Minnesota high school football Power 25: Maple Grove begins title defense at No. 1

See where the top teams rank entering the 2023 season

Mike Randleman | Aug 21, 2023

Minnesota high school football Power 25: Maple Grove begins title defense at No. 1 /

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No. 1 Maple Grove

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Osseo

Ranking rationale: The Crimson earn the top spot after a 13-0 season that produced a Class 6A title. Maple Grove had to earn it, beating fellow unbeaten Rosemount in the Prep Bowl.

Head coach Matt Lombardi will have a new quarterback to break in, but there are potential Division I players all over the lineup, including one of the state’s top tight ends, junior Nathan Hromadka. Maple Grove won its maiden state title in 2022 and is capable of going back-to-back.

No. 2 Rosemount

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Eastview

Ranking rationale: It was a dream season in 2022 until the final game. Rosemount used an elite defense and efficient offense to forge a 12-0 record until running into fellow unbeaten Maple Grove in the Class 6A Prep Bowl.

The Irish hope to get back by virtue of having two returning quarterbacks who each have varsity experience and provide the offense with different skill sets between senior Landon Danner and junior Gavin Caswell.

Opponents scored just 8.7 points per game last year on head coach Jeff Erdmann’s squad. Last year’s junior group outnumbered the seniors, so the cupboard is far from bare.

No. 3 Eden Prairie

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Buffalo

Ranking rationale: It’s rare to see Eden Prairie lose three times in a season like it did last year, but the Eagles were on the precipice of greatness with two of those defeats coming in one-score games to Rosemount, which was undefeated until falling to Maple Grove in the Class 6A Prep Bowl.

Head coach Mike Grant’s squad will be new at quarterback but has a lot of returning talent. Most notable is University of Minnesota bound senior defensive lineman Mo Saine.

Senior running back Liam Berndt was stellar in a backup role, rushing for 775 yards. Linemen Ethan Sims and Will Sather are garnering college interest.

No. 4 Lakeville South

Next game: Sept. 1 vs. No. 18 Wayzata

Ranking rationale: A program has reached lofty heights when a 9-3 record and an appearance at U.S. Bank Stadium may feel like a disappointment. The Cougars were denied back-to-back Class 6A Prep Bowl titles by falling 14-7 in a slugfest to eventual champ Maple Grove in the state semifinals.

Lakeville South’s other two losses were close ones to state finalist Rosemount and state semifinalist Eden Prairie.

Moving on from two-time Gatorade Player of the Year running back Carson Hansen is no easy task, but head coach Ben Burk has a strong pipeline going. Senior running back Jay Winters could be ready to step up after an efficient 346 yards and five touchdowns as a backup.

No. 5 Mankato West

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Northfield

Ranking rationale: Mankato West’s 31-game win streak was snapped in the 2022 Class 5A Prep Bowl in a 29-26 loss to Elk River. The Scarlets were denied their second straight title.

Two out of three wouldn’t be bad, and head coach JJ Helget has the roster to get it done. West has the luxury of senior quarterback Bart McAninch returning for his third year as starter. He’ll be tossing it to one of the top receivers in the state, University of Minnesota commit senior Jalen Smith.

Blocking for McAninch is senior Army commit Greig Meidl. Only 19 seniors graduated from the 2022 team that finished 12-1.

No. 6 Prior Lake

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. No. 20 Forest Lake

Ranking rationale: Prior Lake was the “close, but no cigar” team of 2022. The Lakers held their own against a daunting schedule, finishing 6-4.

The Lakers suffered three straight losses to three eventual state semifinalists at Eden Prairie (28-14), vs. Lakeville South (21-17) and at Rosemount (27-17). Prior Lake’s win came by an average of 23.3 points and it had a quality victory over Shakopee.

There were 36 juniors on last year’s roster, so this should be a veteran team for head coach Matt Gegenheimer. Prior Lake also projects to have an easier schedule with no Lakeville South or Rosemount and No. 3 Eden Prairie and No. 20 Forest Lake coming to Prior Lake.

No. 7 St. Thomas Academy

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. No. 17 Andover

Ranking rationale: There were a lot of teams worthy of winning the Class 5A Prep Bowl in 2022. St. Thomas Academy was certainly one of them. The Cadets obliterated the competition for a perfect 8-0 season.

They finished 10-1 overall with the lone blemish coming 20-14 in overtime vs. Mahtomedi in the state quarterfinals that could have doubled as a semifinals or finals game.

New head coach Travis Walch has one of the top playmakers in the state at his disposal in senior running back Savion Hart.

He ran for 1,243 yards with 25 touchdowns and no fumbles as part of a two-headed monster that combined for over 2,000 yards. St. Thomas Academy returns its starting quarterback senior Maximus Sims and top pass catcher, senior wide receiver Luke Dobbs.

No. 8 Elk River

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. No. 12 Chanhassen

Ranking rationale: The Elks are riding high off their Class 5A Prep Bowl victory. They slot in as the third highest 5A team in the preseason Power 25 due to the bevy of players graduating from the program.

However, the margins are thin just like they were last year among the handful of teams that separated from the pack all season.

Elk River operates perhaps the most lethal offensive attack in the state. The run-dominant attack spreads the ball all through the depth chart. The Elks’ top rusher is back in 2023 senior running back/linebacker Logan Bunker.

He ran 90 times for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns. There are big shoes to fill with the loss of do-it-all Mr. Football finalist quarterback Cade Osterman, who’s now at the University of Minnesota as a receiver.

No. 9 Stillwater

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Lakeville North

Ranking rationale: It’d be easy to see the graduation of one of the program’s top signal callers, Max Shikenjanski, and expect the Ponies to take a step back in 2023. He led the team to a 9-2 record and a Class 6A state quarterfinals berth.

However, the current University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Shikenjanski was the old head on a team featuring tons of juniors and younger who contributed.

The team returns its top rusher in senior running back Sam Young, top pass catcher in senior receiver Tanner Schmidt and top tackler in senior defensive back Grayson Zurn.

No. 10 Centennial

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Coon Rapids

Ranking rationale: The Cougars boasted one of the state’s top defenses throughout 2022. They finished allowing a crisp 13.8 points per game.

Centennial finished 8-3 and advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals. A solid senior class mixed with plenty of younger players who are back in the fray this year. Senior quarterback/defensive back Daylen Cummings is back.

The dual threat threw for 546 yards and led the team rushing for 465 more. His top pass catcher, senior wide receiver/defensive back Josh Lee, is back. Senior middle linebacker/tight end Timmy Ball eclipsed 100 total tackles in 2022.

No. 11 Woodbury

Next game: Aug. 31 at Roseville

Ranking rationale: There was a noticeable gap between the top four teams in Class 6A and the rest of the competition. Woodbury was among the best of the rest in 2022, going 7-3 against a relatively easy schedule.

The Royals failed to beat a team with more than five wins but did not lose to a team with fewer than seven. Woodbury could be poised to take a leap this fall with 37 juniors eligible to replace 22 graduating seniors.

Back for head coach Andy Hill are his starting quarterback senior George Bjellos, top rusher in senior Isaish Tisdle and Swiss army knife as a receiver, returner and defensive back, senior Quentin Cobb-Butler.

No. 12 Chanhassen

Next game: Aug. 31 at No. 8 Elk River

Ranking rationale: Chanhassen played a 2022 schedule that would even make some Class 6A squads blush. The Storm had a battle-tested squad that could have made some hay at U.S. Bank Stadium had it not been stuck in the same section with Mankato West.

The defending state champion West squeaked by Chanhassen 23-21 in the section title game. That resulted in an 8-2 campaign for Chanhassen. One of the top running backs in the state is back in the blue and gold in senior Maxwell Woods. The North Dakota State commit racked up 1,414 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Senior defensive end Sam Macy is headed to play for P.J. Fleck next fall in Minneapolis. Week 1 at the defending state champions will be an early measuring stick.

No. 13 East Ridge

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Park of Cottage Grove

Ranking rationale: The Raptors are coming off their first state tournament berth since 2015. Head coach Dan Fritze guided East Ridge to a 7-4 record and gave eventual state champion Maple Grove a challenge in a 24-17 loss in the Class 6A quarterfinals. This is a team that could make a leap with senior quarterback Tanner Zolnosky back in action. He’s fielding Division I offers.

Senior offensive lineman Kene Anene is committed to Kansas. A team with a healthy mix of juniors and seniors in 2022 got better as the season went on to shake off an 0-2 start.

No. 14 Shakopee

Next game: Aug. 31 at Hopkins

Ranking rationale: The Sabers are coming off a 7-4 season where they rolled up one of the most impressive wins in the state, a 31-14 dismantling of powerhouse Eden Prairie.

Eden Prairie got revenge in the playoffs, downing Shakopee by two points more in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Shakopee was a senior-laden team, so it will be interesting to see if the program can maintain its success.

No. 15 Rogers

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Sartell

Ranking rationale: There are lot of high caliber teams in Class 5A. It feels like Rogers could still be ranked too low. The Royals are going to give opposing quarterback nightmares with the defensive line duo of Oklahoma commit senior Wyatt GIlmore and Wyoming commit senior Adrian Onyiego.

They were part of a squad that went 9-4 and gave defending state champion Mankato West a run for its money in a 14-10 lost in the state semifinals.

This was after Rogers erased a 16-point deficit to stun Robbinsdale Armstrong in the quarterfinals. With starting quarterback senior Reece Dawson also back, this could be a big year for a team looking for its third straight state berth.

No. 16 Mahtomedi

Next game: Sept. 1 vs. Brainerd

Ranking rationale: Opposing tacklers can breathe a sigh of relief that they no longer have to try to bring down Corey Bohmert. The Zephyrs’ workhorse rushed for 2,338 yards to earn SB Live Minnesota all-state honors.

His production will be tough to replicate, but Mahtomedi returns a lot of other talent to make it a threat yet again. Senior quarterback/linebacker Charles Brandt is back after guiding his team to a 10-2 record and a loss to eventual Class 5A champion Elk River in the state semifinals.

No. 17 Andover

Next game: Aug. 31 at No. 7 St. Thomas Academy

Ranking rationale: The Huskies finished 7-3 with a team that was capable of making a deep postseason run if it they didn’t have the misfortune of meeting eventual state champion Elk River in the Class 5A, Section 7 title game.

Fortunately for Andover, tons of juniors are back from that roster to try to take the next step in 2023. Senior cornerback/running back Oberhiri Eyale brings track star speed and is among a host of players garnering college interest. Junior Kaleb Weikel is back after leading the team with 115 total tackles.

No. 18 Wayzata

Next game: Sept. 1 at No. 4 Lakeville South

Ranking rationale: Wayzata’s 5-5 record in 2022 doesn’t tell the whole story. The tough luck Trojans lost their first four games by an average of five points and won all five games by an average of 29.

Wayzata pushed eventual Class 6A state champion Maple Grove in a 28-21 loss in Week 6 and lost by four the week prior at eventual 6A quarterfinalist Centennial.

The team returns starting quarterback senior Cole Heilbrun. Senior running back Omar Madkour eclipsed 500 yards in a backup role last year.

No. 19 Rochester Mayo

Next game: Aug. 31 at Burnsville

Ranking rationale: Rochester Mayo has the team capable of contending for a Class 5A title. There’s just one catch; the Spartans moved up to 6A this year.

That doesn’t change the fact that head coach Danny Holcomb brings plenty of weapons back from a team that went 9-2 with its only losses to defending state champion Mankato West.

The team will face a tougher schedule beginning in 2023 and will be one of the smaller programs among the big schools. The 2022 team listed more juniors than seniors on the roster.

A key returner is senior quarterback Rees Grimsrud who passed for over 2,000 yards and had a healthy 24 to 7 touchdown/interception ratio. Senior wide receiver/defensive back/returner Carter Holcomb is one of the top pass catchers in the state after hauling in 72 balls for 1,257 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Top rusher junior running back Isaiah Beale is also back, as well as junior Ethan Post who is a nationally ranked kicker.

No. 20 Forest Lake

Next game: at No. 6 Prior Lake

Ranking rationale: Forest Lake is looking to sustain its newfound success. After a 2-7 season in 2021, the Rangers improved to 7-3 last year under new head coach Brad Beeskow.

Their postseason coming to an end in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs to eventual state champion Maple Grove. Forty seniors departed from that squad, but the next generations have learned what it takes to get it done.

Top rusher Leyton Patzer is one of 41 juniors from 2022 who are expected back. He ran for 1,083 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior Mark Rendl is also back after leading the team with 80 total tackles. He was a state wrestling champ this season at 220 pounds and brings toughness to the defense.

No. 21 White Bear Lake

Next game: Aug. 31 at Minnetonka

Ranking rationale: White Bear Lake could hit 500 wins as a program if it can reel off six this season. WIth 34 juniors returning from a 2022 squad that went 7-3, that is a real possibility.

The team’s top rusher, senior Kesean Lipscomb, returns, as well as a key lineman who’s garnering small college interest, senior Evan Chang. There are some replacements to make at quarterback, skill positions and on defense.

That defense was elite last year, shutting out two opponents and holding two more to a touchdown en route to a season average of 16 points allowed per game.

No. 22 Waconia

Next game: Aug. 31 at Rochester Century

Ranking rationale: After a 7-3 season with two closes losses to fellow Class 5A power Chanhassen and another to 5A state tournament team Robbinsdale Armstrong, there was a lot to like about Waconia in 2022.

In victory, the Wildcats were downing opponents by an average margin of 36.2 points per game. Head coach Corey Shea will have to replace the two-headed monster of Max McEnelly, a four-time state champion wrestler who rushed for 1,846 yards and 31 touchdowns last year, and Alex Riley (835 yards). Waconia does have the fortune of getting its signal caller back, senior Austin Randall (662 yards, 6 TD).

His top receiver, senior Mitchel Rieckhoff (209 yards, 2 TD), is also back. Senior linebacker Jack Dalbec is also back in the fold after leading the team with 62 total tackles. Senior defensive back Tate McDonald is back after hauling in a whopping eight interceptions.

The only downside is Waconia’s in a loaded Section 2-5A with Chaska, Chanhassen and Mankato West.

No. 23 Chaska

Next game: Sept. 1 at Alexandria

Ranking rationale: Chaska finished 7-3 last season and was arguably better than it record indicated. Its two regular season losses came by one and eight points to Carver County rivals Chanhassen and Waconia.

The Hawks did pull out a seven-point win vs. Class 5A state tournament team Robbinsdale Armstrong. They fell victim to being in the toughest section in the state, losing to defending state champion Mankato West in the semifinals.

Chaska had a talented defense that stymied foes to the tune of 11.7 points per game. A reason the Hawks aren’t higher in the Power 25 is a lack of returning talent. Talented dual threat quarterback Jamarrius Courtney, 1,000-yard rusher Reese Turner as well as the top receiver and top three tacklers all graduated.

No. 24 Simley

Next game: Sept. 1 vs. Winona

Ranking rationale: Simley was the Class 4A champ in 2022, upsetting perennial juggernaut Hutchinson 34-24 in the Prep Bowl for the program’s first state title. It finished the season. Head coach Chris Mensen’s offense put up 34.5 points per game and his defense allowed 12.9 per game and pitched two shutouts.

The team played a relatively easy regular season schedule with a blowout loss to Mahtomedi, but the Spartans came up big at U.S. Bank Stadium with a 17-16 win vs. Rocori in the state semifinals before beating Hutch.

The key will be replacing dual threat quarterback Caden Renslow, who is at the University of Minnesota as a receiver, as well as 2,000-yard rusher Gavin Nelson, who was an SBLive second team all-state selection.

Top tackler senior linebacker Derik Dohman is back after making 90 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Junior running back Jerrod Jones rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns at 9 yards per carry.

No. 25 Hutchinson

Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake

Ranking rationale: Legendary head coach Andy Rostberg guided his squad to an 11-2 record and the Class 4A Prep Bowl where they were upset by Simley, 34-24.

The only other loss was by two points to Becker. Every other game was pure domination. The closest margin of victory being a 24-point drubbing of eventual 4A state semifinalist Rocori.

The talented running back duo of Levi Teetzel (2,093 yards) and AJ Ladwig (1,555 yards) both graduated, but this is a program that churns out a formidable rushing attack regardless of who’s toting the rock. Senior Carter Verhasselt is back this year after averaging 7.3 yards per carry on 41 attempts.

Top pass catcher receiver Charlie Renner is also back as a senior after a 454-yard season, which is no small number in this offensive system.

Senior quarterback Logan Butler is also back after an efficient season throwing for 1,030 yards at 59.6 percent accuracy. Current Golden Gopher Alex Elliott has departed after leading the team with 104 total tackles at linebacker, but there’s a lot of talent back behind him.

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Published Aug 21, 2023

MIKE RANDLEMAN