Osseo High School.

Chase Conrad scored twice and Caleb Francois and Vincent May also scored touchdowns to lead the Skippers to their ninth win of the season (9-2). The defense held a potent Blaine offense off the board to advance to the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Skippers will play the winner of Lakeville North and Anoka on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

WATCH: The Program – Stillwater

5A State Quarterfinals

Chanhassen 38, St. Thomas Academy 21
STA jumped on the board quickly with a 66-yard run from half-back Baez. Chanhassen responded with three touchdown scores.
The Cadets would score two of their own to bring the score to 28-21 in the third quarter.
The Storm would rain victorious with a field goal from Garrett Miller and a nine-yard rush from Josiah Cox to take the first round 38-21
The Cadets end the season 7-4.
Chanhassen will move on to play Elk River in the semi-finals.
Elk River 36, Monticello 29
Elk River owned a 20-7 lead at the end three quarters. Monticello cut the lead in two late in fourth after scoring two touchdowns to make the score 36-22.
Monticello kept the pressure on with a late touchdown from Harris for 61 total yards. This was too late with the Moose taking the 36-29 quarterfinal win.
Running Back Levi Harris rushed for 126 yards on 15 attempts averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
Elk River will take on Chanhassen on Friday at US Bank Stadium.
Monticello finished the season 8-3.
Alexandria 17, Robbinsdale Armstrong 14
Robbinsdale Armstrong struck first with a Dawson Franke 25-yard pass to Gideon Breker. Alexandria responded in the second quarter.
The Cardinals recorded a touchdown courtesy of a 30-yard catch from Thompson. Alexandria would add onto the lead with a 31 yard field goal to win a narrow first round contest 17-14 at Monticello High School.
In the semi-finals the Cardinals will play Owatonna Saturday at US Bank Stadium.
The Wings end the season 10-1.
Owatonna 22, Cretin-Derham Hall 21
A two-point conversion in overtime by Nolan Ginskey lifted Owatonna past Cretin-Derham Hall in the Class AAAAA quarterfinals played at Eastview High School.
Cretin-Derham Hall had scored in their possession in OT, but Owatonna answered with a touchdown run by Blake Fitcher to make it 21-20. That’s when Ginskey plowed into the end zone to seal the win and send them to the state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Tristan Graham and Zachary Haarstad also scored TDs for Owatonna. Cretin QB Isaac Johnson threw two TD passes for the Raiders who finished their season 6-5.
Cretin-Derham Hall finishes their season 6-5. LPF PHOTO BY LIZ WESTERHAUS

Class 4A State Quarterfinals

Becker and RB Landon Kujawa have ran over opponents this season and will look to do more damage in the semifinals after a convincing win over Holy Angels in the quarterfinals. LPF PHOTO BY LIBBY AUGER

Becker 35, Academy of Holy Angels 15

The #1 Ranked and undefeated Becker Bulldogs scored 20 unanswered points after trailing 9-7 in the 2nd quarter to pull away from the upset-minded Academy of Holy Angels Stars 35-15.

Sophomore QB Tristan Kowalkowski connected with senior WR Carter Reckelberg on 65-yard and 46-yard touchdown passes, while junior QB Sawyer Brown ran for two scores on 63- and 2-yard runs.  Senior RB Isaac Daluge opened the scoring for the Bulldogs with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Academy of Holy Angels scores came from a touchdown pass from Gavin Coughlin to Damien Devine and a 3-yard touchdown run from Emmett Anderson.  The Stars finish the season 7-4.

Becker 11-0 will play Marshall in the Semi-Finals at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Totino-Grace 24, Hill-Murray 0

The Totino-Grace Eagles led 7-0 at the half, then forced fumbles on two consecutive Hill-Murray possessions and turned them in to 10 points and shutout the Pioneers to remain unbeaten.

Senior RB Marquel Keten scored on touchdown runs of 7 and 36 yards, and senior RB Calvin McIntosh dashed for a 35-yard touchdown for the Eagles.  Senior Kimmy McNeil kicked a 26-yard field goal to finish the scoring.

Senior DL Theo Thomas stood out on defense to help preserve the shutout for the Eagles.

The Pioneers finish the season 9-2.

Totino-Grace 11-0 will play Orono in the Semi-Finals at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Totino-Grace senior QB Jake Person.

 

 

 

Marshall 21, Byron 0

The Marshall Tigers appear hungry as they smothered a very good Byron Bears team 21-0 on Thursday night.

Junior QB Levi Maeyaert connected with Jack Meier for a 39-yard touchdown pass in the 2nd quarter and the Tigers led 7-0 at halftime.  Senior RB Mason Eickhoff plunged in from 1 yard out and fellow senior RB Gavin Schaefer scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Byron finishes the season 9-2

Marshall will face Becker in the Semi-Finals at U.S. Bank Stadium

Orono 49, Hermantown 21

The Orono Spartans (9-2) jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back at they defeated the Hermantown Hawks 49-21 to advance to U.S. Bank Stadium for a clash with undefeated Totino-Grace (11-0).

Spartans’ senior QB Charlie Cordes ran for two touchdowns and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Alex Loveless, while junior RB Rory Kvern found the end zone three times on runs of 1, 6, and 46-yards.

The Hawks scored two touchdowns 9 seconds apart in the 3rd quarter on a 28-yard run from sophomore RB Martin Sleen followed by a 44-yard run by senior RB Aiden Adamski to cut the lead to 35-14 but that was as close as the score would get.

The Hermantown Hawks finish the season 9-2.

Class 3A State Quarterfinals

Albany’s Drew Lehner had 43 yards rushing against Fergus Falls. Above, he competes in a game earlier this season. LPF PHOTO BY LIBBY AUGER

Albany 28, Fergus Falls 27
Albany struck first as quarterback Boone Roemeling connected with Elliot Burnett for a 21-yard touchdown strike to open up the first quarter.
Both teams traded scores in the second quarter of play going into halftime with Albany claiming a 21-14 edge. It was a 28-21 Albany lead after three quarters of play.
In the fourth quarter it came down to a Fergus Falls missed extra point as the Otters fell in the first round of the Class 3A State Tournament.
Fergus Falls ends the season with a 10-1 record.
Albany will play Stewartville on Saturday at US Bank Stadium.
Stewartville 40, Holy Family 14
Stewartville scored three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes of play to take a 23-0 lead. The Fire cut down the lead to 33-14 at the end of three.
Running back Parker Wangen gave Stewartville insurance with a 51-yard rush to take the game by a 40-14 final score.
QB Vincent Wellik went 9-for-14 recording 114 yards on two passing touchdowns.
Stewartville will play Albany Saturday at US Bank Stadium
The Fire end the season 8-3.
Dassel-Cokato 29, Fairmont 28
In a year of one score games it was Dassel-Cokato who had the lead in the third quarter by a 21-20 score.
Fairmont responded with a Johnson touchdown rush. Thielen was the hero for DC as he converted a two-point conversion off of a pass from quarterback Smock.
Dassel-Cokato celebrated a first-round victory at Washburn High School and will make the trip to the Twin Cities to play Pequot Lakes in the semifinals.
Fairmont finished the season 8-3.
Pequot Lakes 22, Annandale 15
Both teams traded scores and converted two-point conversions to make the score 8-8 at the end of three. Annandale struck first in the third quarter to make the game 15-8.
Pequot Lakes responded and made the two-point conversion once again to make the score a one point 16-15 game.
The Patriots scored once again to secure the game on a 41-yard rush from Nordby. PLHS will advance to the second round after a 22-15 victory.
Annandale finished the season with a 10-2 record.
Pequot Lakes will play Dassel-Cokato on Saturday at U.

2A State Quarterfinals

Kimball’s Ronald Arnold scored three touchdowns in their 38-0 win over Moose Lake/Willow River. LPF PHOTO BY LIBBY AUGER

 

Kimball 38, Moose Lake/Willow River 0
It was all Kimball as they rattled off six straight touchdown drives. Henkmeyer converted one TD through the air and completed a six yard scamper early in the first quarter.
On the ground, Arnold found the endzone three times for a  33-yard run, a five yard run and a 37 yard run as Kimball went onto claim a 38-0 first round win in the 2A State Football Tournament.
Kimball will play Jackson County Central Friday at US Bank Stadium.
Moose Lake/Willow River ends the season 9-3.

Staples-Motley 46, Barnesville 44 (2OT)

The Staples-Motley Cardinals over came two 14-point first half deficits before turning the game against the Barneville Trojans into a back-and-forth prize fight until prevailing 46-44 in a state tournament classic.

Barnesville junior RB Cameron Halverson scored three of his four rushing touchdowns in the first quarter with runs of 81, 15, and 55 yards to lift the Trojans to a 22-8 lead.  Cardinals junior RB Colbe Tappe would not be outshined by scoring five touchdown runs of 6,4,8,4, and 10 yards for the game-tying touchdown in the 2nd overtime before junior QB Eli Rutten kept it himself for the game-winning two-point conversion for the win.

This was one of those games where it is a shame that someone had to lose, but hats off to both teams for a great high school football game.

Barnesville finishes the season at 11-1.

Staples-Motley 11-0 will play Chatfield in the Semi-Finals at U.S. Bank Stadium

 

 

Jackson County Central 34, Norwood Young America 7
It was all Jackson County Central as the Huskies collected two passing and two rushing touchdowns in the first three quarters of play.
Quarterback Freking recorded 38 yards of yardage for two touchdowns in the third stanza for a 28-0 JCC lead late.
Norwood Young America got on the board but JCC’s overpowered offense was too much to contain.
Jackson County Central will go onto play Kimball Area on Friday.
Norwood Young America ends the season 11-1.

Chatfield 23, Triton 22

Chatfield senior QB Carson Rowland scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with just over a minute left in the game to rally the Gophers to a 23-22 win over the Triton Cobras in a game that saw five lead changes.

Rowland scored from 5 yards out to put Chatfield up 6-0.  Triton answered when sophomore running back Christian Valdez Miranda Jr ran in from 2 yards out and the Cobras led 7-6.  A field goal by Chatfield’s sophomore kicker Ross Stoehr as time expired gave the Gophers the halftime lead at 9-7.

Chatfield extended its lead to 16-7 on Ben Carrier 2-yard touchdown run before Triton scored 15 unanswered points on touchdown passes by junior QB Pierce Petersohn to sophomore Graden Thomas (3-yards) and junior Garet Jensen (22-yards) to put the Cobras up 22-16 before Rowland’s game-winning score.

Triton finishes the season 8-3.

Chatfield 11-0 will play Staples-Motley in the Semi-Finals as U.S. Bank Stadium

CLASS 1A State Quarterfinals

Minneota 41, Lester Prairie 0
Minneota scored first and never looked back as the Vikings scored six consecutive touchdowns en route to a 41-0 victory over Lester Prairie.
In the first half of play quarterback Brody Larson and running back Destin Fier connected both  through the air and on the ground to take a 13-0 lead.
The Vikings would continue where they left off with four more touchdown drives in the second half.
Minneota improved to 11-0 and will play Parkers Prairie on Saturday at US Bank Stadium.
Lester Prairie ends the season with a 7-4 record.
Mahnomen/Waubun 14, Deer River 6
Mahnomen/Wauben and Deer River each traded touchdowns in the first half. It was a Blake McMullen keeper who gave the Thunderbirds a trip to US Bank Stadium at 9:24 in the fourth quarter.
McMullen went 2-for-5 in passing attempts, but rushed for 20 yards on nine carries which included the game winning score.
The Thunderbirds will face off against Springfield Saturday at US Bank Stadium.
Deer River ends the season with a 9-2 record.
WATCH: The Program – Stillwater

Parkers Prairie 33, Upsala/Swanville Area 0

Mason Boesl continued to run over, through and by opponents as he scored three touchdowns Thursday as Parkers Prairie rolled past Upsala/Swanville Area 33-0.

Boesl had runs of 40, 51 and 3 yards and is closing in on 2,000 yards rushing for the season.

The Panthers handed the Patriots their first loss of the season and improved their record to 9-3. They will play Nov. 16 in the state semis at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Springfield 20, Goodhue 14

Parker Kuehn hit Isaac Fredin for a 32-yard touchdown with 21 seconds remaining to break a 14-14 tie with Goodhue in a battle of unbeaten teams in the Class A state quarterfinals Thursday at Rochester Mayo High School.

After a scoreless first quarter, Goodhue got on board in the second on a touchdown pass from Luke Roschen to Sam Matthees.

Springfield pulled within 7-6 when Kuehn connected with Madden Lendt form 31 yards out.

Roschen gave Goodhue a 14-6 lead when he scampered in from 14 yards out, but Springfield answered on a 2-yard run by Kuehn who also converted on the two-point conversion to tie it a14, setting up the game winning play ion their next drive.

Springfield improved to 11-0 on the season while Goodhue finishes a great season at 11-1.

Watch: The Program – Caledonia

9-Player Quarterfinals

LeRoy-Ostrander 50, Renville County West 0
In the nine-man quarterfinals LeRoy Ostrander rattled off seven straight touchdown scores and never looked back.
The Cardinals were led by halfback Camden Hungerholt who ran for 303 total all-purpose yards on 23 attempts and averaged 13.2 yards a carry on four trips to the endzone.
LeRoy-Ostrander will take on Fertile-Beltrami on Thursday at US Bank Stadium.
Renville County West ends the season 8-4.

 

 

Mountain Iron-Buhl 38, Stephen Argyle Central 6

Mountain Iron-Buhl made easy work of Stephen-Argyle Central Thursday in the 9-Player state quarterfinal held at Grand Rapids High School. Micaden Clines and Derik Dahl each scored two touchdowns and Caleb Rossi had a 80-yard TD run to lead the Rangers to a 38-6 victory.

The win will advance the Rangers to U.S. Bank Stadium for the semifinals Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.

Fertile-Beltrami 48, Cromwell-Wright 7

Isaiah Wright scored four touchdowns, all coming on long runs as Fertile-Beltrami defeated Cromwell-Wright 48-7 in 9-Player quarterfinal play at Moorhead High School Thursday night.

Wright had TD runs of 64, 52, 74 and 69 yards to help lift the Falcons into the state semifinals where they will play Nov. 14 at 4 p.m.

Hills-Beaver Creek 34, Border West 14

Border West opened the scoring Thursday in the 9-Player state quarterfinals at Buffalo High School. But Hills-Beaver Creek scored five unanswered touchdowns to run away with a 34-14 win, advancing them to the state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Holden Rinke scored on a 69-yard jaunt for Border West, but that was all they would muster until the waning minutes in the fourth quarter.

Hills-Beaver Creek answered with a pair of touchdowns from both Jamin Metzger and Beau Bakken to advance to the state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium where they will play Nov. 14 at a time to be determined.

 

Read our StateTournament Issue Below:

 

 

 

 

Bryan Zollman