2018 Prep Bowl Preview Part 2

Three more championship games wrap up the 2018 Prep Bowl on Saturday, November 24.  Here's a preview of Saturday's games.

10:00:  Class A:  BOLD vs. Mahomen/Waubun:  It's a battle of the unbeatens that opens the final day of the 2018 Prep Bowl.  It's also the final game for Warrior head coach Steve Solem who will be retiring after 33 years leading the school that represents Bird Island, Olivia, Lake Lillian and Danube.  He's led the Warriors to state titles in 1990 and 1991 and hopes to close out his career with their first state title in 27 years.  Now there's a familiar name back in the state championship game-Mahnomen.  Once upon a time, they were known as the Mahnomen Indians, who played in the first Prep Bowl game in 1982 and later won four consecutive state championships.   This year, the team goes by the Mahnomen/Waubun Thunderbirds and the Thunderbirds offense has been thunderous as they have outscored their state tournament opponents Deer River and Springfield by a combined score of 80-0.  Seven of Mahnomen/Waubun's 12 wins have been shut outs.  Can BOLD be number eight?

1:00:  Class AAA:  Rochester Lourdes vs. Fairmont:  It's a "Battle of the Birds" as the Rochester Lourdes Eagles take on the Fairmont Cardinals.  The Eagles have been one of the most dominant outstate teams in the 2010s, winning state titles in 2010, 2014 and 2016.  Can they win their fourth of the decade?  All hasn't been fair for Fairmont.  The Cardinals are playing in their 10th state tournament and have played in only one championship game, losing 34-32 to the St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders in the 2011 Class AAA final.  Who will coming out flying toward the end zone?

4:00:  Class AAAAA:  Owatonna vs. St. Thomas Academy:  The 2018 Prep Bowl concludes with the defending Class AAAAA champion Owatonna Huskies facing the St. Thomas Academy Cadets.  It's also a golden opportunity to see another future Gopher in actions, Huskie running back Jason Williamson.  He has made 44 trips to the end zone in 2018 and rushed for close to 2,900 yards.  But the Cadets have a backfield weapon in Brendan McFadden.  He ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns in St. Thomas Academy's semifinal win over the Bemidji Lumberjacks.  Set your DVR for the Minnesota-Wisconsin football game and head to US Bank Stadium for the exciting climax to two days of outstanding Minnesota high school football.