Minnesota high school football top 25 rankings (9/25/2023)

Minnetonka continues to rise, and Buffalo enters the rankings

Many of the top teams in week four of Minnesota high school won. 

No. 1 Eden Prairie reinforced its top ranking with a win over then No. 6 Shakopee. No. 2 Lakeville South defeated then No. 22 Eagan, and No. 3 Mankato West and No. 4 Chanhassen both won before their showdown this week.

Here is the Power 25 heading into week five.

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Eden Prairie pulls away from Shakopee in second half

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Minnesota high school football Power 25

No. 1 Eden Prairie (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Next game: Sept. 29 at Wayzata (1-3)

Ranking rationale: Eden Prairie keeps the top spot in the Power 25 for the third straight week. The Eagles have played a difficult schedule so far. They most recently got past previous No. 6 Shakopee (3-1) 42-28 Friday at Aerie Stadium. Shootouts aren’t usually EP’s style, but the Eagles went touchdown for touchdown with the game tied up at 14 in the second quarter. 

Eden Prairie led 28-14 at halftime and began to put the game out of reach up 21 with seven minutes, 23 seconds to go in the game. Five different Eagles found the end zone, including Liam Berndt with both of his in the second quarter. Quarterback Joshua Kelly also found receiver Luca Ratkovich for a 32-yard touchdown pass. 

With Buffalo breaking into the Power 25 this week at No. 25, all four of EP’s opponents have been or are currently ranked.

No. 2 Lakeville South (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Next game: Sept. 29 at Rochester Mayo (2-2)

Ranking rationale: A fourth quarter surge helped Lakeville South pull away from No. 22 Eagan (2-2) on Thursday. The Cougars never trailed en route to victory, but the Wildcats kept hanging around. South took a 14-7 lead to halftime after Connor Cade rushed for his first of three touchdowns on the night with 45 seconds left in the second quarter. 

Cade’s touchdown rushes of 29 and 60 yards in the fourth quarter helped seal the deal in a game previously tied at 14. This was the Cougars’ second win over a current Power 25 team and third against a team ranked at the time.

No. 3 Mankato West (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Next game: Sept. 29 at No. 4 Chanhassen (4-0)

Ranking rationale: Mankato West struggled to get by Chaska last year, but the Hawks were no match for the Scarlets this time. Host West jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and a 24-0 advantage at halftime. It was 31-0 in the fourth quarter when Chaska finally got on the scoreboard. 

This was the Scarlets’ second Power 25 win of the season, with the other a 35-21 win at current No. 15 Andover (3-1). That win has appreciated in value after Andover beat current No. 19 Elk River (1-3), the Class 5A defending state champion. 

West’s other three wins came by 42, 29 and 24 points. West’s first two touchdowns against Chaska came on passes from Bart McAninch to future Golden Gopher receiver Jalen Smith. Smith also ran for a 25-yard touchdown and McAninch finished with three touchdown passes.

No. 4 Chanhassen (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. No. 3 Mankato West (4-0)

Ranking rationale: The Storm did enough to avoid a trap game loss to a Waconia squad that’s better than its 1-3 record might indicate. With a top-three team coming to town next week, Chanhassen kept its perfect record intact with a 20-13 home victory on Friday. 

Running back Maxwell Woods was up to his usual tricks, rushing for a 92-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter. He also scored the game-winning touchdown run from three yards out to break a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter. 

Chanhassen has already defeated defending Class 5A champion Elk River and can keep climbing up the ranking if it can take down the team many think will reclaim its 5A throne.

No. 5 Lakeville North (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Next game: Sept. 29 at 33 Eagan (2-2)

Ranking rationale: Lakeville North was determined to avoid a letdown after a hard-fought rivalry loss to No. 2 Lakeville South (4-0) the week before. At least early on. The Panthers jumped out to a 21-0 lead on visiting Farmington (0-4) midway through the second quarter. 

Riley Grossman was doing it all at quarterback, running for two red zone touchdowns and hitting Ayden Forsgren for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers rolled up 269 yards rushing at 6.1 yards per carry to control the game, but they could not find the end zone the rest of the night. 

Farmington threw for a 99-yard touchdown with under a minute left in the first half and pulled to 21-14 late in the third quarter. That was the final score. This was North’s first game against a non-Power 25 opponent. The defense has held up well against a tough schedule, allowing 15.75 points per game.

No. 6 Minnetonka (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Next game: Sept. 29 at No. 7 Shakopee (3-1)

Ranking rationale: Minnetonka pulled off its second one-point victory of the season to remain as one of just three unbeaten teams left in Class 6A. Both of those nail biting wins came against teams ranked in the Power 25 at the time. 

The latest was a 17-16 win Friday vs. previous No. 10 Prior Lake (1-3), a team that’s been on the wrong end of the type of games Minnetonka is winning. The Skippers never trailed in this one and looked poised to run away with it when quarterback Milos Spasojevic rushed for a six-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to make it 14-0. 

The Skippers were held scoreless in the second half after taking a 17-7 lead into the break. Prior Lake missed the potential game-tying extra point after it scored a touchdown on the final scoring play of the night with 9:23 left in the fourth quarter. Minnetonka’s defense is limiting opponents to 13.5 points per game.

No. 7 Shakopee (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. No. 6 Minnetonka (4-0)

Ranking rationale: Shakopee swaps spots in the Power 25 this week with Minnetonka. They could flip flop right back if the Sabers can get a bounce-back win. Shakopee held its own for much of the night at No. 1 Eden Prairie (4-0), but the Eagles proved to be too much in a 42-28 victory. Shakopee scored the first touchdown of the game and never trailed until Eden Prairie took its first lead midway through the second quarter. 

The Sabers were still within seven at halftime but could not get the offense going until the fourth quarter when the game was getting out of reach. Shakopee has two wins against current or former Power 25 opponents and is averaging 37.25 points per game.

No. 8 Maple Grove (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Next game: Sept. 29 at Blaine (2-2)

Ranking rationale: Maple Grove played well enough to deserve to move up this week, but there’s no one above them who truly deserved to be bumped down. The Crimson likely don’t care as they’re brimming after a 42-19 thrashing at previous No. 20 Anoka (3-1). 

Maple Grove left no doubt in this one, racing out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter and a 42-7 lead at halftime. Charles Langama is proving to be one of the best backs in the west metro and beyond after rushing for three touchdowns and catching another from Kaden Harney. 

Harney had three passing touchdowns. This was the Crimson’s second straight Power 25 win against a previously unbeaten opponent. Last week was a 41-28 win vs. then-No. 5 Centennial (3-1).

No. 9 Centennial (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Osseo (0-4)

Ranking rationale: Slow and steady won the race for the Cougars. A single touchdown in each of the first three quarters helped Centennial methodically build a three-score lead en route to a 19-6 win Friday at St. Michael-Albertville (1-3). 

Centennial’s offense has shown more flash this season, but this win looked more like 2022 when the red and white was beating teams primarily with its defense. Maverick Harper scored a couple 1-yard touchdowns against STMA.

No. 10 Brainerd (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. No. 24 Alexandria Area (4-0)

Ranking rationale: Brainerd allowed Moorhead (2-2) to score bookending touchdowns Friday, but the Warriors were in command of a majority of the game in a 28-20 road victory. Moorhead scored a touchdown with 2:12 left in the game. 

The ensuing onside kick bounced just out of the Spuds’ grasp. Brainerd’s Sean Holbrook rushed for 250 yards on 38 carries with two touchdowns and quarterback Eli Hoeltz passed for one. Brainerd’s got three wins against current or previous Power 25 teams with a chance at picking up another this week.

No. 11 Stillwater (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. No. 17 Forest Lake (3-1)

Ranking rationale: The Ponies have found magic since the calendar flipped to September. Stillwater’s won three in a row by a combined 15 points. The latest was a 21-17 see-saw win Friday at Mounds View (2-2), a team that is just outside the Power 25. 

This may have been the most magical win of them. An 8-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Nick Kinsey to Tanner Schmidt with eight seconds left was the game winner. The Ponies don’t have No. 1 Eden Prairie (4-0) nor No. 2 Lakeville South (4-0) on the schedule. 

This week is their last Power 25 opponent, so a 7-1 record is certainly attainable. Not bad for a supposed rebuilding year in the wake of acclaimed signal caller, Max Shikenjanski.

No. 12 Rogers (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Next game: Sept. 29 at Monticello (2-2)

Ranking rationale: Rogers had yet to be challenged in the first three weeks. When the Royals finally faced adversity, they stood up to the challenge. Visiting Spring Lake Park (2-2) had Rogers tied at 13 heading to the fourth quarter. The Royals doubled them up in the final 12 minutes to pull out a 26-13 win. 

Reece Dawson hit Wyatt Gilmore for a 50-yard touchdown for the tie breaking score with 57 seconds left. A 55-yard pick-six by Calvin Kolleh added an exclamation point. 

Dawson finished 17-for-26 for 245 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Rogers held Spring Lake to 3-for-12 passing for 35 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

No. 13 Woodbury (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Mounds View (2-2)

Ranking rationale: A 20-0 run in the middle of the game helped Woodbury overcome a brief deficit in a 27-18 win at previous No. 24 East Ridge (2-2). The Royals let talented Raptors quarterback Tanner Zolnosky get his to the tune of 16-for-23 passing for 207 yards, three touchdowns and no picks, but they stalled East Ridge’s run game to the tune of 18 rushes for 63 yards and no touchdowns. 

Isaiah Tisdle was a menace near the goal line for Woodbury, rushing for all four of his touchdowns from inside the 5-yard line. Woodbury’s only loss was by three points to current No. 11 Stillwater, but this was by far its best win to date. The fact that it was a rivalry game had to make it all the more sweeter.

No. 14 Andover (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 17

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Spring Lake Park (2-2)

Ranking rationale: Andover and Elk River didn’t play in an arena football stadium. The score just made it look that way. Sparks were flying all night in this top-20 matchup as host Andover came away with a 63-56 victory over defending Class 5A champion and previous No. 16 Elk River (1-3). It looked at first like the moment may have been too big for Andover, which already lost this season to another 5A heavyweight, current No. 4 Chanhassen (4-0). 

The Elks leapt out to a 21-0 first quarter lead with three touchdown runs of 31 or more yards. The Huskies went another route, using three touchdown passes by Hudson Maynard to tie the game at 21 by the end of the first quarter. In a bizarre game, Elk River rebuilt its lead to 18, only for Andover to pull within 39-34 at halftime. 

The Huskies never led until they scored the last touchdown of the game on a 10-yard touchdown rush by Maynard. Maynard threw for four touchdowns with three going to Cameron Begalle. Maynard ran for two touchdowns with the first tying the game at 56 in the fourth quarter.

No. 15 Prior Lake (1-3)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Edina (1-3)

Ranking rationale: The glass half empty view of Prior Lake hones in on three straight losses and an inability to beat the big dogs. The glass half full view I skew toward shows that Prior Lake has hung tough in all four games against Power 25 opponents and is not a team you’ll want to see when the Class 6A playoffs roll around. 

All three losses came against current top-seven squads. The latest was a 17-16 loss at current No. 6 Minnetonka (4-0). A missed extra point on what would’ve been the game-tying touchdown run by Levi Eiter with 9:23 remaining proved costly. Neither team scored after that point. 

The Lakers still get some benefit of the doubt, but they could risk dropping out of the Power 25 altogether with a trip up this week.

No. 16 Rosemount (2-2)

Last week’s ranking: 18

Next game: Sept. 28 at Farmington (0-4)

Ranking rationale: Rosemount had a get-right game in Week 4 against the unofficial 26th team in last week’s Power 25, Rochester Mayo (2-2). After a scoreless first quarter, the Irish offense came alive in a big way. 

After scoring a combined 28 points the previous two weeks against ranked foes, Rosemount scored 24 in the second quarter to lead 24-0 at the half. Tyler Japel ran for two 1-yard touchdowns. The Irish were up 34-0 before Mayo broke the shutout midway through the fourth quarter. This snapped a two-game losing streak.

No. 17 Forest Lake (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 19

Next game: Sept. 29 at No. 11 Stillwater (3-1)

Ranking rationale: Forest Lake would’ve liked to close out White Bear Lake a little sooner than it did, but the Rangers came away with the 28-10 home victory. Forest Lake never trailed. Its 14-10 halftime lead held through three quarters. 

Quarterback Nolan Dumonceaux ran for two touchdowns on the night, including one with 2:40 left in the game to put his team up 11. A 60-yard pick-six by Mark Rendl with 24 seconds left was a cherry on top. Leyton Patzer ran 23 times for 164 yards and a touchdown.

No. 18 St. Thomas Academy (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 21

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. No. 23 Robbinsdale Armstrong (4-0)

Ranking rationale: St. Thomas Academy and Mahtomedi have played some tight contests in recent years. That wasn’t the case this time. The two teams were knotted 7-7 after one quarter before an STA safety early in the second quarter gave the Cadets the lead for good. 

They forged a 28-7 halftime lead and scored 35 straight points to go up 42-7 before the Zephyrs added a garbage time touchdown. Savion Hart put up video game numbers. He rushed 18 times for 184 yards and five touchdowns. 

Maximus Sims was also an efficient 9-for-11 passing with a touchdown and no interceptions. STA is on a three-game win streak and can pick up its first win against a team in the Power 25 at the time of the game.

No. 19 Elk River (1-3)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Sauk Rapids-Rice (4-0)

Ranking rationale: It takes some extenuating circumstances for a 1-3 Class 5A team to remain in the Power 25. Elk River fits the bill. Not only because the Elks deserve respect for last year’s Prep Bowl title, but for the way they’ve gone down to the wire with each and every ranked foe they’ve faced on a loaded schedule. 

Elk River dropped by six vs. current No. 4 Chanhassen (4-0), by four at current No. 10 Brainerd (4-0) and by seven in its most recent outing, a 63-56 loss Friday at current No. 15 Andover (3-1). The Elks zipped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. 

The Huskies quickly scored 21 of their own, only for the Elks to go back up by 19. Elk River never trailed until it surrendered the game-winning touchdown on the final score of the game in the fourth quarter. 

Elk River’s run game was a thing to behold with seven rushers combining for 65 carries for 695 yards (10.7 ypc) and seven touchdowns. Another tough test looms this week against one of the top teams on the outside looking in on the Power 25.

No. 20 Anoka (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 20

Next game: Sept. 29 at Coon Rapids (2-2)

Ranking rationale: With some other neighboring teams in the Power 25 also losing, Anoka treads water after a 42-19 loss vs. No. 8 Maple Grove (3-1). Falling to the defending Class 6A champion is nothing for the Tornadoes to be ashamed of. 

With that said, getting down 21-0 after a quarter and 42-7 at halftime was disappointing for the previously unbeaten squad. Anoka has a Power 25 win against current No. 21 Champlin Park (2-2). It also won in Week 3 at Blaine (2-2), a team that was in consideration to be ranked this week. So is Coon Rapids, a team Anoka may have to beat if it wants to stick in the top 25.

No. 21 Champlin Park (2-2)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (1-3)

Ranking rationale: A roller coaster of a season continues for Champlin Park. The Rebels lost a 32-26 rivalry game at current No. 20 Anoka (3-1) in Week 1, only to bounce back the next week by stunning defending Class 6A state champion and current No. 8 Maple Grove (3-1), 25-24. Champlin Park followed it up with a blanking of Osseo (0-4) but could not make it three in a row after a surprising 41-34 loss at Coon Rapids (2-2). 

Champlin Park scored 27 straight points between the second and fourth quarter to take a 34-27 lead. All that momentum flipped when Coon Rapids put up a game-tying and then game-winning touchdown.

No. 22 Eagan (2-2)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (1-3)

Ranking rationale: Eagan hangs on to a spot in the Power 25 after a valiant effort in defeat at No. 2 Lakeville South (4-0). The Wildcats never led in a 27-14 loss, but they went touchdown for touchdown with the Cougars through three quarters. 

Brooklyn Evans showed big play ability against a usually stingy defense. He ran for a 23-yard touchdown in the first half and a 53-yard touchdown in the second. This game was tied at 14 heading to the fourth quarter. Eagan’s four games have been against current or previously ranked teams.

No. 23 Robbinsdale Armstrong (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 23

Next game: Sept. 29 at No. 18 St. Thomas Academy (3-1)

Ranking rationale: Aside from a 20-14 double overtime thriller against crosstown rival Robbinsdale Cooper (3-1), Robbinsdale Armstrong has not been challenged. The Falcons are certainly a candidate to be ranked higher. The opportunity to climb the ladder comes this week at St. Thomas Academy. In the meantime, Armstrong won a 41-7 rout Friday at Cretin-Derham Hall (1-3). 

The Raiders scored the first touchdown of the game and were tied going to the second quarter. It was still only a 14-7 game at halftime before Armstrong wore Cretin-Derham Hall down. Dawson Franke finished 8-for-10 passing for 189 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Kevon Johnson rushed 15 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

No. 24 Alexandria (4-0)

Last week’s ranking: 25

Next game: Sept. 29 at No. 10 Brainerd (4-0)

Ranking rationale: There are two battles of the unbeaten coming this week in Class 5A. Alexandria Area and Brainerd will duke it out to see who is king of the north. The Cardinals got to 4-0 thanks to a 41-6 win Friday at Sartell-St. Stephen (0-4). 

Sartell-St. Stephens threatened to tie the game midway through the first quarter, but a blocked extra point set the tone for Alexandria to go on a 34-0 run. The Cardinals allowed just 48 yards of total offense.

No. 25 Buffalo (3-1)

Last week’s ranking: N/R

Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Roseville (0-4)

Ranking rationale: With three straight wins coming all by 15 or more points, Buffalo finds its way into the Power 25 for the first time this season. The Bison are coming off a 33-18 win at Eastview (2-1) in a game where the winner was likely going to be ranked afterward. 

Buffalo never trailed, though the Lightning pulled as close as 20-18 in the third quarter. Kyler Kelvie passed for two touchdowns and Grady Guida passed and ran for one each. Wyatt Osterbauer had a 100-yard pick six that put the Bison back up two possessions in the third quarter.

Other teams in consideration

Class 6A teams: Mounds View (2-2), Coon Rapids (2-2), Blaine (2-2), East Ridge (1-3) and Wayzata (1-3). From 5A, Sauk Rapids-Rice (4-0), Owatonna (3-1) and Robbinsdale Cooper (3-1) were in the mix. Eight 4A teams are still undefeated and could be ranked before too long: Becker, Byron, Chisago Lakes Area, Detroit Lakes, Duluth Denfeld, Mound Westonka, Orono and Princeton are all 4-0. 

Even a 3-1 4A squad Rocori deserves kudos for pulling off an 11-0 win last week in a rare shutout of blue blood Hutchinson (3-1).

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