High School

Live score recap: Elk River defeats Alexandria in MSHSL Class 5A Prep Bowl (11/23/2024)

Get game updates as the Elks and the Cardinals play in the Minnesota high school football Class 5A state championship

Jack Butler, SBLive Sports

Elk River plays Alexandria in the 2024 Class 5A Prep Bowl on Saturday, November 23.
Elk River plays Alexandria in the 2024 Class 5A Prep Bowl on Saturday, November 23. / Jeff Lawler

MINNEAPOLIS — Elk River and Alexandria don't match. They're two good football teams, but the Elks run a Wing-T offense and barely pass the ball, while Alexandria's often plays with four to five wide receivers on the field.

And yet, in the first half, Elk River and Alexandria matched quick touchdown drives. Six of the seven scoring drives in the first half were scored in six plays or fewer as the teams went into halftime tied at 24.

But Elk River dominated the second half with two 9-minute touchdown drives. Head coach Steve Hamilton knew this would be a game of attrition, and the Elk River Elks (12-1) defeated the Alexandria Cardinals (10-3) 33-24 in the 2024 MSHSL Class 5A Prep Bowl on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. It's the third state championship for Elk River. They also won in 2022 and 2016.

The Elks were hoping that the Cardinals would get tired. Specifically, they hoped that two players who play both offensive and defensive line, Alexandria's Jack Morrissette and Evan Zabel, would get tired as the clock ticked.

"We’ve got to go right at them," Hamilton said. "We weren’t trying to deceive tonight. It was a lot of going right at them play after play after play and hope that works into the second half."

Those short drives turned into long drives as the Elks scored to start the second half.

"We know we’re conditioned," senior running back Gavin Schmidt said. "We know we are trained for this. ... When we get rolling like that, the confidence goes through the roof."

An interception by quarterback and safety Levi Harris was sandwiched between those drives. In the first half, he missed an interception by inches on a pass that was an Alexandria touchdown. He did not miss on his second try, and he snagged the deep pass over his shoulder, and it started the second long Elk River drive.

"I kind of just turned into a wide receiver there," Harris said.

Alexandria and its potent offense only had the ball for four minutes in the second half. Alexandria's quarterback Chase Thompson threw for 305 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the game.

"I thought our team played hard," Alexandria head coach Mike Empting said. "It’s just that the margin for error when you play Elk River is very fine. … They’re a tough offense to stop."

For Elk River, this title comes after a 4-7 season. Even a top program in Class 5A has its down years.

"That’s when I realized that winning a state championship doesn’t just happen," Schmidt said. "It’s a hard thing to do. Fast forward to my senior year, I can’t begin to explain how excited and happy I am about this."

Elk River vs. Alexandria MSHSL Class 5A Prep Bowl Live Updates

First Quarter Updates

Alexandria receives the opening kickoff and we're underway.

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! Carsyn Kleffman runs up the middle for a 64-yard touchdown. Kleffman throws the 2-point conversion to Gavin Schmidt. Elk River leads 8-0 with 6:16 remaining in the quarter.

TOUCHDOWN ALEXANDRIA! Chase Thompson finds Mason Gorghuber for an 11-yard touchdown. PAT is good. Elk River leads 8-7 with 3:31 remaining in the quarter.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Elk River 8, Alexandria 7

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! The Elks finish a 16-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown from Kleffman. The Elks convert the 2-point attempt. Elk River leads 16-7 with 7:36 remaining.

TOUCHDOWN ALEXANDRIA! On the first play of the drive, Thompson connects with Mason Witt for an 80-yard touchdown. PAT is good. Elk River leads 16-14 with 7:24 remaining.

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! Brecken Keoraj runs up the middle for a 63-yard touchdown. Levi Harris completed the 2-point conversion. Elk River leads 24-14 with 5:12 remaining in the first half.

TOUCHDOWN ALEXANDRIA! Thompson throws a screen pass to Mason Gorghuber, who runs it in for the 23-yard touchdown. PAT is good. Elk River leads 24-20 with four minutes remaining.

FIELD GOAL ALEXANDRIA! Daniel Jackson converts a 44-yard field goal, which breaks the Prep Bowl record by one yard. The game is tied at 24 with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

HALFTIME: Elk River 24, Alexandria 24

Halftime stats: Thompson has 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Elk River is averaging 8.3 yards per carry at 223 rushing yards.

Third Quarter Updates

Elk River receives the second-half kickoff and we're underway.

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! Levi Harris scores on a 1-yard touchdown run. Alexandria tops Elk River's 2-point conversion. Elk River leads 30-24 with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter.

INTERCEPTION FOR ELK RIVER! Harris snags Thompson's deep ball as Elk River will take over on its own 17-yard line with 44 seconds remaining in the quarter.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Elk River 30, Alexandria 24

Fourth Quarter Updates

FIELD GOAL ELK RIVER! After another long drive, Elk River finishes with a Spencer Burgoon field goal for 28 yards. Elk River leads 33-24 with 3:16 remaining.

INTERCEPTION FOR ELK RIVER! On fourth down, the Elks get pressure on Thompson, who heaves the ball in the air, and Gavin Kerns intercepted it. Elk River will take over at its own 16-yard line with 1:114 remaining. Alexandria has two timeouts.

FINAL: Elk River 33, Alexandria 24

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Jack Butler, SBLive Sports
JACK BUTLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Jack Butler is a Regional Editor for SBLive Sports, covering Minnesota and Michigan. 

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