Top 25 Minnesota high school football rankings (10/9/2023)

Five teams jump into the rankings this week

Two weeks remain in the Minnesota high school football regular season.

Last week, No. 1 Eden Prairie defended its ranking with a win over No. 5 Minnetonka.

Then No. 14 Rosemount upset No. 2 Lakeville South as the Irish continue with tough games against ranked opponents in Shakopee and Centennial.

Eden Prairie football seals win with late drive against Minnetonka

Rosemount football upsets Lakeville South

Minnesota high school football: 5 games you should not have missed (10/6/2023)

Minnesota high school football Power 25

Eden Prairie (6-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Rochester Mayo (2-4)

Ranking rationale: Up 21-0 at halftime, it looked like Eden Prairie was going to be able to pick its score in a Thursday night matchup at fellow unbeaten and No. 5 Minnetonka (5-1). Two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter for the host Skippers suddenly made it a ball game. That is, until Eden Prairie did Eden Prairie things by staging a monstrous 22-play, 92-yard touchdown drive ending in a 2-yard touchdown rush by Dominic Heim. 

That put the Eagles back up two possessions with 3:56 to go. Even when tested, the Eagles are still winning by double digits. This tied for their lowest margin of victory this season. EP is holding teams to 14 points per game. 

It’s 4-0 against current Power 25 teams. All eight of the Eagles’ regular season opponents have been or are currently ranked.

No. 2 Chanhassen (6-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Chaska (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Two bordering cities claim the top two spots in this week’s Power 25 with Chanhassen bumping up a notch. After an emotional 21-14 home win vs. Mankato West (5-1) in a top-five Week 5 matchup, the Storm may have had a bit of a letdown last week in a 36-22 win at Mankato East (2-4). Chanhassen never led until a 1-yard Maxwell Woods touchdown rush with 43 seconds left in the first half to break a 14-14 tie and lead 22-14 at halftime. 

The Storm put the game on ice with 9:24 to go in the fourth quarter when Brayden Windschitl hit Gunnar Bergstrom for a 30-yard touchdown. Despite a closer than hoped matchup, Chanhassen still has an immaculate resume with three wins over teams who have appeared in the Power 25.

No. 3 Lakeville South (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. No. 19 Eastview (4-2)

Ranking rationale: The unbeaten season was lost by the thinnest of margins. Lakeville South was upset at home last week 22-21 against a red-hot Rosemount (4-2) team that moved up to No. 10 this week. Rosemount completed an 8-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left in regulation and converted on a 2-point wide receiver trick play pass to the quarterback to stun the crowd in Lakeville. 

This was a see-saw game tied at 14 at halftime. The Cougars still have an impressive enough resume to drop just one spot this week. They own five double-digit wins with the exception being a 24-21 win at current No. 4 Lakeville North (5-1).

No. 4 Lakeville North (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Next game: Oct. 13 at East Ridge (2-4)

Ranking rationale: Lakeville North got down 7-0 in the first quarter at home to Rochester Mayo (2-4) before saying “enough is enough.” The Panthers proceeded to score the next 44 points in a 51-23 victory where Mayo added three garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter. This was an explosive performance for a team more built on defense, which excelled again. 

Sawyer Wilkie rushed 26 times for 183 yards and a touchdown as North ran for 5.2 yards per carry as a team. Quinn Power made two interceptions. North owns two wins over current top-10 teams with its only loss coming close to No. 3 Lakeville South (5-1).

No. 5 Minnetonka (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. No. 17 Buffalo (5-1)

Ranking rationale: Minnetonka finally came back down to earth after a dream start to the season. The Skippers fell behind 21-0 vs. No. 1 Eden Prairie (6-0) en route to a 28-14 loss. Minnetonka pulled within a touchdown after three quarters but was bled to death by a vintage 22-play, 92-yard touchdown drive for EP that spanned nearly the entire fourth quarter. 

Minnetonka may have the team to earn a rematch with its border rival at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Skippers are still holding foes to 15.8 points per game. They’ve got three one-point victories and two wins by 20-plus points, so they can get it done in the clutch or by blowout.

No. 6 Mankato West (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Next game: Oct. 13 at Mankato East (2-4)

Ranking rationale: A case could be made for Mankato West to move up a peg, but it’s hard to ding Minnetonka for a relatively close loss to the clear cut No. 1. With that said, the Scarlets were still awfully impressive in a 42-7 win vs. previous No. 24 Owatonna (4-2). 

West looked like a team on fire after dropping a 21-14 heartbreaker the week prior vs. current No. 2 Chanhassen (6-0). The Scarlets led 14-0 after one quarter, held that lead until halftime and used a 21-0 third quarter to put the game away early. Owatonna was held to 200 yards of offense and limited to 32 rushing yards on 20 carries. 

No. 7 Maple Grove (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Next game: Oct. 12 at St. Michael-Albertville (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Maple Grove remains stagnant in the Power 25 at no fault of its own. The Crimson obliterated Coon Rapids (2-4) by a 55-6 score. The Cardinals were a team on the cusp of the Power 25 a couple weeks ago. 

They were made to look like lunch meat against the defending Class 6A champs. Maple Grove was up 35-0 after one quarter and 49-0 at halftime. Charles Langama ran 14 times for 173 yards and four touchdowns. 

Kaden Harney was 4-for-4 passing for 86 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. The Crimson have won four in a row with a top-10 win mixed in against current No. 8 Centennial (5-1). The one loss came by a point at Champlin Park (3-3).

No. 8 Centennial (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Next game: Oct. 12 at Champlin Park (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Several teams above Centennial got a win last week to keep the Cougars from moving up in the Power 25, but they played well enough to deserve it. Centennial rolled to a 35-15 win at previous No. 16 Anoka (4-2). 

The Cougars allowed 83 points in their first three games and just 21 during their current three-game win streak. Maverick Harper rushed 25 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns. Ty Burgoon added 13 carries for 109 yards and quarterback Daylen Cummings ran 11 times for 90 yards and a score. 

Coon Rapids rushed for 392 yards at 6.8 per pop that helped control the clock against Anoka’s pass-heavy attack.

No. 9 Stillwater (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. No. 20 Edina (3-3)

Ranking rationale: The Ponies got to breathe easy for a change. After four straight one-score wins, Stillwater rolled to a 38-14 victory at White Bear Lake (1-5). It was just 10-7 after one quarter, but things were looking good at halftime up 24-7. 

Nick Kinsey put up a Max Shikenjanski-esque statline of 20-for-36 passing for 346 yards, four touchdowns and no picks. Stillwater only rushing 20 times for 44 yards is a bit concerning. 

Fortunately, a strong passing game and a defense that held its fourth straight opponent to 20 points or fewer carried the day. 

No. 10 Rosemount (4-2)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. No. 21 Shakopee (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Rosemount wins my unofficial Team of the Week award for not only pulling off the upset of previous No. 2 Lakeville South (5-1), but doing it in thrilling fashion. Down 21-14 with 27 seconds left and no timeouts, Rosemount drove 54 yards for a touchdown. 

Quarterback Gavin Caswell, in his first game back from a Week 1 injury, hit Maki Whelan for a touchdown with two seconds left. Head coach Jeff Erdmann not only went for the win by going for two, but he pulled out his bag of tricks. Running back Jackson Ganser took the direct snap and pitched it to Whelan on the reverse. 

Whelan hit Caswell in the end zone for the game-winner. Putting up points was tough in Caswell’s absence. The Irish are now winners of three straight and are gaining steam at the right time. 

A 22-point effort against a stingy Lakeville South defense is equivalent to hanging 30-plus on anyone else.

No. 11 Rogers (6-0)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Next game: Oct. 13 at Park Center (2-4)

Ranking rationale: The Royals took it to defending Class 5A champion Elk River (1-5), 31-14. The Elks may have a poor record, but they’ve been within one score in each loss besides this one. The Royals put together one of their most complete performances of 2023. 

They got out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter and separated from a three-point halftime lead. It’s rare for an Elk River opponent to boast the top rusher. 

Kalvin Eull pulled it off by rushing 36 times for 192 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Reece Dawson added nearly 200 yards through the air. Rogers is trending toward a top-10 ranking.

No. 12 Andover (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. No. 18 Sauk Rapids-Rice (6-0)

Ranking rationale: You know an offense is high-powered when a 43-0 win at St. Francis (0-6) drops its season average. The Huskies dipped to 45.3 points per game, which still leads Class 5A. Andover could’ve put up more after leading 36-0 after one quarter. 

The Huskies smartly chose to pump the brakes with a big game looming this week. D’Mario Davenport led the way with nine rushes for 101 yards and four touchdowns. He had nearly half his production on a 49-yard touchdown. 

Obe Eyafe returned a kick-off 92 yards for a touchdown. The Huskies could be a team that makes a deep run in November with their only loss coming to current No. 6 Mankato West (5-1).

No. 13 Alexandria (6-)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Next game: Oct. 13 at Moorhead (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Alexandria had no problem dispatching a solid Bemidji (3-3) squad, 35-0 at home. The Cardinals put up one touchdown in each of the first three quarters as they steadily padded their lead. Macklen Heydt ran 11 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. He was one of four Cardinal rushers to find the end zone. 

So did Evan Kludt on a pick-six. Alexandria held Bemidji to 0-for-9 passing with an interception and limited the ground game to 3.4 yards per carry. Aside from a close call at Monticello (3-3), the Cards have beat up on the rest of their schedule with a Power 25 win at Brainerd highlighting their resume.

No. 14 St. Thomas Academy (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Next game: Oct. 12 vs. Hastings (2-4)

Ranking rationale: The Cadets’ win streak is now up to five after a 35-7 drubbing at Apple Valley (3-3). St. Thomas Academy led 21-0 at halftime and had a shutout going into the fourth quarter. Savion Hart ran 22 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns. 

The Eagles ran 13 times for 14 yards as a team. STA has looked like a top-10 team lately, but it has not had the chance to pick up a signature win since its loss to current No. 12 Andover (5-1).

No. 15 Brainerd (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 17

Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Bemidji (3-3)

Ranking rationale: The Warriors bounced back from their first loss of the year in ideal fashion. Brainerd raced out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and had it to 42-zip at halftime at St. Cloud Tech (0-6). Sean Holbrook rushed 20 times for 111 yards and four touchdowns. Eli Hoelz finished 5-for-7 passing for two touchdowns and no picks. 

Kade Stengrim caught three balls for 64 yards and a couple scores. It was just what the doctor ordered after a 35-21 defeat to current No. 12 Alexandria (6-0). Brainerd is second in Class 5A averaging 40.5 points per game.

No. 16 Woodbury (4-20

Last week’s ranking: 21

Next game: Oct. 13 at Prior Lake (2-4)

Ranking rationale: A huge road win and some losses by adjacent Power 25 teams helped Woodbury tie as this week’s biggest riser. The Royals knocked off previous No. 19 Forest Lake (3-3), 17-14. They were 0-2 in one-score games going in, so this one had to feel good. 

Woodbury came back from a 7-3 halftime deficit. It led 17-7 in the fourth quarter and held on after the Rangers got within three with 1:18 remaining. 

George Bjellos carried the offense, completing 16 of 24 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown while the run game struggled to ignite. Woodbury’s pass defense was on point, limiting Forest Lake to 93 yards on 10-for-18 passing with two interceptions. 

The Royals are now 3-0 on the road and can prove themselves this week at a Prior Lake squad that could be peskier than its 2-4 record indicates.

No. 17 Buffalo (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 22

Next game: Oct. 13 at No. 5 Minnetonka (5-1)

Ranking rationale: Buffalo has yet to earn a big-time win, but the Bison continue to dismantle almost everyone in front of them. The latest example was a 40-18 win vs. Burnsville (2-4). Buffalo got good production from a couple quarterbacks. 

Grady Guida finished 7-for-11 passing for 98 yards, a touchdown and one interception. Kyler Kelvie chipped in 8-for-16 for 143 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Gauge Alsen caught five balls for 101 yards and two touchdowns. 

Wyatt Osterbauer made 13 total tackles. Buffalo’s strength of schedule is a reason its not higher in the Power 25. The only elite team it faced was current No. 1 Eden Prairie (6-0), which won 48-7. A golden opportunity awaits this week against a top-five team.

No. 18 Sauk Rapids-Rice (6-0)

Last week’s ranking: 23

Next game: Oct. 13 at No. 12 Andover (5-1)

Ranking rationale: In advance of a huge game this week, Sauk Rapids-Rice made sure to not overlook a capable Cambridge-Isanti (3-3) team leading in. The Storm picked up a 24-12 home victory. They got up 14-0 just past the midway point of the first quarter thanks to a pair of Shaun Walrath touchdowns. 

He ran 26 times for 168 yards and two scores and caught six passes for 119 yards. SR-R struck a great offensive balance with Spencer Ackerman completing 17 of 30 passes for 280 yards, one touchdown and no picks. Mason Sabraski caught seven passes for 122 yards and a TD. 

C-I scored a touchdown to pull within eight late in the first quarter but did not find the end zone again until 2:41 left in the game with the result determined. SR-R held its opponent to 1 of 8 passing for 10 yards and no touchdowns. 

The Storm have not played the most demanding schedule with no wins over current Power 25 teams. They also haven’t been blowing away the competition, but there’s something to be said for finding ways to win.

No. 19 Eastview (4-2)

Last week’s ranking: N/R

Next game: Oct. 13 at No. 3 Lakeville South (5-1)

Ranking rationale: I had Park of Cottage Grove (3-3) at Eastview as a de facto play-in game to crack this week’s Power 25. The Lightning won it with gusto, 42-14. Eastview used a 22-0 third quarter to further separate from a 20-7 halftime advantage. 

Damon Green rushed 15 times for 100 yards and three touchdowns. Grayson Osberg finished 9-for-11 passing for 109 yards with a touchdown and no picks. Cooper DeSutter accounted for two of three interceptions for the Lightning defense. 

Eastview’s two losses are defensible, but the scores were why it was unranked through Week 5 despite a winning record in Class 6A. It lost 35-0 Week 1 at current No. 10 Rosemount (4-2) and 33-18 Week 4 vs. current No. 17 Buffalo (5-1). 

The Lightning have yet to beat a Power 25 foe. They have also not been threatened in any of their wins, which came by a combined 114 points. Eastview may not have to pull off the upset this week to stay ranked another week, but it needs to show it can at least hang with the top tier teams.

No. 20 Edina (3-3)

Last week’s ranking: N/R

Next game: Oct. 13 at No. 9 Stillwater (5-1)

Ranking rationale: We’re arriving to the section of the Power 25 where a lot of cases can be made of those deserving of a spot. Edina is back in the mix after an impressive 35-28 home win vs. previous No. 10 Shakopee (3-3). 

The Hornets lept to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter and never trailed. The Sabers did tie it up at 28 early in the fourth quarter. Mason West was unfazed, capping off his passing night of 18-for-25 for 243 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions with a 10-yard strike to Trillion Sorrell with 1:16 remaining. 

Meyer Swinney caught eight passes for 141 yards. John Warpinski ran 23 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. The Hornets’ defense held the Sabers without a completion on three attempts and forced two turnovers. Making it through a gauntlet of a six-game stretch all against current or former Power 25 teams at 3-3 is fairly impressive. 

There’s one more waiting this week before a reprieve in Week 8 vs. Hopkins (0-6).

No. 21 Shakopee (3-3)

Last week’s ranking: N/R

Next game: Oct. 13 at No. 10 Rosemount (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Shakopee’s on a three-game losing streak. It’s not all gloom and doom, though, as all three came in competitive losses to current top-20 teams. 

Two weeks ago ended in a 14-13 heartbreaker vs. current No. 5 Minnetonka (5-1). This week, a 14-point comeback was denied with Edina scoring what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with 76 seconds remaining. 

Shakopee nearly picked up a quality road win without a passing yard, doing it all on the ground with 55 carries for 356 yards (6.5 ypc). Judah Forsberg ran 19 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Shakopee has played a tough schedule this season and has enough talent to make the state quarterfinals or better if the stars align.

No. 22 Anoka (4-2)

Last week’s ranking: 16

Next game: Oct. 12 at Osseo (0-6)

Ranking rationale: Anoka has not been able to take advantage of opportunities to turn a good season into a great one. The Tornadoes’ four wins have come by thin margins over three 3-3 teams and another at 2-4. 

They drop six spots this week after a 35-15 drubbing at home vs. No. 8 Centennial (5-1). The other loss was 42-19 vs. current No. 7 Maple Grove (5-1) in Week 4. Anoka was in striking range down 15-7 at halftime vs. Centennial. 

The Cougars scored the next 20 points to put it out of reach. Peyton Podany completed 17 of 34 passes for 204 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

No. 23 Becker (6-0)

Last week’s ranking: 25

Next game: Oct. 13 at Big Lake (0-6)

Ranking rationale: Becker continues to stand above the rest in Class 4A. The Bulldogs picked up one of their biggest wins of the season, 20-0 vs. fellow powerhouse Rocori (4-2). Their secondary was lights out, holding the Spartans to 103 passing yards. 

Becker didn’t run up a ton of yardage but rushed for 5.8 yards per carry against one of the top scoring defenses in the state (9.8 ppg). Owen Angell led with seven carries for 119 yards and a touchdown. Becker already has a 21-20 big-time win vs. Hutchinson (5-1). It’s holding teams to 11.5 points per game. 

No. 24 Bloomington Jefferson (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: N/R

Next game: Oct. 12 vs. Apple Valley (3-3)

Ranking rationale: It was a coin flip slotting Bloomington Jefferson and Robbinsdale Armstrong into the last two spots in this week’s Power 25. Since Jefferson beat a tough Robbinsdale Cooper squad last week 34-20 as opposed to Armstrong beating Cooper in overtime, I’ll give Jefferson the nod via transitive property. 

The Jaguars looked far from a ranked team when they fell 17-0 in the season opener at New Prague. The mood has changed five wins later with four of them coming by double digits. Jefferson got out to a 17-0 lead vs. Cooper. The Hawks made it interesting getting within 27-20 late in the third quarter. 

A 15-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Schultz to Daniel King put the game away midway through the fourth. Jonathan Weber ran for three touchdowns.

No. 25 Robbinsdale Armstrong (5-1)

Last week’s ranking: N/R

Next game: Oct. 13 at Mahtomedi (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Robbinsdale Armstrong’s absence from the Power 25 was limited to one week. The Falcons are back in after a 42-7 thumping of Hastings (2-4). Armstrong delighted the home crowd by getting out to a 21-0 lead through one quarter and a 35-7 advantage at halftime. Armstrong used great balance to pile up 456 yards of offense. 

Dawson Franke completed 13 of 20 passes for 243 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Kevon Johnson ran 22 times for 159 yards and a touchdown. Hastings finished with just 72 yards total and was held to 1.1 yards per carry. 

The Falcons do not own a win over a currently ranked team. Their lone loss came to current No. 14 St. Thomas Academy (5-1), 44-13. We’ll see if Armstrong is more up to the task against top competition this week and in the regular season finale vs. No. 12 Andover (5-1).

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