The 2017 Prep Bowl wraps up on Saturday, November 25 with three championship games at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Here's a preview of the three title games.
10 AM: A pair of southwestern Minnesota teams battle for the Class A championship as the Minneota Vikings battle the Wabasso Rabbits (sometimes referred to as the Wabbits). Though the two towns are 41 miles apart, they didn't play each other in the regular season. The Vikings took home the Class A championship trophy in 2015 and have an experienced quarterback in senior Alex Pohlen. Pohlen has been a part of the Minneota varsity since the eighth grade and also led the team to the 2014 Class A title. Also a key to the Vikings success is running back Isaac Hennen who has reached the end zone 24 times. The Rabbits are led by running back Cooper Taylor who also is a receiver. In the semifinal game against Ada-Borup/Norman county West, he scored a rushing and receiving touchdown. Both teams have high powered offenses so there could be a lot of scoring going on.
1 PM: There could be a lot of red and white clad fans populating US Bank Stadium's purple seats as the two previous Class AAA champions the St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders and the Pierz Pioneers. The Crusaders are the defending Class AAA champions and the Pioneers won the last Class AAA title played at TCF Bank Stadium in 2015. St. Croix Lutheran can pile on the points and they have played only one game this season where they scored less than 40 points. It was a 35-0 over the St. Paul Highland Park Scots on October 7. The Crusaders won a rematch of last year's Class AAA final against Rochester Lourdes in the quarterfinals and routed the Pequot Lakes Patriots in the semifinals. The Pioneers derailed the Proctor Rails in the quarterfinals and the Jordan Hubmen in the semifinals. Both teams run like the thoroughbred horses at Canterbury Park as the Crusaders are led by Mike Stern and the Pioneers have a deep and talent backfield led by Reese Kapsner, Alex funk and Jalen Jansen. Two unbeaten teams. Two outstanding coaches in Carl Lemke of St. Croix Lutheran and Leo Pohlkamp of Pierz. But there can be only one winner and it could come down to one play in the closing moments that could be the clincher for the Class AAA title.
Wrapping up the 2017 Prep Bowl is the Class AAAAA championship between the Owatonna Huskies and the defending champion Elk River Elks. Two disparate offenses will be showcased . The Huskies run a pass oriented attack that's led by senior quarterback Abe Havelka in the semifinal game against the Brainerd Warriors, Havelka completed 21 of 25 passes for 451 yards and seven touchdowns. Alex Raischle and Dalton Kubista accounted for six of Havelka's seven touchdown passes. As for the Elks, it's run run run run baby run as they rrely on a high powered rushing attack and rarely pass. Such was the case last year in the Class AAAAA final against the Spring Lake Park Panthers where all of the yardage was was on the ground. It could be another high scoring affair.
So those are the previews of the seven championship games. Both days have the makings of great Minnesota high school football.
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