Let’s Play Football is all about football in the state of Minnesota – we are very frontal about that. Every article, every photo, all intentions of what we do are to promote and celebrate the sport and those who play and coach it.
This season we published pictures from a great youth football tournament put on by the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services called the King of the Gridiron in Big Lake, and in future years we hope to add coverage of more events like it. We covered the Prep Showcase games put on by the Minnesota Vikings from TCO Stadium in Eagan. We shared articles about officiating, how to care for common injuries from playing football, and many other pertinent topics. We look for human interest stories and how football can have a positive impact on lives. From youth through college to the Minnesota Vikings we try to tell the stories.
Traditionally the Minnesota state high school football season culminates with the two-day Prep Bowl event put on by the MSHSL the weekend of Thanksgiving. The Prep Bowl showcases seven state title games from
9-man to the big school championship for 6A. Due to the Minnesota Vikings hosting a Thanksgiving home game for the first time, this year’s Prep Bowl was pushed back a week.
For each game, both teams are well represented. The fans consist of the student body, the band, the parents, and their community. It is awesome to hear the different team songs and soak in the excitement coming from the stands. The reality is the teams and the
towns do not care if they are the biggest school or the smallest. They have all grinded through the same length of schedule dating back to early August to get to this point. By the end of the weekend, there were seven teams that hoisted the championship trophy and etched their way into the history books of Minnesota high school football. The unbridled joy that beams from the players, coaches and fans following each game is something to behold.
This year marked the 50th year of Football State Championships and 40th year of Prep Bowls dating back to the Metrodome. It was just an awesome event with seven highly competitive games over the two days. Those in attendance saw the best of what the sport of football has to offer from sportsmanship, to the thrill of victory, and to the agony of defeat. No game amplified those qualities more than the Class 3A championship game that saw New London-Spicer win on a HailMary pass on the last play to edge Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.
We posted a question on our Twitter page days before the Prep Bowl asking our followers to consider how often they have watched two teams play for the championship in person? The beauty of the Prep Bowl is you have that opportunity in each of seven games.
Following the events of this year’s Prep Bowl, we find it worth asking those reading this issue of Let’s Play Football the same question.
Those who did this year might now understand the difference and hopefully chose to return.
We invite you to join them next year over Thanksgiving weekend and see for yourself.
Copyright 2019 PioneerMedia9192 All rights reserved LPF is online at www.letsplayfootballmn.com
Mountain Iron-Buhl puts together huge rally for first 9-Man championship
by TOM FENTON Let’s Play Football ContributorMINNEAPOLIS – One quarter into the Nine-Man championship game at Prep Bowl, it looked as though there would be about as much drama as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Mountain Iron-Buhl, however, was in no mood for a predictable conclusion.
Spring Grove appeared poised to run the Rangers out of U.S. Bank Stadium Dec. 3, but MIB overcame five turnovers and used a last-minute touchdown, finishing an improbable comeback for a wild 28-25 victory. The title came 50 years after the program’s first in 1972 and assured a joyous bus trip home to the Iron Range.
“We were waiting like 20 minutes to get off the charter bus to get into the building,” said MIB coach Dan Zubich, who won his 100th game in his 14th year. “I don’t know if they were awake yet. Sometimes at the beginning of a game, especially a state championship, you’re too amped up even with a veteran team like this one.”
Spring Grove, which won state championships in 2017 and ’18, seemed destined for a third trophy. The Lions scored on three of their four first-quarter drives – an Elijah Solum five-yard run, a 43-yard Solum to Tysen Grinde pass and a Hunter Holland 14-yard run – for a 19-0 lead before the first quarter was over.
Along with early missed assignments, the Rangers had trouble holding onto the ball. Lost fumbles led to Spring Grove’s first two touchdowns, quarterback Asher Zubich was intercepted twice and the Rangers also lost a fumble midway through the third quarter.
“My heart is still going, so it hasn’t sunk in yet,” coach Zubich said. “Spring Grove is one heck of a team and we kept giving them the ball. Five turnovers to zero. So, every time I’m like ‘alright, they’re not going give us another chance.’ And then finally the last turnover, I thought we blew it. I said, ‘Okay, that’s got to be it.’ But I told them if we get the ball back. We will score.”
Third-year Spring Grove coach
Kody Moore pointed the finger at himself for what he said were a few clock-management mistakes near the end of the first half. The result was MIB getting a bit extra time to do something before halftime, which is what it did when Damian Tapio rushed for an 11yard touchdown with 52 seconds remaining, cutting the lead to 19-8.
It proved to be a massive momentum-changer.
“We came out on fire on that first drive. I loved the execution on that drive,” Moore said. “We always talk a lot about starting fast. I feel like we maybe shot ourselves in the foot a little bit of times with a few different things that happened. And then once something like that late touchdown happens, it takes momentum away and then they did a really good job of coming back.”
The Lions had a 25-14 lead after the teams traded touchdowns, but the MIB defense got a big fourth-down stop at its own 37-yard line. One play later, the Rangers were in business when Riley
Busch hauled in a 63-yard touchdown pass from Zubich, cutting the lead to 2520 with 10:21 remaining.
“Asher’s been my best friend for years,” Busch said. “It’s like we’re connected. We know where we’re going before the play starts. And that was probably one of the bigger plays in the game. Just to hear the roar of the crowd was surreal.”
Knowing it was likely their final chance, the Rangers clinched the victory on a 10-yard run by Tapio with 25 seconds remaining, sending the sidelines into a frenzy.
“It was a stress-reliever when I scored,” said Tapio, who carried six times for 47 yards on the winning eight-play drive and finished with 97 yards. “It’s just a great feeling to get the game-winning touchdown in the state championship. Very few people get that opportunity.”
For Zubich, who threw for 168 yards, it was the culmination of a long career with close friends.
“My mind and my heart took over my body,” said Zubich, who was battling through a shoulder injury. “I said I’m not letting anyone down, I’m not letting myself down, I’m not letting these coaches and I’m not letting all these fans down that came here to watch us. We kept fighting no matter what. We took this as a chance of a lifetime.”
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneota Vikings are obviously as comfortable playing at U.S. Bank stadium as its main tenant.
The high school program that shares a nickname with their NFL counterparts was right at home in the sparkling downtown facility and rode a near-perfect second half to a 38-21 victory over Springfield in the Class A Prep Bowl championship Dec. 2. It was the eighth state title for the Vikings and the fifth for head coach Chad Johnston, whose record is now 200-39 in his 21 seasons leading the premier small-school program from southwest Minnesota.
“There is a little bit of being in the shadows of what came before us,” Johnston said. “That tradition means a lot to me and that there also has been no downslide of this program.”
Tradition is everything in Minneota. There are high expectations when the Vikings take the field, yet the team perseveres and finds ways to win when it counts, which took extra importance this year after a regular season that included two losses – a rarity for the Vikings.
Minneota quarterback Isaac Pohlen is a textbook example of what it takes to carry on the winning. His brother, Alex, won three state titles for the program, and he wanted nothing more than to add to the family tradition.
“I’ve always been in my brother’s shadow. He’s got three state titles and it feels nice to win one,” said Pohlen, who passed for 97 yards in the victory.
The Vikings lost 20-14 to Mayer Lutheran in last year’s Prep Bowl championship.
“This is one of the best feelings I’ve had as a student-athlete,” Pohlen said. “Watching Mayer-Lutheran celebrate (last year) has been in the back of my head during every single rep in practice. It motivated us a lot for this year.”
Trailing 13-10 at halftime, the Vikings relied on the legs of running back Zach Fier and also on the arm of Pohlen on the rare occasions they needed it.
“We’ve been in this situation before having been in some tight games this year and had a couple losses,” Johnston said. “We had to deal with the disappointment of losing last year and we fed off that a little bit.”
Fier, who finished with 133 yards on 30 carries, scored on a one-yard run midway through the third quarter and added another one-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 31-13 lead in what turned about to be the most lopsided score of what was an amazingly competitive Prep Bowl.
Hudson Scholten, a 230-pound wrecking ball on the offensive line, said he simply loves his job of opening holes for his running backs.
“It’s pretty nice being able to get a good hole for Zachary or any of our running backs,” Scholten said. “It’s a domination thing. If your running back gets blown up, you don’t have a good offense.”
Johnston couldn’t stop shaking his head in pride when talking about his team and their accomplishments.
“Credit goes to Isaac and these guys,” Johnston said. “Being a younger brother of a star player, you’re always being compared to him. For Issac to stay with it, battle the highs and lows, it means a lot. These guys have a history of having a brother or father having experienced this, and now they get to experience it themselves.”
MINNEAPOLIS – Coaches are always looking to find a way to motivate their teams and give them an edge to win a championship, but as a veteran team, Head Coach Brian Strand’s Barnesville Trojans already had it.
Strand played the popular movie ‘Miracle’ to his players on their bus ride south on I-94 to Minneapolis for their Class 2A championship game versus defending state champion Chatfield. The movie depicts the legendary underdog USA National Hockey team that beat the seemingly unbeatable Russian hockey team to eventually win the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics forever known as the Miracle on Ice.
There are many reasons he could have chosen that movie. After all, the Trojans were playing at U.S. Bank Stadium for the fourth time in five years and still seeking their first state title in school history. Maybe it was because they were playing the defending Class 2A champion Chatfield Gophers, the same team who beat them 22-18 in the semi-finals last season. The Gopher’s fielded all-everything Mr. Football finalist Sam Backer as they rode one of the state’s longest unbeaten streak of 25 games looking for back-to-back titles.
“I had them watch the movie on the bus ride down without telling them why,” Strand said. “The team also Face Timed with Mike Eruzione last night as one of my coaches is friends with him. He told them to enjoy the moment as this is the last time you’ll be part of this team.”
Barnesville lost the state championship to Caledonia in 2018 and state semi-final games in 2019 and 2021 when they surrendered two 12-point leads to eventually lose 22-18 to Chatfield in the last two minutes of the game. Now, with 17 seniors on the team, they were determined to use the disappointment of the past to get the job done this time.
One of those seniors, linebacker/ offensive lineman Johnny Robideau has played varsity since 8th grade.
“I think last year we thought for sure we were going to win the state championship and we felt they (Chat-
field) stole it from us,” Robideau said. “All year we talked about it in the weight room and it was a great motivator for us. In the past, we would have the lead and back off, this year we understood we needed to play four quarters and finish.”
The motivation paid off as the Trojans jumped out to a 23-8 first half lead, forced five Chatfield turnovers by intercepting Backer four times, and forcing him to fumble on another in route to a 35-20 victory. It is Barnesville’s first state championship in football, one they intend to share with the whole town.
“The parents and the community support our team so much and just absolutely live for the fall,” Strand said.
Trailing 8-7 late in the first half, Barnesville junior quarterback Zach Bredman found senior tight end Tate Inniger in the corner of the end zone to put the Trojans up 15-8. From this point of the game on, the 6’3” 265-pound Inniger became as big a part of the game as his stature in a performance that was reminiscent of Randy Moss’s legendary Thanksgiving carving of the Dallas Cowboys defense when he caught 3 passes for
163 yards and 3 touchdowns. Inniger’s final stat line as a pass receiver was every bit as efficient as the Hall of Famer with 3 receptions for 45 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Inniger was not done. He completed a pass on a TE reverse for 12 yards and apparent touchdown to Wyatt Suter, but an officials review called Suter down at the one-yard line. On first and goal from the one with Bredman in the shotgun, Inniger motioned behind center, took the snap, and scored his fourth touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
“It feels good,” Inniger said of his performance. “What matters is the final score and I’m happy for my team as we put so much time into this to-
In the game, Chatfield’s Backer finished with 111 yards passing yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for 182 yards and a score.
“I give them a ton of credit,” Backer said of Barnesville’s defense. “We just came up short on plays that we shouldn’t have.”
Behind Inniger’s plays and timely defensive turnovers, the Trojans proved they did not need a miracle to win the first state football championship in school history. The players showed they had learned from past near misses and a very good football team that was motivated to finish.
Barnesville learns from past, ride seniors to first state titlePHOTOS BY TOM FENTON Barnesville running back John Roller (21) gains the corner as Chatfield safety Carter Daniels (5) moves in during the Class AA state championship game at Prep Bowl Dec. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Barnesville won its first championship with a 35-20 victory over the defending champion Gophers. Barnesville defensive back Ethan Larson (45) returns the ball after intercepting a Springfield pass during the Class AA state championship game at Prep Bowl Dec. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Going for the tackle is Springfield’s Eli Hopp (10). Barnesville running back Ethan Larson (45) hits a hole created by offensive lineman Jonathan Robideau (54) during the Class AA state championship game at Prep Bowl Dec. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brycen Christensen and Grant Paffrath might be too young to have seen the movie “Titanic” or heard of the movie’s theme song by Celine Dion “My Heart will go on.”
After the New London-Spicer senior wide receiver Christensen hauled in a desperate lateral from his teammate Paffrath as time expired to shock the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels, they likely will be part of a video merging their heroics with that song for the rest of their lives.
Minnesota Vikings fans will remember the “Minneapolis Miracle” when Stefon Diggs caught a 61-yard pass from Case Keenum. A video of that play went viral to Dion’s movie theme playing in the background with the words “You’re Here, There’s Nothing I Fear.”
Paffrath’s incredibly instinctive lateral to Christensen will live on as one of the greatest plays in Prep Bowl history. That it was the last play of the game to win a championship guarantees it will find its way around the national sports scene as well.
As for the game itself, the saying “it’s a shame someone had to lose” would be fitting for the Minnesota Class 3A Championship as the New London-Spicer Wildcats claimed the title by beating previously unbeaten Dilworth-Glendon-Felton Rebels 27-26 on the miracle finish. An incredibly well-played and entertaining game featured five lead changes and many swings in momentum and emotion.
DGF got on the scoreboard first when impressive senior running back Jordan Summers ran over a couple would-be Wildcat tacklers on a 12-yard run and midway through the first quarter to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead. Summers, who injured his knee in the semifinal win two weeks earlier against Fairmont, did not practice leading up to the game.
“He’s just a tough physical runner and he gutted it out,” DGF coach Anthony Soderberg said of Summers. “Because of his work ethic and toughness, we gave him the ball a lot.”
New London-Spicer junior running back Mason Delzer scored on a 4-yard toss to the left side to tie the score at 7-7. Delzer then scored again on a short pass from sophomore quarterback Blake Schultz and the Wildcats had their first lead 14-7 early in the second quarter.
Facing a fourth-and-goal play from the New London-Spicer 10-yard line, the Rebels reached into their bag of tricks when Summers took the handoff and gave it to sophomore Caleb Johnson on the reverse who pulled up and threw a perfect strike to the wide-open senior quarterback Owen Leach in the end zone to tie the game at 14-14.
Right before halftime, New London-Spicer had a third and goal from the DGF one yard-line when Delzer fumbled the exchange and the Rebels dodged a bullet to stay tied at the break.
Trailing 21-14 as the 4th quarter started, DGF’s Leach found the end zone from two yards out, his second touchdown of the game, but the extra point try went wide left and the Rebels still trailed 21-20.
Looking to take advantage of the missed kick, the Wildcats marched down the field and had first and goal from the Rebels eight-yard line. The DGF defense stiffened and when Leach knocked down a fourth down pass in the end zone, the Rebels had 4:24 left to go 95 yards and win their first state title.
On first down, Leach hit senior wide receiver Drew Shelley on a wheel route for a 53-yard completion and the Rebels were in Wildcat territory. Facing a fourth-andone from the Wildcat 33-yard line with under two minutes left, Leach gained the first down on a quarterback sneak. Then Summers broke a couple tackles and raced 19 yards with 24 seconds left to put the Rebels up 26-21. Summers, who finished the game with 33 carries for 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns, seemed to have just put the exclamation mark on what appeared to be a championship drive.
Needing a miracle and no timeouts New London-Spicer had just 17 seconds to go 65 yards. First Schultz found Christensen at the DGF 48-yard line with nine seconds left. After an incomplete pass it was all or nothing for the Wildcats.
Then: “The Play.”
Schultz heaved a perfect throw down the right seam hitting Paffrath in stride between two defenders at the D-G-F 20-yard line, but as he got to the 15-yard line he was being wrapped up by the defender.
“I heard Bryson calling for it,” Paffrath said. “I pitched it and then I was tackled. I never saw what happened.”
What happened was Christensen caught the pitch and was able to beat the speedy Summers to the goal line as time expired, and the Wildcats rushed the end zone and piled on each other in total celebration.
When asked if the play was designed to be pitched, a jubilant New Lon-
don-Spicer
“We knew we had to score but Blake could not throw it 50 yards in the air, so we sent three receivers on vertical routes, but we always preach never get tackled with the ball on an all or nothing type plays or two-point conversions and Grant’s a smart kid and he made a heads-up play.”
“It’s a hard one to choke down, because you feel like you have it, then you don’t,” Summers said.
Said Soderberg:
“Our kids did everything we asked them to do, as long as there is time left on the clock the ball can go in the end zone. Hats off to them for making a play.”
When asked if they believed they were done after Summer’s late score, Paffrath exclaimed, “It’s not over until it’s over.”
“These guys never stopped. Their motto all season was all gas and no brakes.” Gustafson said. ‘I was praying.”
His prayers were answered.
etched
The Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) and the Minnesota Vikings have announced the 12 coaches and 88 players who will participate in the 2022 Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game (49th Annual MFCA All-Star Football Game). The 49th Annual All-Star Game will showcase outstanding senior players from the 2022 Minnesota high school football season.
The Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game is sponsored by the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) and is presented by Andersen.
The 49th annual All-Star Football Game will be on Saturday, Dec. 10, with the kickoff at 6:00 p.m. The All-Star Game will be played for the sixth time at U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings. The 2022 All-Star Game will also be the 60th overall in Minnesota high school football history, dating back to 1945.
Players and coaches representing 85 schools and 37 Sub-Districts will participate in this year’s game. They were selected by members of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association.
For the 12th consecutive year, the game will feature the North All-Stars vs the South All-Stars. In the December 2021 All-Star Game, the South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars 12-7. It was the fifth straight win for the South All-Stars.
The South All-Stars lead the current North-South series 9-2. The South also leads the overall North-South series 17-10-1 through 28 games.
• Most representatives (one school) = 3: Grand Rapids (one coach, two players), Maple Grove (one coach, two players)
• Most players (one school) = 2: Eden Prairie, Grand Rapids, Lakeville South, Mankato West,
• Maple Grove, Osseo, Prior Lake, Rosemount, Shakopee, Stillwater
• Most players (one Sub-District) = 11: Metro-Gold-South
• Most consecutive years represented = 15: Mankato West (2009-2022); record is 23 years (Stillwater, 1976-1998)
Largest and smallest schools represented:
• Wayzata (enrollment 3,396) and Renville County West (enrollment 138)
• First representative in 2022 (1): Renville County West (player)
• First player representative in 2022 (2): Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Renville County West
• First player in more than 10 years: Crookston (2005), East Grand Forks (2005), Fillmore Central (2012), Forest Lake (2007), Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (2007), Lester Prairie (2003), Norwood-Young America (2012), Royalton (2005)
• Representatives in State Football Tournament: 40 (2 coaches, 38 players) University of Minnesota recruits = 9 Ethan Carrier Detroit Lakes
The All-Star training camp will be at Minnetonka High School (South) and Concordia University St. Paul (North) from Wednesday, Dec. 7 to Saturday, Dec. 10. The training camp schedule will be posted on the MFCA All-Star Football website at http:// www.allstarfootball.org.
North head coach: Matt Lombardi, Maple Grove
• First All-Star Game coaching assignment.
• Matt has placed 11 Maple Grove players into the All-Star Game.
• Matt is the ninth Class 6A coach to serve as a head coach in the All-Star Game (under the 7-Class MSHSL structure).
• Matt is the second All-Star coach from Maple Grove and the first All-Star head coach (also Joe Basil, assistant coach in 2017).
South Head Coach: Dan O’Brien, St. Thomas Academy
• First All-Star Game coaching assignment.
• Dan has placed four St. Thomas Academy players into the All-Star Game.
• Dan is the fifth Class 5A coach to serve as a head coach in the All-Star Game (under the 7-Class MSHSL structure).
• Fourth All-Star coach from St. Thomas Academy and the third All-Star head coach. The others are Gerry Brown (1978 South head coach), Bob Slater (1996 Metro assistant) and Dave Ziebarth (2008 Metro head coach).
• He is the second All-Star head coach named Dan O’Brien. A different Dan O’Brien (New Prague) was the Metro All-Star head coach in 1993. Here are some facts regarding the 2022 All-Star Game rosters: Player totals by MSHSL class:
• 9M 1, 1A 5, 2A 12, 3A 9, 4A 14, 5A 20, 6A 27
The Minnesota Football Coaches Association is proud of this game and its history. The first All-Star Football Game was played in 1945. The All-Star Game has been an annual event since 1974. The game was played in a North vs South format from 1945 through 1960 and from 1974 to 1979, a Metro vs Outstate format from 1980 to 2010 and back to a North vs South format in 2011 (to present).
U.S. Bank Stadium is the 11th game location in All-Star Game history.
Through the years, over 4,900 players and 512 coaches have participated in this game. A total of 97 players from the All-Star Football Game have played or coached in the National Football League, including current Minnesota Vikings players Adam Thielen (2008 All-Star), CJ Ham (2011 All-Star) and Ben Ellefson (2015 All-Star).
Tickets:
Tickets for the Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game are $18 for adults (age 18 and up); $8 for students (age 6-17). Tickets can be purchased at this link: https:// am.ticketmaster.com/vikings/HSFootballAllStarGame
More information:
For more information, visit the Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game website at: Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game | Minnesota Vikings – vikings. com
We also invite you to visit the MFCA All-Star Football website at http://www.allstarfootball.org.
Sam Musungu WR 6'0" 180 Andover
Cordell Wilson DB 5'10 180 Robbinsdale Armstrong
Tolu Oyekunle OLB 5'11 195 White Bear Lake
Tanner Albeck LB 6'0 200 Maple Grove 6 AuVon Sager DL 6'6 240 North Community
Corey Bohmert RB 5"10 180 Mahtomedi
Philip Conant OLB 6' 215 St. Francis 9 Jacob Kilzer QB 6'3 200 Maple Grove 10 Cullen Kratochvil LB 6'4 215 Pequot Lakes
Anthony Sykora OLB 5'11 185 West Central Area
Max Shikenjanski QB 6'2 170 Stillwater 13 Reese Sheldon WR 6'2 190 Cloquet 14 Westin Hoyt DB 6'1 190 Forest Lake 15 Sawyer Seidl RB 5'10 170 Hill-Murray 16 Ethan Carrier DB 6'1 190 Detroit Lakes 21 Caden Spence DB 6'1 190 Zimmerman 22 Andrew Harren WR 6'5 195 Sauk Rapids-Rice 23 Tate Link LB 5'9 200 Dassel Cokato 24 Isaac Rudningen OLB 6'1 200 Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 28 Nolan Witt RB 6'0 215 Esko 30 Cade Osterman DB 6'1 185 Elk River 33 Owen Glenn DB 5'6 150 Grand Rapids 38 Ethan Boll RB 6'2 210 Crookston 47 Reese Littlefield LB 6'2 225 Centennial 48 Charlie Gleason DL 6'4 225 Stillwater 49 Grant Chandler K 6'0 145 Grand Rapids 50 Allen Pearson C 5'11 265 Tartan 51 Chase Ullom LB 6'1 210 Wayzata
MINNEAPOLIS – Gavin Nelson didn’t have much time to celebrate his Simley football team’s Class AAAA state football championship. Not with a wrestling tournament on the horizon.
Per usual, Nelson rarely left the field in the Spartans’ 34-24 victory over defending champion Hutchinson in the Prep Bowl Dec. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The do-it-all senior then had about 12 hours to rest while preparing for the Woodbury Duals wrestling tournament.
Nelson said winning the football championship – the school’s first – provided a completely different feeling than claiming wrestling titles.
“Oh, I’m wrestling (Saturday),” said Nelson, who has participated on four Simley state team wrestling championships and also has two individual titles. “Wrestling is such an individual sport that you know if you lose or if you win, it’s all on you. In football, there’s 10 other guys on the field with you. And I think it makes it 10 times more special because there’s all those guys that you have to count on to do their jobs and for you to do your job. Yeah, it’s a feeling like no other. It really is.”
The win avenged a 40-0 loss to Hutchinson in last year’s state quarterfinals. It was an experience the Spartans didn’t forget.
“There was a saying that we all kind of had around the school that the football team and the community were wanting to get back at them,” said Simley quarterback Caden Renslow, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more. “I mean, they squashed us last year. And we got to get back at them and now we’re state champs.”
Hutchinson coach Andy Rostberg was hoping to add a sixth state championship to his resume. He led the Tigers to back-to-back titles at quarterback in 1983 and ’84 while playing for his father, Grady, who coached the program to three championships. Andy Rostberg
was vying for his fourth title as a coach.
Always eloquent in victory or defeat, Rostberg said dealing with “state title or bust” expectations can be tough on his players.
“It’s not fair for these guys when they don’t win in it,” Rostberg said. “Whether it be the town or the school – the pressure can be a lot. If they don’t win, people want to know what was wrong and what happened or why didn’t we win it again?
“There were a lot of wonderful things this team did throughout the year. I know right now it stings a little bit and it hurts, but these kids are going to be fine. We’re going to celebrate these boys a lot.”
The Tigers, who rushed for 322 yards, got two touchdown runs from AJ Ladwig to take a 16-13 halftime lead. Simley quarterback Caden Renslow scored on first-half runs of one and 44 yards.
Simley’s Connor Binley and Ladwig traded touchdowns – the latter on a four-yard run the put Hutchinson ahead 24-20 with 6 minutes, 15 seconds re-
field
– Gavin Nelson, Simley running back
maining. Ladwig finished with 222 yards on 29 carries.
The Spartans answered three minutes later on a 17-yard pass from Renslow
mond Smith picked off a Logan Butler pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown with 1:32 left.
“I’m on cloud nine, you know? This is unreal,” Herberg said. “We set a goal four years ago when I was hired to change the culture at Simley football and I think that we’ve made major steps in that direction. This really solidifies it. The heart that these guys have is absolutely unbelievable and unmatched. I mean, those plays we made in the fourth quarter – it was just it was a fun game to be part of, for sure.”
“In football, there’s 10 other guys on the
with you. And I think it makes it 10 times more special because there’s all those guys that you have to count on to do their jobs and for you to do your job. Yeah, it’s a feeling like no other. It really is.”
MINNEAPOLIS – It seems only fitting a match up between two teams with head-butting strengths would come down to the little things. Football games, however, often come down to exactly that.
In the Class AAAAA Prep Bowl Championship, the difference came down to converting PATs and two-point conversions. Both Elk River and defending champion Mankato West scored four touchdowns, but the Elks were perfect on three extra-point kicks and converted their only two-point conversion in a 2926 victory Dec. 3 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The PATs were especially noteworthy because they came from the foot of Breanna Bernardson, who became the first female to score a point in Prep Bowl history. Bernardson also played goalkeeper for the girls soccer team.
“Yeah, this is awesome,” said senior offensive tackle TJ Hill, a 285-pound bulldozer who helps key the Elks’ Power-T rushing attack. “But it’s almost a little bit bittersweet because, I mean, we just won the state championship, but it’s also the last time that I’ll ever get to play with these guys. I love them all to death. I’m going to be on top of the world for a few weeks, but it’s also kind of in the back of my head that I love this team and I’ll miss them. I just have to cherish this.”
It was the second state title for Elk River, which won its first in 2015 under head coach Steve Hamilton. Mankato West, which was trying for its sixth championship, had its winning streak halted at 31 games.
“Obviously, I’m ecstatic about the state championship, but I’d say the first feeling that I had was a sense of relief that ran over me just knowing that all those extra reps in the weight room and the sprints up the hills were all worth it,” said Elk River quarterback Cade Osterman, who executes his team’s mystifying running game in magician-like fashion. “All those reps in practice grinding it out and now winning – it’s just a relief.”
The match up of strength versus strength added hype to an already highly anticipated championship. The Elks averaged 420 rushing yards per game while the Scarlets defense yielded less than 70 yards per game.
Mankato West did a formidable job keeping the Elks at bay throughout the game, but preventing the big play was seemingly impossible. Elk River got a 93-yard touchdown run from Logan Bunker in the second quarter – the longest in Prep Bowl history – and a 57yard scamper from PJ Bono late in the
third quarter that gave his team a 27-17 lead. Osterman, who finished with 73 yards rushing, scored on a 17-yard run in the first quarter.
“Blocking for the Power-T is a fight
every single play – it just is,” Elk River tight end Jack Lachmiller said. “There’s not one play where there’s a guy in the O-line that’s not hitting someone with their shoulders or their heads or getting
on their thigh pads to get them off the ball so our running backs and QB can make plays.”
The Elks rushed for 400 yards and completed one pass – a 10-yarder from Osterman to Lachmiller on third-and-4 that kept the eventual clock-killing drive alive. Osterman added a 19-yard run on second-and-long that was the back-breaker for the Scarlets. The final drive consumed 8 minutes, 32 seconds, ending in two kneel-downs that sent the Elks players into a frenzy.
“We continuously talked about how we can end the game on that drive,” Osterman said. “We just had to consistently get four yards a carry over and over again, just manage the clock and snap the ball at 15 seconds, but I tend to I tend to mess that up a little and get in a hurry.”
Hamilton acknowledged Osterman’s occasional lack of patience snapping the ball, but he was more than willing to forgive.
“I don’t know if a season ever follows a certain path, but since this group was in eighth grade, we said we could do this with this group and they stayed together,” Hamilton said. “The season really is a grind, and then adding another week between the semifinals and this game, and these guys just played through everything. Some of these guys never came off the field.”
MINNEAPOLIS - Legend of the Curse of Maple Grove.
If you looked at recent history of Maple Grove Crimson boys’ sports you might understand why in the community there was growing belief they were cursed.
They had some state tournament appearances in numerous sports over the last decade, but it was heartbreaking losses in the state title games for football and boy’s hockey last season that put the idea out for discussion.
“The Curse is Broken,” Maple Grove senior wide receiver Jacob Anderson proclaimed after the Crimson beat the undefeated Rosemount Irish 2710 on Friday night to claim the school’s first state title. “We were told no teams lose on the home side, like last year no team that played on the home side at the Prep Bowl lost.”
The Maple Grove contingent was again on the visitor side Friday night. After Minneota won the 1A title in the morning on the home side at U.S. Bank Stadium, Barnesville and Simley broke that unofficial streak with wins from the visitor side.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” Crimson coach Matt Lombardi said. “This is the first marquee Maple Grove state championship in boys’ sports we’ve ever had.”
Last year the football team lost 13-7 in the Prep Bowl to Lakeville South, a game they avenged in the semi-finals two weeks ago, and the Crimson boy’s hockey team lost 6-5 to Andover for the state title in overtime this past March.
The Crimson also came into the game feeling like the underdogs heading into this title game against Rosemount due to a perceived easier schedule played. Senior quarterback Jacob Kilzer would have none of that talk after throw-
ing for a touchdown pass and running for two other scores in the game.
“People tried to say things like we had an easier schedule than other top teams,” Kilzer said. “We came out and battled every week and felt like we were the best team in the state and we showed that tonight.”
After each team was forced to punt on their opening offensive drives, the Irish got on the scoreboard first when senior kicker Max Ritter connected on a 32-yard field goal to make it 3-0.
It would be the only Rosemount lead in the game as their luck would quickly change with turnovers on their next two possessions.
The Crimson offense answered the Rosemount field goal with an explosive two play drive that culminated in Kilzer’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Anderson. Rosemount then fumbled on first down, giving the ball back to the Crimson on their own 17-yard line.
Two plays later, Crimson senior Tanner Albeck plunged in from one-yard out and the Crimson led 14-3.
Following another Irish fumble in their own territory, Kilzer scored on a quarterback keeper from the eight-yard line. In just two and a half minutes of game time, the Crimson had scored 21 unanswered points.
Rosemount stopped the bleeding, recovering a Maple Grove fumble on the Crimson 28-yard line. Rosemount junior quarterback Landon Danner found a wide-open Kyson Leenderts on a seven-yard touchdown pass on 4th and goal and the Irish had some momentum going into halftime trailing 21-10.
The Crimson defense shutout the
Irish in the second half and Kilzer finished the scoring with his second touchdown run to put the game out of reach 27-10.
After the game Lombardi credited the selflessness of his newly crowned championship team.
“We had a lot of injuries, and guys played positions they had never played before,” Lombardi said. “Whatever was needed to help our team win, this team was willing to do it.”
One of those injured was Anderson who missed seven games earlier in the season. He accompanied his touchdown reception with two key defensive plays, forcing a fumble and making an inter-
ception.
“He’s absolutely everything, play any position, do anything on the field from any position,” Kilzer said of the other Jacob. “He’s really a game changer and without him we would not be the same team.”
“I just told the team that the beauty of this day is until the day you die you are a state champion,” Lombardi beamed. “They don’t understand it now but when they come back for 30-year reunions they will still talk about what they accomplished today.”
And Maple Grove won’t have to talk about a curse anymore.
Dalvin Cook has a chance to make history in the coming week. The Vikings have had so many great running backs and Cook is ready to pass legendary Viking George Foreman and approach seocnd-place runner Robert Smith. He’s got a way to go to reach AP. Hopefully he stays healthy and will end up No. 1.
AAAAA Cretin-Derham Hall, Eden Prairie 16-5
2022
AAAAAA Maple Grove, Rosemount 27-10
AAAAA Elk River, Mankato West 29-26
AAAA Simley, Hutchinson 34-24
AAA New London-Spicer, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 27-26
AA Barnesville, Chatfield 35-20
A Minneota, Springfield 38-21
9-Man Mountain Iron-Buhl, Spring Grove 28-25
2021
AAAAAA Lakeville South, Maple Grove 13-7
AAAAA Mankato West, Mahtomedi 24-10
AAAA Hutchinson, Kasson-Mantorville 42-14
AAA Dassel-Cokato, Plainview-Elgin-Millville 28-21
AA Chatfield, West Central Area/Shby 14-13
A Mayer Lutheran, Minneota 20-14
9-Man Leroy-Ostrander, Fertile-Beltrami 58-8
2020*
Due to COVID-19, only Section Winners were awarded.
No Prep Bowl was played.
2019
AAAAAA Wayzata, Champlin Park 35-20
AAAAA Chaska, St. Thomas Academy 0-7
AAAA Rocori, SMB 22-21
AAA Pierz, Dassel-Cokato 28-27
AA Caledonia, MPLS North 26-0
A Blooming Prairie, BOLD 41-15
9-Man Mountain Lake, Hancock 22-14
2018
AAAAAA Lakeville North, Eden Prairie 28-21
AAAAA Owatonna, St. Thomas Academy 14-3
AAAA SMB, Willmar 44-18
AAA Rochester Lourdes, Fairmont 24-7
AA Caledonia, Barnesville 21-0
A BOLD, Mahnomen/Waubun 22-21
9-Man Spring Grove, Mountain Lake Area 40-18
2017
AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Minnetonka 38-17
AAAAA Owatonna, Elk River 63-26
AAAA Academy of Holy Angels, Cloquet 14-0
AAA Pierz, St. Croix Lutheran 34-21
AA Caledonia, Pipestone Area 57-6
A Minneota, Wabasso 28-13 9-Man Spring Grove, Nevis 32-0
2016
AAAAAA Totino Grace, Eden Prairie 28-20
AAAAA Elk River, Spring Lake Park 42-14
AAAA Benilde-St. Margaret, Winona 31-28
AAA Rochester Lourdes, St. Croix Lutheran 42-35
AA Caledonia, Pipestone Area 40-0
A Minneota, MPLS North 35-18
9-Man Grand Meadow, Cleveland/Immanuel 41-21
2015
AAAAAA Osseo, East Ridge 14-13
AAAAA St. Michael-Albertville, St. Thomas Academy 17-14
AAAA Becker, So. St. Paul 35-14
AAA Pierz, Jackson Co. Central 36-8
AA Caledonia, Eden Valley Watkins 40-0
A MPLS North, Rushford-Peterson 35-18
9-Man Grand Meadow, Underwood 34-20
2014
AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Totino Grace 28-27
AAAAA Mankato West, Simley 42-19
AAAA Becker, DeLaSalle 24-6
AAA Rochester Lourdes, New London Spicer 35-14
AA Holdingford, BOLD 20-18 (2OT)
A Minneota, Dawson-Boyd 28 -14
9-Man Grand Meadow, Edgerton-Ellsworth 48-0
2013
AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Rosemount 28-7
AAAAA Owatonna, Brainerd 24-0
AAAA Hutchinson, Academy of Holy Angels, 49-7
AAA St. Croix Lutheran, New London-Spicer 48-44
AA Chatfield, *Minneota/Lincoln HI 17-7
A Mahnomen, Dawson-Boyd 46-13
9-Man Grand Meadow, Underwood 28-6
2012
AAAAAA Eden Prairie, Lakevile North 28-7
AAAAA Totino-Grace, Owatonna 49-21
AAAA Hutchinson Holy Family Catholic 67-7
AAA Blue Earth, Rochester Lourdes 30-7
AA Caledonia, *Moose Lake/Willow River 25-22
A Mahnomen, Bethlehem Academy 20-14
9-Man Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Grand Meadow 40-22
2011 AAAAA Eden Prairie, Wayzata 13-3
AAAA Rocori/Cold Spring, Bemidji 17-10
AAA St. Croix Lutheran, Fairmont 34-32
AA Caledonia, *Moose Lake/Willow River 27-0
A Dawson-Boyd, Mahnomen 35-20
9-Man *Edgerton/Ellsworth, *Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 36-28
2010
AAAAA Wayzata, Rosemount 31-14
AAAA Totino-Grace, Fridley Rogers 34-14
AAA Rochester Lourdes Holy Family Catholic, Victoria 41-13
AA Caledonia Triton, Dodge Center 28-7
A New Ulm Cathedral, Barnesville 19-13
9-Man Cromwell, Lanesboro 49-42
2009
AAAA Totino-Grace, Sartell-Saint Stephen 45-7
AAA New London-Spicer, Glencoe-Silver Lake 28-21
AA Moose Lake/Willow River, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 33-22
A Minneota, Adrian 42-21
9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Nicollet 37-22
2008
AAAAA Wayzata, Blaine 27-7
AAAA Mankato West, Northfield 33-14
AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, DeLaSalle 42-21
AA Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Royalton 3322
A Caledonia, Luverne 47-7
9-Man Houston, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 22-16
2007
AAAAA Eden Prairie, St.Paul Cretin 50-21
AAAA Totino Grace, Mahtomedi 14-8
AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, DeLaSalle 56-20
AA Caledonia, Luverne 14-7
A Goodhue, Adrian 28-7
9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Waubun 43-21
2006
AAAAA Eden Prairie, Lakeville South 21-14
AAAA Totino Grace, St. Thomas Academy 40-25
AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, Becker 42-20
AA Triton, Luverne 70-21
A Rushford-Peterson, New Ulm Cathedral 20-
9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Wheaton 42-15
2005
AAAAA Wayzata, Cretin-Derham Hall 28-24
AAAA Mahtomedi, Holy Angels 27-26 OT
AAA Becker, Albany 28-0
AA Eden Valley-Watkins, Caledonia 21-16 A Springfield, Goodhue 21-16 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Cromwell 45-15
2004
AAAAA Minnetonka, Wayzata 23-14
AAAA Totino-Grace, Sartell-St. Stephen 27-6
AAA East Grand Forks, Becker 31-14
AA Pierz, Eden Valley-Watkins 39-14
A Rushford-Peterson, Otter Tail Central 20-6
9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Bertha-Hewitt 25-6
2003
AAAAA Lakeville, Hastings 34-9
AAAA Totino-Grace, Hutchinson 57-13
AAA Glencoe-Silver, Delano 21-0
AA Breck, Kingsland 51-14
A Goodhue, Medford/El Shaddai 20-8 9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 7
2002
AAAAA Eden Prairie, Champlin Park 21-0
AAAA Mankato West, Mahtomedi 17-7
AAA Plainview/Elgin-Millville, Glencoe-Silver Lake 24-21
AA Kingsland, Spring Valley Norwood-Young America 35-7
A Rushford-Peterson, Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin 14-7
9-Man Verndale, Nicollet 21-14
2001
AAAAA Hastings, Blaine 28-9
AAAA Detroit Lakes, Mankato East 36-34
AAA Jackson County, Central Becker 42-7
AA Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Windom Area 27-20
A McLeod West, Brownton Pillager 30-22 9-Man Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Ada-Borup 37-7
2000
AAAAA Eden Prairie, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul 24-14
AAAA Cambridge-Isanti, Saint Thomas Academy 24-14
AAA Glencoe-Silver Lake, Albany 21-0
AA Triton, Dodge Center *Otter Tail Central 3112
A Sleepy Eye Public, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo 13-12
9-Man Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Cromwell 42-20
1999
AAAAA Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul Hastings 42-21
AAAA Mankato West, Cambridge-Isanti 35-28
AAA De LaSalle, Minneapolis Saint Michael-Albertville 28-7
AA Waterville-Elysian-Morristown West Central Area, Barrett 34-0
A Cook County, Grand Marais LeCenter 14-6
9-Man Stephen-Argyle, Nicollet 18-8
1998
AAAAA Woodbury, Champlin Park 28-7
AAAA Hutchinson, Owatonna 21-20
AAA Foley, Jackson County Central 21-7
AA Mahnomen B O L D, Olivia 27-26
A Cook County, Grand Marais Adrian 15-8
9-Man Cromwell, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 40-22
1997
AAAAA Eden Prairie, Blaine 32-28
AAAA Northfield, Detroit Lakes 28-0
AAA Albany, Jackson County Central 55-7
AA Pelican Rapids, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 34-32
A Cook County, Grand Marais Adrian 13-12
9-Man Verndale, Cromwell 18-12
1996
AA Eden Prairie, Blaine 23-22
A Mora, Northfield 7-3
B Breck School, Golden Valley Windom Area 24-7
C Chatfield, Hawley 12-7 9-Man Cromwell, Verndale 46-44
1995
AA Stillwater Area, Rochester Mayo 31-7
A Detroit Lakes, Saint Peter 30-15
B Kingsland, Spring Valley Breckenridge 22-3
C Chatfield, Hawley 12-6 9-Man Cromwell, LeRoy-Ostrander 26-18
1994
AA Anoka, Alexandria 34-7
A Sartell, Northfield 24-21
B Triton, Dodge Center Becker 40-21
C Chatfield, Red Lake Falls 34-14
9-Man Kittson Central, Hallock Verndale 36-16
1993
AA Apple Valley, Rochester John Marshall 29-7
A Detroit Lakes, Northfield 21-14
B Saint Cloud Cathedral, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 28-6 C Mahnomen, Minneota 43-23 9-Man Chokio-Alberta, LeRoy-Ostrander 35-0
1992
AA Lakeville, Cretin-Derham Hall 19-7
A Detroit Lakes, Farmington 21-0
B Saint Cloud Cathedral, B O L D, Olivia 7-6
C Mahnomen, Mankato Loyola 20-13 (2 OT) 9-Man Stephen, Cromwell 36-20
1991
AA Burnsville, Lakeville 10-7
A Spring Lake Park, Rocori/Cold Spring 20-0
B B O L D, Olivia, Deer River 14-0
C Mahnomen, Mankato Loyola 42-0 9-Man Chokio-Alberta, Grygla/Goodridge 7-6
1990
AA Anok,a Elk River 19-14
A Fridley, Sartell 34-12
B B O L D, Olivia, DeLaSalle, Minneapolis 15-14
C Mahnomen, Becker 27-7 9-Man Hills-Beaver Creek, Argyle 28-21
1989
AA Burnsville, Stillwater 21-7
A Albany, Totino-Grace, Fridley 41-32
B Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Perham 27-15 C Waterville-Elysian, Mahnomen 14-7 9-Man St. Clair, Albrook 47-12
1988
AA Blaine, Cretin-Derham Hall 25-24
A Lakeville, Staples-Motley 35-28
B Breckenridge, Morris 21-7
C Minneota, Rushford 42-28 9-Man Hallock ,Stewart 35-24
1987
AA Moorhead, Winona 13-7
A Cambridge, Lakeville 28-14
B Granite Falls, Ely 43-20
C Minneota, Grand Meadow 27-7
9-Man Silver Lake, Verndale 30-14
1986
AA Apple Valley, Osseo 35-6
A Cambridge, Stewartville 24-0
B Watertown-Mayer, Granite Falls 29-6
C Minneota, Sherburn-Dunnell 52-19
9-Man Argyle, Silver Lake 32-7
1985
AA Burnsville, Apple Valley 27-21
A New Prague, Mora 16-12
B Jackson, Mahnomen 26-20
C Glyndon-Felton, Zumbrota 38-14
9-Man Westbrook, Norman County West 45-18
1984
AA Stillwater, Burnsville 36-33
A Hutchinson Centennial, Circle Pines 32-7
B Granite Falls, Breckenridge 13-7
C Harmony, Glyndon-Felton 20-14
9-Man Norman County West, Silver Lake 37-20
1983
AA Coon Rapids, Bloomington Jefferson 34-31
A Hutchinson, Park Rapids 36-14
B Jordan, Breckenridge 27-0
C Southland, Adams Bird Island-Lake Lillian 28-0
9-Man Silver Lake, Norman County West/Climax 27-12
1982 AA Stillwater, Owatonna 34-27
A Brooklyn Center, East Grand Forks 30-8
B LeCenter, Mahnomen 12-6
C Truman, Belgrade 16-14
9-Man Westbrook, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 3412
1981 AA Rosemount, Moorhead 40-14
A Saint Peter, Hermantown 18-14
B Holdingford, Pine Island 39-0
C Medford, Clarkfield 33-28
9-Man Argyle, Starbuck 31-19
1980 AA Burnsville, Cambridge 23-6
A Crookston, Pipestone 32-6
B Mahnomen, Austin Pacelli 34-0
C Bird Island-Lake Lillian, Mountain Lake 20-7 9-Man Hoffman-Kensington, Toivola-Meadowlands 18-14
1979 AA Columbia Heights, Richfield 8-3
A Rochester Lourdes, Apple Valley 22-6
B Gaylord, Mahnomen 15-6
C Bird Island-Lake Lillian, Harmony 34-6
9-Man Russell, Toivola-Meadowlands 17-14
1978 AA Edina, West Fridley 21-0
A Fridley, Grace Apple Valley 17-14
B New Richland-Hartland, Barnesville 48-8
C Alden-Conger ,Battle Lake 15-14
9-Man Hoffman Albrook, Saginaw 44-28
1977
AA Minneapolis Washburn, Stillwater 13-0
A Fridley Grace, Rocori/Cold Spring 36-12
B Granite Falls, Stewartville 44-6
C Battle Lake, Henderson 22-20 (OT)
9-Man Deer Creek, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 20-0
1976
AA White Bear Lake, Cloquet 14-13 (OT)
A Saint Peter, Mora 56-12
B Caledonia, Sartell 38-7
C New Richland-Hartland, Bird Island 21-19
9-Man Deer Creek, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, 5714
1975
AA Stillwater, Richfield 20-17
A Saint Thomas Academy, Saint Peter 21-14
B Gaylord, Onamia 14-13
C Esko, Karlstad 62-0
9-Man Ruthton, Audubon 42-20
1974
AA Rochester John Marshall, Bloomington Jefferson 41-19
A Alexandria ,Chaska 26-7
B New Prague, Caledonia 41-12
C Battle Lake, Bird Island 34-26 (2 OT)
9-Man Lake Benton, Fisher 36-6
1973
AA Rochester John Marshall, Saint Paul Harding 25-0
A Eveleth, Willmar 28-18
B New Prague, Appleton 13-7
C Gaylord, Holdingford 29-6
9-Man Lake Benton, Brandon 50-12
1972
AA Minneapolis Washburn, Moorhead 26-6
A Burnsville, Sauk Centre 46-19
B Mountain Iron, Dassel-Cokato 54-6
C Gaylord, Preston 26-6
9-Man Rothsay, Cotton 64-12
Source: Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association
PASSING YARDS: MOST YARDS GAINED
GAME Yards Player School Year Opponent 555 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Elk River 555 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2001 Minnetonka 541 Dylan Rohlin Buffalo 2016 Blaine 503 Keith Meyers Cannon Falls 1996 Montgomery-Lonsdale 500 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Prior Lake 497 Sean Borman Hopkins 2008 Edina 495 Elliot Mathieu Mpls. Southwest 2008 Mpls. Washburn 483 Elliot Mathieu Mpls. Southwest 2008 Mpls. North 479 Conner Knoepfle Andover 2017 Elk River 477 Anders Lee Edina 2008 Hopkins 471 Dalton Elliot Nicolet 2012 Alden-Conger 470 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Cambridge-Isanti 470 Jordan Larson Hills Beaver Creek 2011 Edgerton/Ellsworth 469 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2000 Mahtomedi 458 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Chisago Lakes 457 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2001 St. Louis Park 456 Elliot Mathieu Mpls. Southwest 2008 Mpls. South 456 Matt Hoese Hopkins 2000 Armstrong 456 Jeff Schneider St. Cloud Apollo 1996 Brainerd 453 Abe Havelka Owatonna 2017 Brainerd 451 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2001 Hill-Murray
SEASON
Yards Player School Year Games 3827 Liam O’Hagan Breck 2003 14 3643 Chris Meidt Minneota 1987 14 3474 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 9 3185 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2019 10 3157 Abe Havelka Owatonna 2017 13 3141 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2014
3080 Matt Hoese Hopkins 2000 10 3070 Keith Meyers Cannon Falls 1996 12 3022 Joe Mauer Cretin-Derham Hall 2000 14 3021 John Nance Cretin-Derham Hall 2007 2952 Jenson Beachy Perham 2018 12 2952 Luc Zellmer Blooming Prairie 2010 2901 Joe Springer Cretin-Derham Hall 2006 2896 Elliot Mathieu Mpls. Southwest 2008 8 2890 Kirk Midthun Triton 1994 14 2873 Sean Smith Hopkins 1999 12 2871 Chris Meidt Minneota 1986 14 2827 Andy Persby Hill-Murray 1995 11 2822 Andrew Wenstrom Randolph 2018 11 2784 Phillip Nelson Mankato West 2011 12
CAREER
Yards Player School Years 11,214 Carter Kopet Cleveland 2013-17 9568 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2016-19 8850 Wes Stetner Hancock 2000-03 8533 Chris Meidt Minneota 1984-87 7561 Phillip Nelson Mankato West 2009-11 7555 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2012-14 7482 Ryan Keating Minnetonka 1994-97 7186 Kirk Midthun Triton 1992-95 7101 Alex Folz Spring Grove 2014-18 7061 Luc Zellmer Blooming Prairie 2009-11 6763 Joe Rubbelke Harding/North 2006-09 6723 Brandon Alt Park 6443 Liam O’Hagan Breck 2002-03 6383 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2016-18 6233 Luke Narveson Belle Plaine 2012-15 6363 Jenson Beachy Perham 2015-18 6267 Kraig Olson Blooming Prairie 2001-03 6107 Andrew Wenstrom Randolph 2015-18 6038 J.J. Korman Bethlehem Academy 1990-93 6038 Cory Hackett Waterville-EM 1996-99 6036 John Stocco Holy Angels 1999-01
Att. Player School Year Opponent 83 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2001 Minnetonka 76 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2001 Waseca 70 Brad Paulson LaCrescent 1996 Westby, WI 69 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2000 Roseville 66 Zach Schoh LaCrescent 2003 Westby, WI 64 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2001 St. Louis Park 63 Travis Kreuter Osseo 2009 Andover
SEASON Att. Player School Year Games 440 Chris Meidt Minneota 1987 14 411 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2000 9 391 Wes Stetner Hancock 2001 9 387 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2001 9 373 Chris Meidt Minneota 1986 14
CAREER Att. Player School Years 1394 Wes Stetner Hancock 2000-03 1271 Carter Kopet Cleveland 2013-17 1122 Chris Meidt Minneota 1984-87 1108 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2016-19 1043 Wes Stettner Hancock 2000-02 873 Kraig Olson Blooming Prairie 2001-03 871 Brandon Alt Park 2013-16 852 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 1999-2001 845 Joe Rubbelke Harding/North 2006-09 812 Brandon LaRue LaCrescent 1998-2000 801 Phillip Nelson Mankato West 2009-11 798 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2000-01 783 Kirk Midthun Triton 1992-95 782 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2012-14 773 Luc Zellmer Blooming Prairie 2009-11 770 Jarod Posthumus Becker 1998-2000 756 Ryan Keating Minnetonka 1994-97 733 Spencer Ohm Blooming Prairie 2003-06 710 Cory Hackett Waterville-EM 1996-99
GAME Comp Player School Year Opponent 46 Colin Westcott Mpls. Southwest 2007 Minnetonka 42 Brad Paulson LaCrescent 1996 Westby, WI 40 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Elk River 40 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2000 Bloomington Jefferson 40 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2001 St. Louis Park 36 Brian Kaufman Hill-Murray 2001 Waseca 36 Anders Lee Edina 2008 Hopkins 35 Jenson Beachy Perham 2018 Detroit Lakes 35 Jenson Beachy Perham 2018 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 35 Ryan Keating Minnetonka 1994 Edina
SEASON Comp Player School Year 254 Chris Meidt Minneota 1987 243 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 242 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2019 235 Wes Stetner Hancock 2003 227 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2001 226 Liam O’Hagan Breck 2003 225 Jeff Fasching St. Cloud Cathedral 2013 220 Wes Stettner Hancok 2002 219 Chris Meidt Minneota 1986 212 Jenson Beachy Perham 2018 210 Sean Smith Hopkins 1999 207 J. J. Korman Bethlehem Academy 1993 205 Wes Stetner Hancock 2001 204 Tyler Finnes Andover 2009
CAREER
Comp Player School Years 825 Wes Stetner Hancock 2000-03 798 Carter Kopet Cleveland 2013-17 665 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2016-19 646 Chris Meidt Minneota 1984-87 590 Wes Stettner Hancock 2000-02 559 Ryan Keating Minnetonka 1994-97 516 Brandon Alt Park 2013-16 502 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 1999-01 496 Joe Rubbelke Harding/North 2006-09 495 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2012-14 490 Phillip Nelson Mankato West 2009-11 442 Brandon LaRue LaCrescent 1998-2000 433 Jarod Posthumus Becker 1998-2000 433 Kraig Olson Blooming Prairie 2001-03 431 Luc Zellmer Blooming Prairie 2009-11 428 Jenson Beachy Perham 2015-18 427 Kirk Midthun Triton 1992-95 423 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2016-18 418 Spencer Ohm Blooming Prairie 2003-06 406 Luke Narveson Belle Plaine 2002-03
TOUCHDOWN PASSES THROWN
GAME
TDs Player School Year Opponent
8 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Elk River
8 Elliot Mathieu Mpls. Southwest 2008 Mpls. South
7 Decker Scheffler Springfield 2108 Sleepy Eye
7 Andrew Wenstrom Randolph 2018 Mable-Canton
7 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Andover
7 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 Cambridge-Isanti
7 Abe Havelka Owatonna 2017 Brainerd
7 Sean Borman Hopkins 2008 Edina
7 Kris Beuckens Hoffman/Kensington 1987 Starbuck
7 Ryan Keating Minnetonka 1997 St. Louis Park
7 Joe Mauer Cretin-DH 2000 Eagan
7 Keith Meyers Cannon Falls 1996 Montgomery-Lonsdale
7 Dan Berglund Minnetonka 2001 Hill-Murray
7 Spencer Ohm Blooming Prairie 2005 West Luthern
SEASON
TDs Player School Year
55 Liam O’Hagan Breck 2003
55 Carter Kopet Cleveland 2017
54 Carter Kopet Cleveland 2016
45 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2014
43 Luc Zellmer Blooming Prairie 2010
42 Nick Vanderboom Breck 2001
41 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2018 41 Chris Meidt Minneota 1987 41 Joe Mauer Cretin-DH 2000 40 Abe Havelka Owatonna 2017 40 Andrew Wenstrom Randolph 2018 38 Kirk Midthun Triton 1994 37 Cory Hackett Waterville-EM 1999
35 Cooper Hansen RTR 2018 34 Jenson Beachy Perham 2018 33 John Nance Cretin-Derham Hall 2007
CAREER
TDs Player School Years 186 Carter Kopet Cleveland 2013-17 107 Jordan Sagedahl BOLD 2015-19 102 Luc Zellmer Blooming Prairie 2009-11 101 Chris Meidt Minneota 1984-87 95 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2012-14 94 Aidan Bouman Buffalo 2016-19 94 Phillip Nelson Mankato West 2009-11 94 Wes Stetner Hancock 2000-03 87 Liam O’Hagan Breck 2002-03 81 Kris Beukens Hoffman/Kensington 1985-88 81 Kirk Midthun Triton 1992-95
77 Cory Hackett Waterville-EM 1996-99 76 Ryan Keating Minnetonka 1994-97 75 Andrew Wenstrom Randolph 2015-18 73 Joe Mauer Cretin-DH 1999-00 73 Spencer Ohm Blooming Prairie 2003-06
Yards Players School Year Opponent 99 Charlie Black to Johnson Hastings 1997 Eden Prairie 99 Pat Juarez to Nick Flood St. Thomas Academy 1982 Cretin-D.H. 99 ? to J. Haapajoki Litchfield 1965 Morris
99 Scott Schmitz St. Cloud Tech 1997 St. Cloud Apollo 99 Tim Martinson Fridley 1987 ??
2332 Marty Humeniuk Lake of the Woods 1997 12 2323 Jason Williamson Owatonna 2107 13 2323 Matt Hammond Lakeville 1992 14 2313 Jesse Dennison Walker-H-A 2000 12 2273 Randy Spring Plainview-EM 2002 14 2269 Scott Schmitz St. Cloud Tech 1997 12 2258 Kyle Minett Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2005 29 2254 Mitchell Fulton Wabasso 2016 13
Butenhoff Mora 1985 Milaca 99 John Dallman Glyndon-Felton 1984 ?? 99 Dave Wenker Cannon Falls 1979 ?? 99 Kit Williams Taylors Falls 1977 Siren, WI 99 Pat Lynch Le Sueur 1971 Norwood 99 B. Schultz Litchfield 1965 Sauk Centre MOST RUSHING ATTEMPTS GAME (49 ATTEMPTS MINIMUM)
386 Kellen Blaser Lyle-Pacelli 2005 Glenville-Emmons 385 Thomas Tapeh St. Paul Johnson 1997 Highland Park 384 Matt Brandt Hopkins 1992 Richfield SEASON Yards Player School Year Games 3673 Tyler Evans McLeod West 2001 14 3009 Jason Williamson Owatonna 2018 13 2762 Tyler Evans McLeod West 2000 12 2709 Anthony Christensen Two Harbors 2005 10 2656 Kyle Neitzel Chokio-Alberta 1993 14 2646 Jake Machacek Eastview 2005 13 2605 Alex Folz Spring Grove 2018 14 2552 Matt Hillbrand Moose Lake/Willow River 2000 12 2410 David Blom Atwater-C-GC 2001 14 2383 Brett Lindenberg Warren-A-O 2000 14 2358 Dave Hlavka Silver Lake 1986 14 2354 Brian Day Brainerd 1996 12 2351 Jacob Schauer Eagle Valley 2011 11 2340 Alexander Robinson DeLaSalle 2005 11
CAREER Yards Player School Years 7503 Tyler Evans McLeod West 1999-01 7009 Jason Williamson Owatonna 2015-18 6247 Alex Folz Spring Grove 2014-18 6176 Kyle Minett Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2002-05 5873 Fisher Marberg Spectrum 2014-18 5702 Jake Meixl Mankato Loyola 1997-01 5544 Mary Humeniuk Lake of the Woods 1995-98 5434 Gino Guyer Greenway-Coleraine 1998-01 5425 Kellen Blazer Lyle-Pacelli 2002-05 5395 Jason Miller Mahnomen 1988-91 5353 Joey Janke South Ridge 2015-18 5336 Brad Loeffler St. Clair 1986-89 5146 Anthony Christensen Two Harbors 2002-05 5109 Matt Lein Nevis 2002-05 5099 Ryan Zachman St. Michael-Albertville 1999-01 5086 Mike Baird Winsted Holy Trinity 1994-97 5081 Steve Rosin Nicollet 1990-93 5024 Rhegy Gelo International Falls 2002-05 4962 Wyatt Kraus Canby 2009-12 4927 Derek Riley Wabasso 2006-09 4808 Matt Hillbrand Moose Lake/Willow River 1998-00
SEASON (370 ATTEMPTS MINIMUM)
Att. Player School Year Games 502 Tyler Evans McCleod West 2001 14 407 Tom Skoog Clinton/Gr. 1993 12 406 Dana Muehlhauser Sandstone-Finlayson 1982 12 405 Kyle Neitzel Chokio-Alberta 1993 14 373 Derek Gibbs LeCenter 1999 14 371 Kody Karschnik Mountain Lake/BO 2002 14
GAME
Recp. Player School Year Opponent
19 Jack Munsterteiger Buffalo 2018 Elk River
19 Jameer Jackson Osseo 2009 Andover
17 Mike Busack Redwood Valley 2011 Glencoe-Silver Lake
17 Gary Albright St. Anthony 2003 Orono
17 Bryan Busack Redwood Valley 2004 Yellow Medicine East
16 Dan O’Brien Arlington-Green Isle 1971 LeCenter 15 Grant Otte Randolph 2016 Mable-Canton 15 Tommy Auger St. Cloud Cathedral 2014 Foley 15 Drew Janke Southridge 2013
15 Cody Rozeboom Hills/Beaver/Creek 2006 Lakeview
15 Jon Burns Hancock 2002 Hillcrest Lutheran
15 Brandon Robinson Breck 2003 Kingsland
15 Nate Holleman Hancock 2005 Ashby
15 Austin Weiser LaCrescent 2003 Westby, WI 14 Drew Kundberg Owatonna 2005 Eastview
14 Tommy Auger St. Cloud Cathedral 2014 Milaca
14 Rick Ellingson St. Francis 1993 Totino Grace
14 Matt Keating Minnetonka 2000 Bloomington Jefferson
14 Lee Clintsman Hill-Murray 2000 Mahtomedi
14 Tom Ellingworth Redwood Valley 2002 Jackson County
SEASON
Recp. Player School Year
102 Bryan Busack Redwood Valley 2004
95 Michael Tweten Buffalo 2019
91 Jon Burns Hancock 2003
90 Tommy Auger St. Cloud Cathedral 2014
88 Tom Ellingworth Redwood Valley 2002
86 Jameer Jackson Osseo 2009
84 Ryan Klocksien Minnetonka 1997
84 Jon Burns Hancock 2002
82 Ladarious Aaron Mpls. Southwest 2008
82 Brandon Robinson Breck 2003
81 Cary Miller Minneota 1983
78 Tim Busch Triton 1994
77 Aaron Richter Mankato West 2008
77 Tony Paquette Hill-Murray 1995
75 Nick Bieniek Annandale 2017
75 Rick Jepma Hancock 2003
74 Drew Janke Southridge 2013
74 Brady Yoerg St. Cloud Cathedral 2013
74 Tim Stegner Minneota 1987
74 Brendon Foss Hancock 2008
73 Mark Olson Sartell 1990
73 Larry Fitzgerald Holy Angels 2000
CAREER
Recp. Player School Years
248 Jon Burns Hancock 2000-03
206 Austin Plonsky Cleveland 2014-17
197 AJ Barker DeLaSalle 2005-08
189 Paul Martin Elk River 1996-99
188 Elliott Herdina Blooming Prairie 2004-07
174 Cary Miller Minneota 1982-84
166 Aaron Richter Mankato West 2006-08
165 Treyton Welch Buffalo 2016-18
Source: Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association
155 Tim Busch Triton 1991-94
152 Jason Schneider Andover 2007-09
149 Adam Tri Eden Valley-Watkins 1999-03
147 Dominique Byrd Breck 1998-01
144 Gabe Kartes Blooming Prairie 2009-11
143 Michael Floyd Cretin-Derham Hall 2007-09
142 Tommy Auger St. Cloud Cathedral 2012-14
141 Jameer Jackson Osseo 2009-10
141 Rob LaRue Minnetonka 1994-96
140 Rick Jepma Hancock 2000-03
140 Bryan Busack Redwood Valley 2002-04 137 Gavin Vosika BOLD 2016-19
GAME Yards Player School Year Opponent 344 Lee Clintsman Hill-Murray 2000 Mahtomedi 307 Robby Hedeen Cannon Falls 1996 Montgomery
290 Jack Munsterteiger Buffalo 2018 Elk River
270 Treyton Welch Buffalo 2018 Prior Lake 269 Chris Larson Andover 2013 Champlain Park 269 Jon Burns Hancock 2003 Underwood
267 Evan Guffey Nicolett 2112 Alden-Conger 263 Treyton Welch Buffalo 2018 Cambridge-Isanti 261 Joe Vuicich Virginia 2008 Hermantown 255 Dalton Bass Hills Beaver Creek 2011 Edgerton/Ellsworth 246 Rory Manke Detroit Lakes 2001 Brainerd 246 Bryan Busack Redwood Valley 2004 244 Jake Krause Moorhead 2005 Minnetonka 243 Ryan Malich Eveleth-Gilbert 2005 Hinckley-Finlayson 242 Mark Jelen Canby 1997 ?? 243 Ryan Malich Eveleth-Gilbert 2005 Hinckley-Finlayson 232 Gavin Vosika BOLD 2019 Browerville/Eagle Valley 230 Carter Hansen R-T-R 2018 Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 230 Eric Zimmerman Cannon Falls 1995 ?? 228 Jonah Christensen R-T-R 2018 Red Rock Central 225 Matt Thrune Winona 1997 Austin 225 Paul Schlough Blaine 1975 Columbia Heights
SEASON Yards Player School Year 1563 Brandon Robinson Breck 2003 1439 Lee Clintsman Hill-Murray 2000 1423 Bryan Busack Redwood Valley 2004 1392 Tim Busch Triton 1994 1391 Ladarious Aaron Mpls. Southwest 2008 1386 Michael Tweten Buffalo 2019 1365 T. J. Thiel Breck 2003 1347 Larry Fitzgerald Holy Angels 1999 1328 Corey Neid Waterville-E-M 1989 1324 Chuck Wiest Mankato West 1999
CAREER
Yards Player School Years 4047 AJ Barker DeLaSalle 2005-08 3362 Elliott Herdina Blooming Prairie 2004-07 3218 Michael Floyd Cretin-Derham Hall 2007-09 3098 Dominique Byrd Breck 1998-01 3009 Paul Martin Elk River 1996-99
2985 Austin Plonsky Cleveland 2014-17 2824 Treyton Welch Buffalo 2016-18 2765 Gavin Vosika BOLD 2016-19 2694 Tim Busch Triton 1992-94 2626 Larry Fitzgerald Holy Angels 1998-2000 2618 Gabe Kartes Blooming Prairie 2009-11 2547 Alex Madsen Cedar Mountain/Comfrey 2005-08 2530 Aaron Richter Mankato West 2006-08 2389 Brandon Robinson Breck 2001-03 2342 Jon Burns Hancock 2000-03 2312 T. J. Thiel Breck 2001-03 2311 Kyle Loven Swanville 1983-84 2250 Gabe Hauer Waterville-EM 1997-98 2242 Luke Ryan BOLD 2016-18 2133 Michael Ricketts Wabasso 2005-08 2056 Jason Schneider Andover 2007-09 2043 Bryan Busack Redwood Valley 2002-04
GAME
TDs Player School Year Opponent
5 Isaac Fink Springfield 2018 Sleepy Eye
5 Evan Guffey Nicolett 2012 Alden-Conger
5 Dave Mueller LeCenter 1968 New Prague
5 Tony Paquette Hill-Murray 1995 Brooklyn Center
5 Levi Lampert Upsala-Swanville Area 2020 Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
4 Levi Lampert Upsala-Swanville Area 2020 Browerville/Eagle Valley
4 Gavin Vosika BOLD 2019 Browerville/Eagle Valley
4 Noah Budach Owatonna 2017 Austin
4 Cooper Vaughn Hills-Beaver Creek 2015 Heron Lake
4 Braden Ellingson Hills-Beaver Creek 2013 Alden-Conger
4 Braden Ellingson Hills-Bever Creek 2013 Southwest United
4 Austin Moorhouse Randolph 2013 Nicollet
4 Nick Kaus Mankato West 2010 Winona
4 Ted Bickel Minnetonka 2001 Hill-Murray
4 Ryan Klockstein Minnetonka 1997 Richfield
4 Joe Olson Deer River 1995 Mt.Iron-Buhl
4 Judge Gisslen Triton 1994 Becker
4 Tim Neubert Sauk Centre 1986 Long Prairie
SEASON
TDs Player School Year
25 Dominique Byrd Breck 2001
24 Brandon Robinson Breck 2003 23 Corey Neid Waterville-E-M 1989
CAREER
TDs Player School Years
54 Austin Plonsky Cleveland 2014-17
51 AJ Barker DeLaSalle 2005-08
49 Dominique Byrd Breck 1998-01
43 Michael Floyd Cretin-Derham Hall 2007-09 41 Michael FLoyd Cretin-Derham Hall 2007-09
40 Elliott Herdina Blooming Prairie 2004-07
36 Treyton Welch Buffalo 2016-18 36 Brandon Robinson Breck 2001-03 35 Noel Hassert Minneota 1988-90 34 Gavin Vosika BOLD 2016-19
34 Gabe Kartes Blooming Prairie 2009-11
33 Aaron Richter Mankato West 2006-08 31 Paul Martin Elk River 1997-99 31 Gabe Hauer Waterville-EM 1997-99
3635 Dominque Sims DeLaSalle 1999 1347 Rush, 830 Pass, 1458 Returns 3522 Dan Dobson Mankato West 2006 2354 Pass, 1168 Rush 3447 Alex Folz Spring Grove 2016 868 Rush, 2269 Pass, 310 Returns 3426 Cooper Hansen RTR 2018 2722 Pass, 656 Rush, 48 Receiving 3425 Todd Linaman Southland 1983 3330 Wes Stetner Hancock 2003 2835 Pass, 428 Rush, 67 Returns 3326 Kirk Midthun Triton 1994 3214 Steve Moline Hillcrest Lutheran 2001 2257 Pass, 957 Rush 3201 Jason Williamson Owatonna 2018 3009 Rush, 149 Receiving, 43 Return 3022 Jason Williamson Owatonna 2017 2323 Rush, 454 Receiving, 245 Return
CAREER (5900 MINIMUM) Yards Player School Years Yardage Combinations 14068 Alex Folz Spring Grove 2014-18 6247 Rush, 7101 Pass, 701 Return, 19 Receiving 10042 Philip Nelson Mankato West 2009-11 9038 Ryan Schlichte Mankato West 2012-14 7555 Pass, 1483 Rush 9011 Jordan Sagedahl BOLD 2015-19 7,330 Pass, 1681 Rush 8806 Marcel Jones Simley 2001-04 5753 Pass,1945 Rush,1098 Returns 8647 Luke Narveson Belle Plaine 2012-15 6233 Pass, 1982 Rush, 261 Receiving, 171 Returns 8334 Kirk Midthun Triton 1992-95 8294 Jason Williamson Owatonna 2015-18 7009 Rush, 776 Receiving, 245 Returns 7938 Joe Rubbelke North/Harding 2006-09 6763 Pass, 1175 Rushing 7666 Carter Kirk Mountain Lake Area 2011-13 4703 Pass, 2633 Rush, 330 Receiving 6892 Matt Konz Adrian 1996-99 3535 Rush, 3257 Pass 6768 Tony Hulke Nicollet 1999-02 6521 Cooper Hansen RTR 2015-18 4973 Pass, 1491 Rush, 57 Receiving 6400 Sawyer Gahler Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 2010-13 2762 Pass, 1732 Rush, 238 Receiving, 1668 Returns 6201 Tyler Greguson Rochester Lourdes 2005-09 4138 Pass, 2012 Rush, 51 Receiving 5964 Frank Burdick Mahnomen 1984-87
