For the first time in the modern state football tournament era that began in 1972, the St. Louis Park Orioles will be competing for a state championship as they face the Brainerd Warriors on Saturday, November 11 at 6 PM at Husky Stadium, on the campus of St. Cloud State University. Here's a preview of the game and the three other Class AAAAA quarterfinals.
The Orioles will head up I-94 to St. cloud as a result of an outstanding defense that stopped the unbeaten Cooper Hawks on a two point conversion 13-12 on a cold and snowy Friday night in New Hope. St. Louis Park needs to have an outstanding game from quarterback Johnny Sorenson, who was a factor in both Oriole touchdowns. He ran for one and threw a touchdown pass to freshman McCabe Dvorak to help clinch the win. The defense also has to shut down Brainerd's ground game led by Charlie Geraets. The Warriors are under the leadership of veteran head coach Ron Stolski. He's in his 55th year as a head coach and he has headed the Brainerd program since 1975. It's the 10th trip to state for the Warriors and they have not won a state title. They did play in the final Prep Bowl game at the Metrodome in 2013, losing to the Owatonna Huskies. Since the loss to St. Cloud Tech on September 8, the Warriors have gone 7-1. As for Geraets, he's Brainerd's leading rusher with three of his last four games amassing more than 100 yards. He could be the key to a trip down Highway 10 the following week to US bank Stadium but can the Orioles play giant killer again?
The winner of that game will face the winner of the Owatonna Huskies-Mahtomedi Zephyrs game that will also be played on the 11th at 6 PM at Lakeville North. It will be the seventh trip for the Huskies who lost to eventual state champion Elk River in last year's semifinals. They have a high powered offense that has scored a season high of 70 points against the Austin Packers and have an outstanding junior running back in Jason Williamson. He's 290 yards away from 2000 and he has only two games under 100 rushing yards, including the section final against Rochester Century. The Zephyrs have not lost a game since September 29 when they lost to the South St. Paul Packers 27-13. It's the 13th trip to state for Mahtomedi who beat the Holy Angels Stars to win the state title in 2005. Brandon Anderson has been the key to the Zephyrs success scoring 20 touchdowns this season. It should be an outstanding game.
Moving to the lower bracket and also playing on the 11th is the Mankato West Scarlets and the Apple Valley Eagles at Shakopee. The Scarlets head up Highway 169 vying for their first state title since 2014 in their eighth trip to state. Mankato West is led by quarterback Jack Foster who has thrown 20 touchdown passes and ran in an additional 14. Also part of the Scarlet's success is running back Dustin Mueller who rushed for a season high 240 yards against Waconia in the section final. Foster's top target is senior Dondre Spann, the recipient of 13 touchdown passes. The Apple Valley Eagles are in their 13th state tournament and in the hunt for their first state title since 1993. They almost had an unbeaten season but their lone loss was by a field goal to the Chaska Hawks. Apple Valley has a dual threat quarterback in Tyler Cardella who has thrown 10 touchdown passes and ran for 14. Look out for the Scarlets, they could be a favorite in Class AAAAA.
The only game played on Friday the 10th is at Mounds View with the defending champion Elk River Elks battle the Andover Huskies. Last season, the Elks routed the Spring Lake Panthers without throwing a single pass. This season is no different since Elk River has a deep ground game led by Adam Nelson who has reached the end zone 14 times. The Huskies are in the state tournament for the fifth time and still looking for their first state title. Andover lost to Elk River during the regular season in a game that resembled a basketball score 69-54. The Elks outgained the Huskies 651-504. It looks like a game that could keep the scoreboard operator busy at the controls.
So that's the field for the Class AAAAA. It's all part of The Road to The Prep Bowl.
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