Seven high school football state champions will be crowned this week at U. S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The 2024 Prep Bowl features nine undefeated teams, four matchups between unbeaten teams and a Class 6A matchup between two teams that were . 500 in the regular season. Here’s all you need to know to get ready for this year’s Prep Bowl: • Tickets: $16 adults, $10 students (Note: Tickets will only be sold online at MSHSL. org/tickets ) • Local cable, southeastern Minnesota: Spectrum (Ch. 192); KMTelecom (Ch. 16); Metronet (Ch. 92); AcenTek (Ch. 70); HBC (Ch. 18); Xtream (Ch. 106). • Watch on a Smart TV or mobile device: Download the KSTP-5 app • Over the air (with antenna): Watch for no cost, on Channel 6. 2 in the Rochester and Austin areas • Stream on a home computer: Prep45. com Who: Kasson-Mantorville (11-1) vs. Orono (9-3) When: 1 p. m. Friday, Nov. 21. Last Year: Becker beat Totino-Grace 24-8 in the Prep Bowl. About Orono: The Spartans are at state for a third consecutive year and the fourth time in five seasons. They’re in the Prep Bowl for the first time in program history. The Section 6-4A champions have three losses this season, against Delano, Marshall and Byron. Orono lost to Byron the team K-M beat in the Section 1-4A title game 32-13 in Week 2 of the regular season. Orono earned revenge against Marshall, edging it 15-14 in overtime last week in the state semifinals, converting an 18-yard 2-point conversion to earn the dramatic win. The Spartans average 311. 5 yards per game, including 177. 4 on the ground. Quarterback Griffin Mauer leads the team with 598 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also passed for 1, 430 yards and 16 TDs. Bennett Halverson leads the team with 30 catches for 482 yards and 7 touchdowns. About Kasson-Mantorville: The 11-1 KoMets are one of the more balanced teams in the state. Quarterback Grady Babcock runs their option offense to perfection and has the ability to beat opponents with his arms, legs and football IQ. Running backs Parker Richards, Jeremiah Peterson-Gordon, Logan Louks, Kaylub White and Keymoni Bent have all turned in big plays or games this season. Kicker Miles Bungum is an added weapon for the KoMets; he booted the game-winning field goal in the section semifinals against Stewartville, and he kicked one PAT and a 19-yard field goal last week in a 16-14 state semifinals win against Grand Rapids. In their past four games, the No. 3-ranked KoMets have defeated the Nos. 1, 4, 6 and 7 teams in the state poll (Byron, Grand Rapids, Stewartville and Hill-Murray). Orono was unranked. Who: Goodhue (12-0) vs. Jackson County Central (12-0) When: 4 p. m. Friday, Nov. 21 Last Year: Jackson County Central beat Staples-Motley 42-26. About Goodhue: The Wildcats are in the Prep Bowl at U. S. Bank Stadium for the first time. Their last Prep Bowl appearance came in 2007, when they won their second state championship (their first came in 2003). Goodhue was the state runner-up in 2005. It’s in the state tournament for the 12th time. The Wildcats average 229. 2 rushing yards and 294. 0 total yards per game. The Section 4-2A champs also allow a state-best 7. 4 points per game, and score 38. 0 per game. Goodhue was ranked No. 4 in the final Class 2A state media poll this season. This is one of four state championship games this year that feature two undefeated teams. Goodhue won a dramatic state quarterfinal game, 29-28 in OT against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, then beat Holdingford 24-7 in last week’s state semifinals to reach the championship game. About Jackson County Central: The No. 1-ranked team in the state all season is back in the Prep Bowl to defend its state title. The Huskies are led by the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2026 in Minnesota, Roman Voss. The senior QB has committed to the University of Minnesota, where he’s expected to play tight end. Voss is one of the team’s top rushers, and he punts, too. JCC’s offensive line is large and mobile, led by 6-foot-7, 292-pound tackle Weston Rowe. He’s a South Dakota State University commit. JCC has averages 51. 8 points per game (most in the state in Class 2A) and allows 9. 9 points per game (third-fewest in the state in 2A). The Huskies have rolled to the Prep Bowl, winning four postseason games by an average score of 44. 25-5. 25. They beat Section 1 champ Caledonia 42-15 in the state quarterfinals, then shut out Eden Valley-Watkins 38-0 in the semifinals. JCC is at state for the 12th time and fourth consecutive season. It’s in the Prep Bowl for the sixth time, having won titles in 2001 and 2024. Who: Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (12-0) vs. Hills-Beaver Creek (12-0) When: 10 a. m. Saturday, Nov. 22 Last Year: Fertile-Beltrami beat Hills-Beaver Creek 20-8 in the Prep Bowl. About Hills-Beaver Creek: This is the Patriots third trip to the Prep Bowl in their 13th appearance in the state tournament. Last year’s state runners-up won their lone state championship in 1990. Hills-Beaver Creek High School is located in the very southwest corner of Minnesota, approximately 20 miles east of Sioux Falls, S. D. The Patriots were ranked No. 1 in the final 9-Player state media poll of the season. They average 49. 8 points per game and allow 9. 5 points per game. The latter is the best mark in the state in 9-Player. The Section 3 champions beat Red Rock Central 44-14 in the state quarterfinals, then beat Fertile-Beltrami 30-14 in the state semifinals to reach the Prep Bowl. About Hillcrest Lutheran Academy: The Comets are at state for the first time since 2016 and in the Prep Bowl for the first time since 2003. They are 1-5 in past Prep Bowl appearances, winning their lone state title in 2001. HLA is located in Fergus Falls; it won the Section 4 championship. The Comets average 44. 7 points per game and allow 15. 2. HLA won two one-score state tournament games to reach the Prep Bowl. It beat Mabel-Canton 40-38, stopping a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds to win. HLA then beat Kittson County Central 27-21 in the semifinals. It averages 217. 2 passing yards per game and 195. 2 rushing, for 412. 4 total yards per game. Senior QB Ethan Swedberg (6-4, 195) has thrown for 2, 496 yards and 34 touchdowns, with just 5 interceptions. Senior Drew Fisher has 64 catches for 647 yards and 9 touchdowns, while 6-2 senior Sean Berge has 32 catches for 834 yards (26. 1 yards per catch) and a team-best 13 TDs. Who: Minneota (12-0) vs. Breckenridge (13-0) When: 10 a. m. Friday, Nov. 21 Last Year: Minneota blew out Springfield 70-20 in the Prep Bowl. About Breckenridge: The Cowboys are in the Prep Bowl for the fifth time in school history and the first in 30 years (1995). They won their lone state championship in 1988. This is their 15th time in the state tournament and second in four years. Breckenridge was ranked No. 6 in the final state poll of the season; Minneota was No. 1. The Section 6-1A champion Cowboys average 42. 9 points per game and allow 11. 7. Breckenridge is located approximately 50 miles south of Fargo, N. D. Running back David Erlandson, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior, has been all but unstoppable. He averages 11. 3 yards per carry, with 1, 871 yards on 166 carries, and 24 touchdowns. Junior QB Riley Kappes (6-0, 180) has completed 66. 9% of his passes for 1, 428 yards and 20 touchdowns, with just 1 interception. He has also rushed for 730 yards and 12 TDs. Cooper Roberts, a 6-5, 195-pound senior, is the Kappes’ top receiving target; he has 33 catches for 658 yards and 9 touchdowns. About Minneota: Three-time defending state champion and perennial power Minneota is at state for the 18th time in program history. It’s in the Prep Bowl for the 13th time and seeks its 11th championship. The Vikings previous state titles came in 1986, 1987, 1988, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023 and 2024. As usual, the ground game is their bread and butter; they average 248. 8 rushing yards per game and 382. 6 total yards per game. The Section 4 champs outscore their opponents by an average of 44. 1 points per game (51. 4-7. 3). The Vikings have recorded four shutouts this fall. They’ve allowed 20 total points in two state tournament games a 42-6 quarterfinal win against Lester Prairie and a 28-14 semifinal win against Mahnomen. Vikings QB Tristen Sussner (6-foot, 160-pound junior) has passed for 1, 508 yards and 24 touchdowns. Senior RB Kellen Bradley (5-11, 175) has rushed for 1, 437 yards and 23 touchdowns. Senior middle linebacker Brock Fier (6-1, 195; 59 tackles, 7 sacks) and Bradley (team-best 81 total tackles) lead the defense. Who: Waseca (12-0) vs. Annandale (12-0) When: 1 p. m. Saturday, Nov. 22 Last Year: Stewartville beat Dassel-Cokato 43-22 in the Prep Bowl to cap a second consecutive unbeaten season. About Waseca: The Bluejays are in the Prep Bowl for the first time ever, in their fifth trip to the state tournament. They previously qualified for state in 2009, 2018, 2019 and 2023. Waseca was ranked No. 4 in Class 3A in the final state media poll of the season. The Jays are led by All-State receiver Deron Russell, who affects games with his rushing, receiving and kick return abilities. Russell, who excels also as one of the state’s best defensive backs, is committed to FCS power North Dakota State. Section 3 champion Waseca averages 26. 8 points per game and allows 7. 8. The latter is the third-best mark in the state, behind Annandale (6. 4) and Pine Island (7. 5). About Annandale: The Section 5 champion Cardinals score 42. 2 points per game and allow a paltry 6. 4. Their defense recorded four shutouts this season and gave up just 36 total points in the regular season. They reached the Prep Bowl by beating Litchfield 19-7 in the state quarterfinals and Minneapolis North 36-20 in last week’s semifinals. Annandale is located approximately 30 miles south of St. Cloud. The Cardinals are in the state tournament for the eighth time in program history and third in a row. They are seeking their first state title, in their second Prep Bowl appearance (2023). Annandale was ranked No. 1 in Class 3A in the final state media poll of the season. Who: Spring Lake Park (12-0) vs. Chanhassen (11-1) When: 4 p. m. Saturday, Nov. 22 Last Year: Elk River beat Alexandria Area 33-24 in the Prep Bowl. About Spring Lake Park: The Panthers were ranked No. 2 in the final state media poll of the season. They survived the state quarterfinals, edging No. 4-ranked Alexandria 13-12 in OT, before blowing out No. 1-ranked St. Thomas Academy 39-23 in the semifinals. SLP’s balanced offense is led by Lamari Brown, a 5-9, 172-pound senior running back. He has carried 171 times for 1, 136 yards (6. 6 per carry) and 15 TDs. Marqueal Mitchell (646 yards, 4 TD) and quarterback Nolan Roach (566 yards, 9 TDs) add more strong options to the rushing attack. Roach has also passed for 992 yards and 12 touchdowns. Chase Warner, a 5-9, 169-pound senior linebacker, leads the SLP defense with 97 total tackles and 7. 5 sacks. SLP is at state for the 10th time and in the Prep Bowl for the third time (1991 state champion, 2016 runner-up). The Panthers average 33. 8 points per game and allow 12. 5. About Chanhassen: The Storm average 32. 1 points per game and allow 15. 0. They suffered their only loss on Sept. 19, a 28-13 loss to No. 1-ranked St. Thomas Academy. Chanhassen’s two state tournament wins came by a combined seven points 23-19 against Cretin-Derham Hall in the quarterfinals and 22-19 against Elk River in last week’s semifinals. They average 207. 0 passing yards and 143. 2 rushing yards per game. Chanhassen is at state for the third consecutive year and the third time ever. It won the 2023 state title in its only previous Prep Bowl appearance. Senior quarterback Nathan Ramler has passed for 2, 473 yards and 28 TDs, with just 3 interceptions. Senior Kade Bush is his top receiving target, with 70 catches for 727 yards and 8 TDs. James Kopfmann has added 46 catches for 891 yards and a team-best 12 TDs. Junior Peyton Ramsay leads the ground attack with 873 yards and 11 TDs. Who: Edina (8-4) vs. Moorhead (8-4) When: 7 p. m. Friday, Nov. 21. Last Year: Maple Grove defeated Minnetonka 28-21 in the Prep Bowl. About Edina: The Hornets are led by one of the state’s best all-around athletes, QB Mason West. This is the final football game for the 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior, who will play Division I hockey at Michigan State next year. He was also selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. West has passed for 2, 311 yards, 26 TDs and 9 interceptions this season. His top targets are 6-1 senior Jabari Strader (54 rec., 656 yards, 11 TD) and 6-2 senior Sammy Stephenson (40 rec., 744 yards, 10 TD). Chase Bjorgaard, a 5-11, 215-pound senior, leads the rushing attack with 301 carries for 1, 514 yards (5. 0 yards per carry) and 20 TDs. Edina beat Moorhead 51-44 in the regular season finale, at Edina. Edina’s last three games have been decided by a total of four points. The Hornets went 4-4 in the regular season, but beat Farmington (30-17), Forest Lake (31-30), Eden Prairie (23-21) and Minnetonka (42-41) to reach the Prep Bowl. This is Edina’s sixth trip to state and second Prep Bowl appearance (2023 runner-up). Edina West won a state title in 1978.
https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/prep/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-prep-bowl-minnesotas-high-school-football-championship-games
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