Today is Friday, Nov. 14, the 318th day of 2025. There are 47 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered Southern Airways plane crashed while trying to land in West Virginia, killing all 75 people on board, including the Marshall University football team and its coaching staff.

Also on this date:

In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel “Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale” was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain.

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In 1889, journalist Nellie Bly began an attempt to travel around the world in 80 days; she would successfully complete the journey in a little more than 72 days via ships, trains and other means of transport.

In 1910, Eugene B. Ely became the first aviator to take off from a ship as his Curtiss “Pusher” biplane lifted off the deck of the cruiser USS Birmingham off Hampton Roads, Virginia. The flight by the civilian pilot marked the beginnings of naval aviation.

In 1940, during World War II, German bombing raids destroyed much of the English city of Coventry.

In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges, under escort by federal marshals, became the first Black child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans.

In 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military engagement of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang.

In 1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon, three months after Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to land on it.

In 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time, ending the day at 1,003.16.

In 1993, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula became the NFL’s winningest coach with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Including an earlier stint coaching the Baltimore Colts, Shula finished his 33-year career with 347 victories, 19 of them in postseason play.

In 2020, supporters of Republican President Donald Trump — unwilling to accept Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory — rallied around the country, including Washington, D.C., where thousands turned out.

Today’s Birthdays:

Britain’s King Charles III is 77.
Filmmaker Zhang Yimou is 75.
Musician Yanni is 71.
Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault is 71.
Basketball Hall of Famer Jack Sikma is 70.
Rapper Joseph Simmons (Reverend Run of Run-DMC) is 61.
News anchor Bill Hemmer is 61.
Actor Josh Duhamel is 53.
Rock drummer Travis Barker (blink-182) is 50.
Actor-comedian Vanessa Bayer is 44.
Tennis player Sofia Kenin is 27.

Mason West remembers how close his team came to a state championship two years ago.

And now, in his senior season, the Edina quarterback wasn’t about to be denied a second chance.

West threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns as the Hornets overcame a 21-point, late second quarter deficit to knock off Minnetonka 42-41 in a Class 6A state semifinal Thursday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Edina (8-4) rattled off 35 unanswered points over a span in the third and fourth quarters then held off a late Skippers’ surge to advance to face the winner of Friday’s other semifinal between Moorhead and Lakeville South in the state title game at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21.

That’s the same place the Hornets were two years ago during West’s first season as the starter. In that game, West threw a 21-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining to cut the Centennial lead to just one. But Edina elected to go for two and now-senior Chase Bjorgaard was stopped less than a yard shy of the goal line as the Hornets fell 28-27.

It didn’t look like West and company would get a shot to return throughout much of the first half Thursday. Minnetonka senior Caleb Francois — whose team fell to Maple Grove in the state title game last season — looked unstoppable.

After an interception by senior linebacker Brady Young on the game’s opening drive, he carried the ball six times for 54 yards on a seven-play, 67-yard drive he capped with a 12-yard touchdown run to put the Skippers on top 7-0.

Then, after the Minnetonka defense held Edina to a three-and-out, junior quarterback Caden Gutzmer connected with senior Parker Burckhardt on a 67-yard touchdown pass on the opening play of the Skippers’ second possession.

The Hornets cut the gap to 14-7 when three-year starter Mason West found senior Jabari Strader on a 28-yard scoring strike. But with just two seconds left in the first quarter, Francois broke loose again, this time on a 41-yard touchdown run that extended his team’s lead to 21-7.

He ended the first quarter with 10 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

And he was far from finished, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run with 4:46 to play in the second quarter.

But the Hornets came buzzing back, first on a 2-yard touchdown run by senior Chase Bjorgaard. Then, after senior Cooper Drake recovered a fumble at the Minnetonka 45 late in the first half, West and Strader connected again, this time on a 19-yard touchdown pass that cut the Skippers’ lead to just seven — 28-21 — at halftime.

The two teams combined for 607 yards of offense in the first half – 288 for the Hornets and 319 for Minnetonka.

Edina kept hold of the momentum in the second half. Despite starting their first drive of the third quarter at their own six, West went deep to senior Sammy Stephenson resulting in a 71-yard touchdown pass that tied the score at 28.

West then scored on an 8-yard run with 10:40 to play to give the Hornets their first lead before again finding Strader on a 44-yard touchdown pass that made the score 42-28.

Minnetonka, though, did not go quietly. Despite Francois battling injury, the Skippers cut the gap to 42-35 when Gutzmer connected with senior Charles Simonsen on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 4:49 remaining.

Then, after forcing a Hornets punt, the Skippers scored on a 6-yard run by senior Quinton Restrepo with 1:42 to go. But Minnetonka elected to go for two and Francois was stopped short of the end zone.

The Hornets then recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to head back to the state championship game for the second time in three years.

Francois finished with 33 carries for 255 yards. Bjorgaard, meanwhile, had 23 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown.

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High School Football: Thursday’s state semifinal predictions

A look at Friday’s state semifinal games, along with our picks for who will prevail and advance to the state finals.

2A: Jackson County Central vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, 9 a.m.

Gophers commit Roman Voss is the top recruit in the state and has led Jackson County Central to a dominant season that shows no signs of slowing down.

Our pick: Jackson County Central 28, Eden Valley-Watkins 21

4A: Kasson-Mantorville vs. Grand Rapids, 11:30 a.m.

Grand Rapids quarter final win over Benilde-St. Margaret’s featured 47 runs and one pass. Could a similar recipe be on top Friday?

Our pick: Grand Rapids 20, Kasson-Mantorville 13

5A: St. Thomas Academy vs. Spring Lake Park, 2 p.m.

Two dominant defenses that haven’t allowed 20-plus points in a single game all season. Which offense can muster those one or two big plays that figure to win this bout?

Our pick: St. Thomas Academy 17, Spring Lake Park 14

2A: Goodhue vs. Holdingford, 4:30 p.m.

Jack Carlson is a 1,000 yard rusher this year for Goodhue. He’ll need to get going if the Wildcats are to chew clock and keep Holdingford quarterback Jaxon Bartkowicz and his high-powered offense off the field.

Our pick: Holdingford 42, Goodhue 20

6A: Lakeville South vs. Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

A fun clash of styles, as Lakeville South’s dominant rushing attack squares off with Marshall star quarterback Jett Feeney. On the menu: Points, and a lot of them.

Our pick: Lakeville South 52, Moorhead 38

Wisconsin

Division 2: River Falls vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m. at D.C. Everest High School

River Falls’ offense has been high-powered all season. The same, or more, will be required Friday, as the Wildcats attempt to keep up with Notre Dame running back Kingston Allen, who’s ran for 2,967 yards and 49 touchdowns this season.

Our pick: River Falls 49, Notre Dame 45

Division 4: Baldwin-Woodville vs. Winneconne, 7 p.m. at Marshfield High School

Two defenses that have been largely dominant throughout the season meet up in a battle of 12-0 squads. Baldwin-Woodville is one win away from making a second consecutive state title game trip, and experience may win out here.

Our pick: Baldwin-Woodville 21, Winneconne 17

Michigan prep prospect Charlie Jilek is on the move again.

After flipping from Central Florida to the Gophers on Oct. 1, the three-star recruit from Portage, Mich., has moved on from Minnesota in favor of Texas on Thursday.

Jilek was committed to UCF as a tight end, then Minnesota as a linebacker and now Texas as a tight end.

Jilek told the Pioneer Press in October that he felt felt like he was” a stronger player on the defensive side of the ball” and that having an offer to “play in the Big Ten was awesome.”

The exit of the 6-foot-5, 240-pound player puts Minnesota at 30 total pledges for its 2026 class. Minnesota has two linebackers committed: Hudson Dunn of Peoria, Ariz., and Angel Luciano of Steelton, Pa.

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