The Minnesota high school football season concludes Saturday, with the final three state football champions being crowned at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Games will be televised on KSTC-Ch. 45 and can be streamed for free at kstp.com/45tv/prep45/mshsl-tournaments/
9-Player: Hills-Beaver Creek (12-0) vs. Hillcrest Lutheran (12-0), 10 a.m.
How much of a wagon is Hills-Beaver Creek? Its 30-14 semifinal win over Fertile-Beltrami marked the first time all season it won a game by fewer than 25 points, and also marked the first time this postseason it allowed first-half points.
Hillcrest Lutheran duel-threat quarterback Ethan Swedberg gives the Comets a shot — he has nine total touchdowns in two state tournament bouts — but they face an uphill battle
Our pick: Hills-Beaver Creek 28, Hillcrest Lutheran 20
3A: Annandale (12-0) vs. Waseca (12-0), 1 p.m.
Two different paths to undefeated records: Annandale has won every-game by double digits, while Waseca has played in four one-score games, including a semifinal thriller against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.
Which one bodes better for championship game success? Perhaps Waseca’s propensity to pull out close games. But its defense will have to contain Annandale enough to let the game get that far.
Our pick: Annandale 21, Waseca 13
5A: Spring Lake Park (12-0) vs. Chanhassen (11-1), 4 p.m.
Spring Lake Park has shown the ability to win in multiple ways already in this state tournament. After holding a lethal Alexandria offense to just 12 points in a state quarterfinal victory, the Panthers ran all over St. Thomas Academy in the semis.
Chanhassen has overcome slow starts to win in each of its first two state tournament games, but will likely have to get out of the gates quicker Saturday.
Our pick: Spring Lake Park 21, Chanhassen 17
Related Articles
Prep Bowl: Chase Bjorgaard, Edina beat Moorhead for Class 6A title
Prep Bowl: Minneota, Orono, Jackson County Central win state championships
High School Football: How Spring Lake Park re-established its culture to reach the Prep Bowl
Girls hockey: ‘Out of this world’ start for Sarah Johnson has Mounds View/Irondale undefeated
St. Paul: World Juniors hockey event brings Bold North festival downtown
Leave a Reply