Cretin-Derham Hall
2024 record: 6-5 (lost in Class 5A state quarterfinals)
Returning starters: Unknown
Impact returnees: Senior running back JaDale Thompson is one of the best in the state at his position. Ran for 1,287 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 2024.
Shoutout to a lineman: Senior lineman Henry Malloy is a 6-foot-4, 270-pound center and defensive tackle with collegiate offers.
Schedule: vs. St. Thomas Academy, vs. St. Paul Central, at Bloomington Jefferson, vs. St. Louis Park, at Tartan, at Bloomington Kennedy, vs. Mahtomedi, at Elk River
The skinny: Former Gophers safety Kim Royston, a Raiders alum, is back to coach the program. He takes over a team on the rise that’s fresh off a state tournament appearance and has the talent to make another deep playoff run. This year’s regular season schedule starts and finishes with a pair of monster matchups that will show exactly where the Raiders are to start, and how far they’ve come by season’s end.
St. Louis Park
2024 record: 4-6 (lost in Class 5A, Section 5 semifinals)
Returning starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
Impact returnees: Senior linebacker Mason Helfmann is a St. Thomas commit and was a District defensive player of the year in 2024. Everrett Arnold is a 6-foot-5 quarterback with legitimate collegiate interest who threw for 1,127 yards and eight scores as a sophomore.
Shoutout to a lineman: Junior center Bennett Johnson stands at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds. “Great feet, moves well for his size,” St. Louis Park coach Jason Foster said.
Schedule: at Minneapolis Southwest, vs. Bloomington Kennedy, vs. Mahtomedi, at Cretin-Derham Hall, at Park Center, vs. Bloomington Jefferson, at Tartan, vs. St. Francis
The skinny: Helfmann will head a defense featuring playmakers in the secondary such as Dominic Barth and Josh Rickord, while Arnold has passing game weapons Cooper Schultz, Ryan Oliesky and Logan Odea all back.
The level of returning talent has St. Louis Park thinking of its first state tournament trip since 2017.
Two Rivers
2024 record: 8-1 (lost in Class 5A, Section 3 semifinals)
Returning starters: 20 in total
Impact returnees: Senior quarterback Drew Altavilla is a returning district MVP with 31 passing touchdowns on his ledger. He still has primary target Johnny Laugerman, who has 1,043 yards and 15 career receiving scores.
Shoutout to a lineman: Dayven Clairmont and Jacion Jones are both three-year starters paving the way for an explosive offense.
Schedule: vs. Spring Lake Park, at Simley, vs. Apple Valley, at Burnsville, at Hastings, vs. Mankato West, vs. St. Thomas Academy, at Northfield
The skinny: The Warriors have too many returning players to name, which will help them navigate more difficult waters in 2025.
A subdistrict shakeup has Two Rivers now playing more of their section opponents during the regular season on top of marquee matchups with Spring Lake Park and Mankato West. All of it should help Two Rivers sharpen its mettle ahead of postseason play, where it’ll hope to make a deeper run this fall.
Look out for Jayden Kinsel Arredondo’s emergence in the Warriors’ run game.
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