Football fans can come in from the cold because the state football semifinals and Prep Bowl games will be played at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis starting on Thursday, November 17.
Also on the 17th, is the first Class AAAA semifinal that features the unbeaten Marshall Tigers and the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights at 4:30 PM.
When you think of Marshall and high school sports, it's very likely their outstanding girls teams in volleyball and basketball. But in 2016, it's the guys turn to shine in the Tiger spotlight as the football team goes for their first championship berth. This season, Marshall has had a high powered offense that has scored more than 50 points in five of their 11 games. The only game where the Tigers didn't score at least 40 points was in the Section 2 final as they beat the perennial power Hutchinson Tigers 17-14.
Marshall got a solid game from their running back Jefferson Lee V, who scored four touchdowns and rushed for 139 yards in a 40-7 rout of the Fridley Tigers. Lee has 1,802 yards this season and the junior has broken the 100 yard plateau in all but one game. It was September 9 against Waseca, when he was held to 54 yards. He is the key to the game for Marshall as well as their defense which has given more than 20 points in only one game this season, the Section 2 semifinal against the Faribault Falcons. They will need to slow down Ricky Floyd and the Red Knight offense.
Benilde-St. Margaret's avenged last year's exit against the Becker Bulldogs in last years Class AAAA quarterfinals with a 42-7 clubbing of the Cloquet Lumberjacks. It was also a big night for Floyd who scored four touchdowns and ran for 227 yards. Floyd will need to have a big night against a very tough Marshall defense and the Red Knights also could use a big game for quarterback Will Whitmore, who is capable of running the option offense.
The winner advances to the Prep Bowl on Friday, November 25 against the winner of the Winona-Rocori game that will be played on Friday, November 18 at 4:30 PM. The Winona Winhawks continue their quest for their first Prep Bowl trip since 1987 following a 24-0 shut out of the top ranked South St. Paul Packers in the quarterfinals.
Looking at the Rocori Spartans, they were the third seed in Section 8 and earned their trip to the state tournament by beating Little Falls, Detroit Lakes and a team that they beat on September 9 41-21, the Willmar Cardinals. Rocori ousted their Spartan counterpart Orono 30-7 in the quarterfinals. Connor Schoberg threw three touchdown passes to Derek Thompson. Thompson had his best game of the season with 157 receiving yards, his first 100 yard game since the September 30 loss to the Alexandria Cardinals when he had 110 yards and a touchdown.
Can Rocori rock US Bank Stadium and continue their drive for their first Class AAAA state title since 2011? It's all part of three exciting days of semifinal football in Minnesota.
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