Top 25 Minnesota high school football rankings (10/2/2023)
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Through rain, thunder and lightning throughout much of the state, Minnesota high school football week five carried on.
Then No. 24 Alexandria upset No. 10 Brainerd, and No. 4 Chanhassen knocked off No. 3 Mankato West.
Here is the Power 25 rankings headed into week six.
No. 1 Eden Prairie (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Next game: Oct. 5 at No. 5 Minnetonka (5-0)
Ranking rationale: Eden Prairie thumped Wayzata (1-4) 39-7 in a game that took two separate days to complete. The Eagles were up 15-0 in the second quarter Friday when lightning delayed, and then suspended, the game. The next morning, the teams reconvened at Wayzata High School where the Eagles continued their momentum.
Wayzata didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter for the last score of the game. Hawken Hedlund rushed for two touchdowns and Terae Dunn had a 23-yard pick six. All five of the Eagles’ wins have come against teams that have been in the Power 25 this season. They’ve all come by 14 or more points. Eden Prairie is averaging 38.6 points per game.
No. 2 Lakeville South (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. No. 14 Rosemount (3-2)
Ranking rationale: The Cougars overcame an early scare to dominate in a 39-17 win at Rochester Mayo (2-3). The host Spartans jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Lakeville South rallied to go up 15-10 after one quarter and 22-10 at halftime.
Lakeville South scored 32 straight points before Mayo got back on the board in the fourth quarter. The Cougars showed big play ability as Jonah Shine rushed for touchdowns of 48 and 44 yards and Bo Bokman ran for a 40-yard touchdown. South has won four of five games by 13-plus points. It won’t get a crack to face off against No. 1 Eden Prairie during the regular season.
No. 3 Chanhassen (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Next game: Oct. 6 at Mankato East (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Minnesota prep football fans were treated to two of the top teams in Class 5A squaring off in an anticipated Week 5 matchup. Chanhassen takes over the No. 3 spot from Mankato West (4-1) after the Storm came away with a 21-14 home victory.
Chanhassen never trailed and led 21-7 before West halved its deficit in the fourth quarter. Talented running back Maxwell Woods caught touchdown passes from Brayden Windschitl of 28 and 53 yards. Chanhassen also has a win this season over reigning 5A champ Elk River (1-4).
No. 4 Lakeville North (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Rochester Mayo (2-3)
Ranking rationale: With just a three-point loss to No. 2 Lakeville South (5-0) as its only blemish, Lakeville North owns the title of best one-loss team in the state. The Panthers looked strong last week in a 28-6 win at previous No. 22 Eagan (2-3). Running back Sawyer Wilkie and quarterback Riley Grossman each rush for two touchdowns.
North led 14-0 by early in the second quarter and 21-6 at halftime. The Panthers also own top-25 wins at Stillwater (4-1) and Rosemount (3-2). North is holding opponents to 13.8 points per game.
No. 5 Minnetonka (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Next game: Oct. 5 vs. No. 1 Eden Prairie (5-0)
Ranking rationale: Minnetonka moves up a slot this week after recording a big-time road win at previous No. 7 Shakopee (3-2), 14-13. Caleb Francois threw touchdown passes of 63 and 27 yards to help the Skippers to a 14-0 lead. A lengthy lightning delay helped the Sabers regroup.
They pulled within a point on a fourth quarter touchdown but did not tie with an extra point kick or go ahead on a 2-point conversion.
Minnetonka is holding opponents to a paltry 13.4 points per game. The Skippers’ next three opponents have two combined losses, so we’ll see if they’re worthy of staying in the top five.
No. 6 Mankato West (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. No. 24 Owatonna (4-1)
Ranking rationale: Mankato West came up just shy in one of the state’s top showdowns of the season. The previous No. 3 Scarlets fell 21-14 Friday at previous No. 4 Chanhassen (5-0) in a battle of two Class 5A heavyweights. It was 7-7 after one quarter and 14-7 Chanhassen at halftime.
Mankato West held Chan within a point of its season-low point total. Chan running back Maxwell Woods was kept out of the end zone on the ground but made West pay in the passing game with two receiving touchdowns.
The Scarlets remain highly ranked due to a resounding win at at ranked foe Andover and dominance elsewhere on the schedule. Their run of 26 straight regular season wins finally came to an end.
No. 7 Maple Grove (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Coon Rapids (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Maple Grove extended its win streak to three with a win over a team previously on the cusp of the Power 25, 55-21 at Blaine (2-3). It was also the third straight game the Crimson eclipsed 40 points.
Maple Grove overcame an early 7-0 deficit by scoring the next 28 points. Charles Langama had a ridiculous stat line of 26 carries for 328 yards and seven touchdowns. Seven touchdowns is not a misprint. Quarterback Kaden Harney also was a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 86 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
The Crimson’s only loss was to a Power 25 foe (Champlin Park). Maple Grove owns two ranked victories.
No. 8 Centennial (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Next game: Oct. 6 at No. 17 Anoka (4-1)
Ranking rationale: The Cougars won their second straight game with a 35-0 thumping of Osseo (0-5). Quarterback Daylen Cummings had an efficient night. He finished 4-for-5 passing for 113 yards to go with five carries for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Maverick Harper added 11 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Centennial’s only loss came to the team ranked directly ahead of it in the Power 25. While the Cougars don’t have a ranked victory, they’ve been dominant against inferior competition.
No. 9 Stillwater (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 11
Next game: Oct. 6 at White Bear Lake (1-4)
Ranking rationale: Stillwater has worked its way back to where it started in the preseason Power 25. The Ponies recorded their fourth straight win. All four have been one-score games and the last two came by 21-17 scores.
Stillwater had the chance to run almost all the time off the clock up 21-17 with just over minute left on third down and Forest Lake out of timeouts. The Ponies fumbled it away at their 29, leading to a suddenly suspenseful finish.
The defense bowed up to preserve the win. Since surrendering 35 points in Week 1 vs. current No. 4 Lakeville North (4-1), Stillwater’s held its next four all under 25 and to an average of 19.8.
No. 10 Shakopee (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Next game: Oct. 6 at Edina (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Shakopee is on a two-game losing streak but both were hard-fought games against top-10 foes, so it’s hard to knock the Sabers too much. Last week, their comeback against Minnetonka was an extra point short in a 14-13 loss against Minnetonka, which climbed a spot up to No. 5 this week.
Quarterback Judah Forsberg ran 16 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Both came in the second half after the team trailed 14-0 at halftime. T.J. Clark added 12 carries for 106 yards.
No. 11 Rogers (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 12
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Elk River (1-4)
Ranking rationale: A 28-14 win was worth the wait for Rogers. Lightning moved Friday’s game at Monticello (2-3) to Saturday. The Royals got off to a fast start up 15-0 early in the second quarter. The Magic scored the next 14 before the visitors tacked on seven more before halftime.
Rogers wore down Monticello in the second half and cashed in on a couple field goals by Peyton Honnoll, including a 42-yarder.
Monticello took current No. 13 Alexandria Area down to the wire earlier this season, so this is a solid win and margin of victory. Rogers is holding opponents to 15.2 points per game but will be tested down the stretch.
No. 12 Andover (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 14
Next game: Oct. 6 at St. Francis (0-5)
Ranking rationale: Andover is Class 5A’s top offense at 43.2 points per game and climbing. The Huskies made mince meat out of a Spring Lake Park (2-2) team that was competitive in every game this season until this one. Andover got out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter and rattled off 35 straight after Spring Lake Park got on the board.
Quarterback Hudson Maynard went off for five touchdown passes, including for 57 and 70 yards. The Huskies have played a brutal schedule thus far. They own two Power 25 wins with the only loss coming to current No. 6 Mankato West (4-1).
No. 13 Alexandria (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 24
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Bemidji (3-2)
Ranking rationale: The Cardinals are the biggest risers in this week’s Power 25. Their stock continues to climb after a 35-21 win at previous No. 10 Brainerd (4-1). The game between two Class 5A powers ended with 3:40 left in the game due to lightning, which led to a delay earlier in the game. It was tied at 21 at halftime.
Alexandria Area’s defense picked off two passes and recovered a fumble. The Cardinals had a soft schedule up to this point.
This was a big prove-it game for a team that could conceivably be 7-0 heading into a Week 8 home game vs. defending 5A champ Elk River (1-4)
No. 14 Rosemount (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 16
Next game: Oct. 6 at No. 2 Lakeville South (5-0)
Ranking rationale: Rosemount posted its first come-from-behind win of the season, erasing an 11-point halftime deficit to avoid upset in a 29-21 win Thursday at Farmington (0-5). The Tigers have been plucky at times this season against a tough schedule, but this would have been a tough one for the Irish to swallow.
Maki Whelan rushed for touchdowns of 50 and eight yards in the third quarter to flip a 21-10 deficit to a 22-21 lead. Joseph Meleckzedeck added a 34-yard touchdown scamper later in the quarter.
Rosemount bled the clock in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.
No. 15 St. Thomas Academy (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 18
Next game: Oct. 6 at Apple Valley (3-2)
Ranking rationale: St. Thomas Academy rolled up over 400 yards of offense in a 44-13 win over previous No. 23 Robbinsdale Armstrong (4-1). Most of those came from running back Savion Hart, who rushed 20 times for 271 yards and three touchdowns and caught one pass for 38 yards. Ari Tobias ran for 83 yards and two scores in relief.
Armstrong looked poised to keep it a game at halftime trailing by 10, but a Hart touchdown with 12 seconds left in the second quarter was a dagger to pad the Cadets’ lead to 30-13. The STA defense picked off two passes and limited the Falcons to a modest 3.3 yards per rush compared to 12.1 for its own run game.
The Cadets have looked strong since a Week 1 loss to current No. 12 Andover (4-1).
No. 16 Brainerd (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Next game: Oct. 6 at St. Cloud Tech (0-5)
Ranking rationale: Brainerd finally succumbed to its tough schedule to start the season. The Warriors handled a pair of 2022 Class 5A tournament teams in the first two weeks, winning 34-6 at Mahtomedi (3-2) and 39-35 vs. reigning champ Elk River (1-4).
Brainerd was knotted up at 21 at halftime Friday vs. current No. 13 Alexandria Area (5-0) before the Cardinals scored 14 and pitched a second-half shutout to win 35-21. Brainerd’s averaging 37.4 points per game even after the setback.
It has a good chance to finish the regular season 7-1 with a pair of games vs. 0-5 squads and 3-2 Bemidji coming to Brainerd.
No. 17 Anoka (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 20
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. No. 8 Centennial (4-1)
Ranking rationale: The Tornadoes bounced back from their first loss of the season vs. current No. 7 Maple Grove (4-1) with a 33-27 win at a Coon Rapids (2-3) team that was poised to crack the Power 25 if it won. Anoka is 1-1 against the current Power 25 with a Week 1 win vs. Champlin Park.
The Tornadoes have cracked 30 points three times this season. Doing so again this week against a strong Centennial squad could help Anoka approach the top 10.
No. 18 Champlin Park (2-2)
Last week’s ranking: 21
Next game: Week 5, Oct. 2 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (1-3). Week 6, Oct. 6 at Blaine (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Champlin Park moves up a few spots this week without playing a snap. Its Sept. 29 game vs. St. Michael-Albertville got rescheduled to Oct. 2 due to lightning. The Rebels’ losses this season both came by one possession on the road.
They have one of the bigger wins of the season, a 25-24 victory over defending Class 6A champion and current No. 7 Maple Grove (4-1).
The Rebels welcome No. 8 Centennial (4-1) and No. 2 Lakeville South (5-0) to town in the final two weeks, so there are chances to keep climbing up the Power 25.
No. 19 Forest Lake (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 17
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. No. 21 Woodbury (3-2)
Ranking rationale: The Rangers’ two losses both came on the road and by a combined four points. They sandwich a trio of wins, including a resounding victory over the team below them in this week’s Power 25. Forest Lake is coming off a 21-17 loss at current No. 9 Stillwater (4-1).
The Ponies were looking to bleed the clock up four in the closing minutes. A fumble gave Forest Lake new life with the ball in enemy territory with just over a minute left, but the comeback bid fell shy.
No. 20 Mounds View (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
Next game: Oct. 5 vs. East Ridge (1-4)
Ranking rationale: If you’re someone who likes to watch close games and great defense, Mounds View is the team for you. All five games have been decided by 16 or fewer points with the last two by a combined five.
The Mustangs haven’t allowed more than 24 points in a game and allow just 14.4 a night. Mounds View shook off a two-game losing streak to Power 25 foes by finally getting the best of a ranked foe, winning 15-14 at previous No. 13 Woodbury (3-2).
Down 15-7, Mounds View pulled within one with nine seconds left in the game on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Sampson to Tyler Nastrom. Mounds View kicked the PAT earlier in the game but went for the win as Nystrom passed to Peter Nyguen for the go-ahead conversion.
No. 21 Woodbury (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 13
Next game: Oct. 6 at No. 19 Forest Lake (3-2)
Ranking rationale: What does Woodbury have in common with its opponent this week? Besides both being 3-2, the Royals also have two losses by a combined four points like the Lakers. Woodbury fell just shy last week in a 15-14 loss to Mounds View (3-2), which re-entered the Power 25 at No. 19 this week.
The Royals took a 14-7 lead late in the third quarter and kept it until the Mustangs scored a 1-yard touchdown with nine seconds left and got the 2-point conversion. It was a rare lapse for a Woodbury defense that held Mounds View under 200 yards of offense and just 32 rushing yards on 24 carries.
The Royals have yet to beat a ranked foe but have hung tough with the two they’ve faced.
No. 22 Sauk Rapids-Rice (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Cambridge-Isanti (3-2)
Ranking rationale: Sauk Rapids-Rice likely has never felt so good after beating a 1-3 team. There was plenty to cheer about the Storm’s 30-28 upset of defending Class 5A champion Elk River. The Elks’ are Minnesota’s tough luck team in 2023.
Their four losses were all to current Power 25 squads by a combined 19 points. But enough about them and more of the Storm. S-R-R kept its perfect record intact thanks in part to a big performance by running back Shaun Walrath.
He toted it 26 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winner with 6:45 left in the game. S-R-R led 24-8 at halftime before losing the third quarter 20-0. A 52-yard touchdown run and 80-yard pick six to start the half swung the momentum in Elk River’s favor, but it proved to be just temporary.
The Storm were previously unranked due to a lot of close wins against losing teams. The trend continued, though this was clearly a better effort than the rest.
No. 23 Buffalo (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 25
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Burnsville (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Attrition in the bottom half of the Power 25 allows Buffalo to move up a couple spots this week. The Bison did not do much on their own accord, needing a fourth-quarter touchdown to put away winless Roseville 21-12 on Saturday in a game rescheduled from Friday due to lightning.
Buffalo has won four in a row since it got drubbed 48-7 at current No. 1 Eden Prairie (5-0). The Bison haven’t beaten a ranked foe yet, which is a big reason why this one-loss Class 6A squad has yet to break into the top 20.
No. 24 Owatonna (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
Next game: Oct. 6 at No. 6 Mankato West (4-1)
Ranking rationale: Owatonna breaks into the Power 25 for the first time this season. The Huskies’ lone loss was on the road at the current Class 5A title favorite and No. 3 Chanhassen Storm (5-0). Otherwise, it’s Owatonna laying down the beating like it did last week in a 63-26 homecoming victory vs. Rochester Century (1-4).
The Huskies handed New Prague (4-1) its only loss in a 17-7 slugfest in Week 3. Owatonna can show what it’s made of by beating a Mankato West team looking to bounce back from a loss to Chanhassen
No. 25 Becker (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Rocori (4-1)
Ranking rationale: Becker makes its Power 25 debut after coming out on top of another hard-fought battle with Hutchinson (3-2), 21-20. The Bulldogs scored 21 straight after the Tigers got on the scoreboard first with six points. Becker led by 15 entering the fourth quarter. Hutchinson scored a touchdown but was stuffed on a 2-point conversion.
That proved huge as the Tigers’ next touchdown and 2-point make still left them a point short in their late comeback. Becker was led by quarterback Zachary Bengston, who threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another. The Bulldogs’ first four wins this season all came by 26 or more points.
They’ve routed metro schools like Hill-Murray and Holy Angels. Becker averages 43.4 points per game and allows just 13.8.
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