SBLive's Minnesota high school football Power 25 week 6

See which teams rose and fell in the rankings after a busy week 5

Mike Randleman | Oct 3, 2022

1. Rosemount (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. vs. Farmington (1-4)

Ranking rationale: It wasn’t pretty, but the Irish remain in the top spot for the second week after grinding out another high-quality win against previous No. 5 Lakeville South (3-2). A 35-yard field goal by Max Ritter with one minute, 38 seconds remaining broke the tie for a 10-7 Rosemount victory. Rosemount held a vaunted rushing attack to 128 yards on 3.8 yards per carry. Running back Carson Hansen was bottled up, by his standards, for 73 yards at 5.6 a clip and no touchdowns. Opponents are averaging a measly 7.6 points per game. Two of Rosemount’s last last three games are at home, including a big one in a couple weeks vs. No. 5 Prior Lake (4-1).

2. Maple Grove (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Next game: Oct. 7 at Wayzata (2-3)

Ranking rationale: Facing a team that’s appeared in this top 25 earlier in the season, Maple Grove couldn’t look too far past Champlin Park (2-3) last week at home. The two teams traded touchdowns to start the first quarter with the visitors scoring an 80-yarder. The Crimson put the clamps down from there, scoring 36 unanswered points before the Rebels added a late touchdown to cut it to the final score of 43-14. Running back Jacob Kilzer had a big day with 18 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns. It was Maple Grove’s fourth blowout with the only close game being a 24-17 win the week prior vs. No. 22 Centennial (3-2). Maple Grove doesn’t have an opponent with a winning record remaining on the schedule.

3. Stillwater (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Next game: Oct. 7 at No. 7 Forest Lake (5-0)

Ranking rationale: The Ponies never trailed in their 35-28 home win against No. 23 White Bear Lake (3-2), but they were given all they could handle. Stillwater’s got experience in pulling out close games with a 29-28 win over No. 22 Centennial (3-2) in Week 1. Last week was won on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Max Shikenjanski to Tanner Schmidt with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter. Shikenjanski threw for 251 yards, four touchdowns. He may need another game like that to win next week’s battle of undefeated teams.

Highlights and recap of Stillwater's win vs. White Bear Lake.

4. Eden Prairie (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Next game: Oct. 7 at No. 6 Shakopee (4-1)

Ranking rationale: The Eagles have faced one of the tougher schedules in the state and have only blinked once. A close loss to No. 1 Rosemount (5-0) is the only blemish. Eden Prairie’s coming off a 28-14 win over previous unbeaten No. 5 Prior Lake (4-1). A 21-0 second quarter did the heavy lifting and broke a tie after the first quarter. Liam Berndt ran 16 times for 172 yards and Tyler Walden ran 19 times for 159 yards and two scores, while Nick Fazi did enough to keep the defense honest at 7-for-9 passing for 97 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. The Eagles can solidify themselves in the top-five if they can pick up another top-10 win next week.

5. Prior Lake (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Next game: Oct. 7 at No. 8 Lakeville South (3-2)

Ranking rationale: It’s uncommon to move a team up a spot after a loss, but a 28-14 road defeat to No. 4 Eden Prairie (4-1) is far from a calamity. Not to mention, a few of the Lakers’ neighbors in the power rankings also took a tumble. Prior Lake was with Eden Prairie for a quarter until the Eagles broke it open in the second quarter. Joey Krouse was a bright spot out of the backfield with touchdowns of 80 and 24 yards. The Lakers have a chance to prove themselves in the coming weeks against

6. Shakopee (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. No. 4 Eden Prairie (4-1)

Ranking rationale: The Sabers survived a scare last week. Lakeville North (1-4) led 14-0 last week and the game was tied after three quarters and regulation. Gannon Rydberg’s only carry of the game went 35 yards for the game-tying touchdown with 2 minutes, 33 seconds remaining. Jadon Hellerud was a workhorse with 174 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries. None were more important than his 6-yard rush in overtime that proved to be the game winner. Shakopee has feasted on a relatively weak schedule, but its only loss was a 24-16 heartbreaker to No. 5 Prior Lake (4-1). Games against No. 4 Eden Prairie (4-1) and No. 8 Lakeville South (3-2) will show if the Sabers are state title contenders.

7. Forest Lake (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. No. 3 Stillwater (5-0)

Ranking rationale: The stage is set. Forest Lake is off to one of its best starts in school history and faces a fellow undefeated team coming up in one of the top regular season matchups of the year. The Rangers’ stadium is sure to be rocking to help them take down their toughest opponent to date after a relatively weak schedule thus far. Forest Lake is doing what it’s supposed to do, though, against its competition. That includes a 72-7 dismantling of Hopkins (0-5) last week in a game that was 37-0 after one quarter. Leyton Patzer’s 155 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries led a rushing attack of 11 ball carriers combining for 463 yards and seven touchdowns on 43 carries (10.8 ypc).

8. Lakeville South (3-2)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. No. 5 Prior Lake (4-1)

Ranking rationale: The defending Class 6A champs still deserve plenty of respect. No one’s discounting its chances at repeating. However, a pair of losses were tough for some to see coming after a 23-game winning streak. Lakeville South lost a tough one last week, 10-7 at No. 1 Rosemount (5-0) on a 35-yard field goal with 1:38 remaining. The Cougars were held under 200 yards of offense and without a point in the second half after leading by a touchdown early on. Lakeville South’s only other loss was a close one on the road to No. 4 Eden Prairie (4-1), and the three wins have all come in blowouts.

9. Mankato West (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Next game: Oct. 8 at Austin (1-4)

Ranking rationale: Through four games, Mankato West had yet to allow a point in the first half. Suddenly, the Scarlets found themselves down 14-0 after one quarter last week at No. 20 Rochester Mayo (4-1). Mankato West pulled within seven at halftime and led 28-24 through three quarters in what proved to be the final score. Without some of the metro area juggernauts to deal with on the regular season schedule, the Scarlets have a chance at entering the postseason undefeated once again in their quest to repeat as Class 5A champions.

10. St. Thomas Academy (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Next game: Oct. 7 at No. 11 Mahtomedi (5-0)

Next game: The Cadets picked up their fifth blowout in as many games with a 38-7 home thrashing of Irondale (2-3). Opponents are limited to 5.4 points per game and most points have come in garbage time. The Knights’ seven points didn’t come until the fourth quarter in a game that was 17-0 at halftime. Savion Hart rushed for two touchdowns, and Love Adebayo added one out of the backfield. St. Thomas Academy still has something to prove with next week’s opponent standing head and shoulders above the Cadets’ first five foes.

11. Mahtomedi (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. No. 10 St. Thomas Academy (5-0)

Ranking rationale: Last week’s win came by the Zephyrs’ lowest margin of victory, but it might have been the most impressive. Mahtomedi took it to host Spring Lake Park (3-2), a former top-25 team, 35-21. The Zephyrs led by as much as 21 and were led by another eye-popping stat line by running back Corey Bohmert. He toted it 20 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Samuel Garry gave Mahtomedi complimentary football with a 6-for-8 night for 84 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Next week is another step up in competition. St. Thomas Academy won last year 18-13, but Mahtomedi got the last laugh by advancing to the Class 5A championship game while St. Thomas Academy failed to make it past the state quarterfinals.

12. Robbinsdale Armstrong (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 16

Next game: Oct. 6 at Apple Valley (3-2)

Ranking rationale: One of the more anticipated Class 5A games of the year lived up to the billing. Two Class 5A unbeatens squared off last week as Robbinsdale Armstrong hung on to down previous No. 13 Chanhassen (4-1) by a 34-29 final. It looked like it was all Eagles up 21-0 after one quarter. The Storm stormed back to tie it in the third quarter and take a 29-28 lead in the fourth. Jamen Malone was 11-for-16 for 89 yards and picked the perfect time to throw his only touchdown of the game, a 17-yarder with 22 seconds remaining to Cade Berg. Reggie Carter led with 27 carries for 165 yards and three touchdowns.

See highlights and recap from Robbinsdale Armstrong's win over Chanhassen.

13. Elk River (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Moorhead (3-2)

Next game: The Elks continue to pile up the points, this time with a 35-14 home win over Rogers (2-3). That was actually a season low total for a team averaging a Class 5A best 47.6 points per game. It was a 21-14 game through three quarters against a 2021 state tournament team before Elk River pulled away late. Quarterback Cade Osterman led with 13 rushes for 211 yards and three touchdowns as part of a rushing attack of 44 carries for 378 yards and five touchdowns.

14. St. Francis (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 18

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. No. 15 Sauk Rapids-Rice (5-0)

Ranking rationale: It was a tied game through one quarter, but a 24-0 second quarter set the tone in a 44-14 win last week at Chisago Lakes (1-4). That set the table for an upcoming battle of Class 5A unbeatens with Sauk Rapids-Rice coming to town. Jaxon Skogquist passed for three touchdowns, and Grady Brunn rushed for a 56-yard score. The Saints also have a Week 8 home date with No. 13 Elk River (5-0) on the docket.

15. Sauk Rapids-Rice (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: 23

Next game: Oct. 7 at No. 14 St. Francis (5-0)

Ranking rationale: The Class 5A state tournament expects to be a doozy. Currently, there are seven unbeaten teams with Sauk Rapids-Rice the last of them in the power rankings. The Storm haven’t blown the doors off teams, but are still winning by a healthy 13.6 points per game and have three road wins. The latest was a 37-23 win at Bemidji (0-5). It was all tied up at 23 in a wild first half before the visitors established control. Keegan Patterson had one of the week’s best passing stat lines, going 16-for-26 for 337 yards with a pick and interception.

16. Woodbury (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Park of Cottage Grove (2-3)

Ranking rationale: One game can’t spoil all the goodwill of a 4-0 start, but last week’s 28-0 loss at current No. 24 East Ridge (3-2) wasn’t pretty. It was only 7-0 after one quarter and 13-0 at halftime as the defense did its part early, but the offense was shut out for the first time since 2017. Solid wins over Champlin Park (2-3) and Burnsville (3-2) and a defense holding opponents to 13.8 points per game help the Royals stick in the top 20.

17. Simley (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

Next game: Oct. 7 at Tartan (2-3)

Ranking rationale: Simley probably deserved to be ranked last week, but the Spartans now enter the top 25 with a bang. They toppled 2021 Class 5A state finalist Robbinsdale Cooper (1-4) with a dominant 35-7 home win. It was 14-0 at halftime and 28-0 after three quarters as Gavin Nelson led with 25 carries for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Caden Renslow was also an efficient 7-for-10 for 128 yards and a touchdown. It was Simley’s third win over a Class 5A squad and three more are on the schedule, including a Week 7 home game vs. No. 11 Mahtomedi (5-0).

18. Mound Westonka (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. St. Paul Highland Park (4-1)

Ranking rationale: Mound Westonka is another team I might be late to the party on. The White Hawks were a perfect 8-0 in the regular season last year and are at it again with another perfect start through five weeks. The latest victory came 28-14 at home against 2021 state quarterfinalist Fridley (3-2). Mound Westonka got behind 7-0 at halftime but didn’t give up on the run game that eventually produced 221 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries led by 96 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries for Tyler Albert. That just outdid Fridley’s talented rushing attack that churned out 216 yards.

19. Chanhassen (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Waconia (4-1)

Ranking rationale: Chanhassen probably doesn’t deserve to drop six spots after a gut wrenching 34-29 road loss to fellow Class 5A unbeaten No. 12 Robbinsdale Armstrong, but it’s more a sign of teams around them playing well. The Eagles returned the opening kick for a touchdown and the Storm got down 21-0 after one quarter. Chanhassen didn’t give up, clawing back to tie it after three quarters and converting a touchdown and 2-point conversion to take the lead with 3:42 remaining. Running back Maxwell Woods rushed for touchdowns of 42 and 37 yards and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass. Chanhassen’s mostly survived a grinder of a schedule, and another tough one looms next.

See highlights and recap from Robbinsdale Armstrong's win over Chanhassen.

20. Waconia (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

Next game: Oct. 7 at No. 19 Chanhassen (4-1)

Next game: Waconia was one of the top teams on the outside looking in for last week’s power rankings. The Wildcats’ only misstep was a 35-14 Week 1 loss to No. 12 Robbinsdale Armstrong (5-0). Since then, Waconia picked up nice wins over Robbinsdale Cooper, Orono and Chaska while thumping Bloomington Jefferson (0-5) 53-7 last week in Waconia. Max McEnelly led with 17 rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns. Alex Riley added 13 carries for 108 yards. The defense has held opponents to 10.5 points per game during the four-game win streak.

21. Rochester Mayo (4-1)

Last week’s ranking: 18

Next game: Oct. 7 at New Prague (3-2)

Ranking rationale: After getting blown out in 2021, Rochester Mayo proved much more formidable against the reigning Class 5A champions, the Mankato West Scarlets, in last week’s 28-24 home loss. The Spartans got off to a dream start up 14-0 after a quarter. The Scarlets hadn’t faced top competition leading in and needed a wake-up call before kicking into gear and taking the lead for good in the third quarter. Rochester Mayo will be the favorite to make it to state out of Section 1.

22. Stewartville (5-0)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

Next game: Oct. 7 at Kasson-Mantorville (4-1)

Ranking rationale: The Tigers make their power rankings debut in style. They rolled up on Red Wing (1-4) 70-13 in a game that was 50-7 at halftime. Braden Nelson’s seven rushes for 107 yards and a touchdown led a ground game that used eight rushers to carry 29 times for 313 yards and four touchdowns. Stewartville leads Class 4A scoring 56.4 points per game and is second in points allowed at 4.6. The schedule gets tougher now with 2021 state runner up Kasson-Mantorville (4-1) and section rival Winona (4-1) up next.

23. Centennial (3-2)

Last week’s ranking: 20

Next game: Oct. 6 at Blaine (3-2)

Ranking rationale: The honor of highest ranked two-loss team goes to a battle tested Class 6A squad, Centennial. The Cougars overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit by scoring a touchdown in each of the next three quarters to pull out an 18-14 home victory against Wayzata (2-3). Centennial did it almost all on the ground with quarterback Daylen Cummings rushing 34 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns to lead a team that bled the clock with 70 rushes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Another tough one is next against Blaine, which has been in the top 25 and just missed out this week. The Cougars’ only losses came by a point to No. 3 Stillwater (5-0) and by seven at No. 2 Maple Grove (5-0).

24. White Bear Lake (3-2)

Last week’s ranking: No. 17

Next game: Oct. 7 at Anoka (1-4)

Ranking rationale: The Bears nearly pulled off the upset of No. 3 Stillwater (5-0) last week. After falling behind by 14 in the first quarter and again in the third, White Bear Lake rallied to tie it up at 28 entering the fourth quarter. It took a Stillwater midway through the fourth to clinch the victory. It spoiled a 19-for-33 passing performance for 389 yards, two touchdowns and an interception by Gavin Knutson, who went toe-to-toe with one of the state’s top slingers, Shikenjanski, who went 19-for-31 for 251 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. The Bears have a chance to go 6-2 with three sub-.500 opponents remaining.

Highlights and recap of Stillwater's win vs. White Bear Lake.

25. East Ridge (3-2)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

Next game: Oct. 7 at Osseo (2-3)

Ranking rationale: After debuting the season in the top 25, the Raptors are back with a vengeance. They obliterated former No. 7 and rival Woodbury (4-1) 28-0. It was just a 7-0 game at halftime, but an incredible defensive performance gave the offense room to improve as the night wore on. Tanner Zolnosky completed 14-of-23 passes for 216 yards, a touchdown and two picks and helped out a run defense that was mostly stopped by Woodbury. East Ridge is on a three-game winning streak after losses to No. 4 Eden Prairie (4-1) and No. 3 Stillwater (5-0).

Published Oct 3, 2022

MIKE RANDLEMAN