The Minnesota high school football season kicks off Thursday and Friday across the metro. Here’s a a selection of teams in the eastern metro, with more team-by-team previews to come throughout the week.
Chisago Lakes
2024 record: 4-6 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 semifinals)
Returning starters: 1 on offense, 2 on defense
Impact returnees: Quarterback Kellen Meissner had six touchdowns through the air and six on the ground while battling injuries as a junior. Cole Stilp and Reese Nasvik are playmakers in the secondary.
Shoutout to a lineman: Junior lineman William Naatz. Chisago Lakes coach Ryan Anderson said Naatz “has a great motor, a great heart, and is an awesome team guy. He’s fun to watch in the trenches.”
Schedule: vs. Hill-Murray, at Cambridge-Isanti, vs. Simley, vs. St. Anthony, at North St. Paul, vs. Princeton, at South St. Paul, at Zimmerman
The skinny: There will be a lot of newness for the Wildcats this fall, both from the different opponents on the schedule to the fresh faces lining up after graduating a senior-laden team from a year ago. But Anderson said this group has come together as a team. Time will tell how many times Chisago Lakes gets to fire off its civil war replica cannon after home victories this fall.
Hill-Murray
2024 record: 9-2 (lost in Class 4A state quarterfinals)
Returning starters: Unknown
Impact returnees: Senior George Evert was an all-district edge rusher last fall. Sophomore Grady Buettner averaged seven yards a carry in 2024 and figures to get more rushing work this season.
Shoutout to a lineman: Sophomore Brady Reeves is an intriguing defensive end prospect.
Schedule: at Chisago Lakes, at Minneapolis Southwest, vs. Byron, at North St. Paul, vs. South St. Paul, vs. Providence Academy, at Simley, vs. St. Agnes
The skinny: Hill-Murray returns a bevy of defensive talent, particularly in the secondary with the likes of Caden Harrington, Ezo Lane, Air Force commit Levi Grigson and Jacob Dornan all back.
There’s enough skill for the Pioneers to achieve at a high level, but Hill-Murray must replace graduated quarterback Jackson Reeves and hold up in the trenches to get back to the 4A state tournament.
North St. Paul
North St. Paul quarterback Elijah Ernwein looks to throw as he scrambles out to the pocket during the first half of the at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Simley won 41-20. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)
2024 record: 4-6 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 semifinals)
Returning starters: 6 on offense, 4 on defense
Impact returnees: Senior quarterback Elijah Ernwein is a four-year starter who tallied north of 30 touchdowns and 4,000 all-purpose yards as a junior while also playing in the secondary.
Shoutout to a lineman: Senior Michael Timmers is a three-year starter aiming for a bounce-back campaign after injuries impacted his 2024 season.
Schedule: at St. Cloud Tech, vs. Como Park, at South St. Paul, vs. Hill-Murray, vs. Chisago Lakes, at Simley, vs. Faribault, at Concordia Academy
The skinny: The Polars are without two key figures from last year’s team that won a playoff game — coach Justin McDonald stepped away to prioritize family health matters and star receiver John Jeanetta now attends a school in North Carolina. But new head coach Isaiah Koran knows how to win at North St. Paul, having played for the 2015 state tournament team. Plus, the Polars have three offensive linemen back — Timmers, Cory Huggar and Colin Graber — with Matt Bono, Jayden Her and Changa Burch set to make plays from the skill positions.
The Polars also have three members of their secondary back in Ernwein, Adrian Treziok and Montaeo Jarvis.
Simley
2024 record: 5-5 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 title game)
Returning starters: 3 on offense, 3 on defense
Simley’s running back Carter Bungue (6) celebrates with quarterback Christian Urbina after scoring a touchdown during the second half of the at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Simley won 41-20. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)Impact returnees: Junior quarterback Christian Urbina threw for 1,333 yards and 18 scores last season. Senior Carter Bungue had 73 tackles at linebacker while rushing for 10 touchdowns on offense.
Shoutout to a lineman: Luis Fierro is a strong, athletic lineman who will play on both fronts. Spartans coach Chris Mensen said Fierro “understands leverage and plays with a chip on his shoulder.”
Schedule: at Minneapolis North, vs. Two Rivers, at Chisago Lakes, vs. South St. Paul, at Stewartville, vs. North St. Paul, vs. Hill-Murray, at SMB
The skinny: A number of sophomores and juniors set to contribute, but there is talent in the lower classes, and enough seniors at key spots — such as Bungue, defensive lineman Gracious Tasha, edge rusher Bryan Guillen and even kicker Charlie Martin — to suggest Simley could follow a similar script to a year ago, when it started slow but hit its stride in the second half of the campaign and was a play or two away from the state tournament.
South St. Paul
Hill-Murrqay linebacker John Pietruszeweski, right, knocks down a pass by South St. Paul quarterback Sincere Casarez-McCampbell during the second half at South St. Paul High School in South St. Paul High,, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Hill-Murray won 35-14. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)
2024 record: 3-6 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 quarterfinals)
Returning starters: 7 on offense, 9 on defense
Impact returnees: Sincere Casarez-McCampbell is a prototypical Packers quarterback; he’s tough, smart, runs and can make timely plays. Cornerback Brody Henry is savvy and athletic.
Shoutout to a lineman: Packers coach Manuel Spreigl said Wyatt Henderson and Gavin Skalicky “have the potential to be the best guards in 4A. They are physically imposing and tough.”
Schedule: at Minneapolis Camden, vs. Richfield, vs. North St. Paul, at Simley, at Hill-Murray, vs. Winona, vs. Chisago Lakes, at Breck
The skinny: This could be the year the Packers re-enter subdistrict and section title contention. They have five offensive linemen — Henderson, Skalicky, Adam Miller, Nick Dwelle and Jayden Scholten — along with tight end Jackson Schultz back to block for the likes of Jake Baldus and Ben Thrun.
Linebackers – Landon Murphy, Daniel Fitzgerald and Lachlan Aune return to play behind Donovyn O’Donnell and Schultz up front, with playmakers like Henry, Keishion Jarman and Zay Wraggs in the secondary. That’s a depth of experience few 4A school will be able to match this fall.
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