Monday, November 28, 2022

2022 Prep Bowl Preview Part Two

 If Friday's Prep Bowl games were a dandy, then the three Saturday games should also fit that description as HSGN previews the three championship games.  

10:03:  Nine Man:  Mountain Iron-Buhl vs. Spring Grove.  It's North vs. South in the day's first title game as the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers battle the Spring Grove Lions.  The Rangers are in their ninth state tournament and in Mountain Iron's first title game since they won the 1972 Class B Championship.  Mountain Iron-Buhl beat Kittson County Central top ranked Wheaton-Herman-Norcross as five different Rangers reached the end zone.  The Lions are in their fifth state tournament and in the hunt for their first state title since winning two consecutive state titles in 2017 & 2018.  Spring Grove has a strong running game anchored by quarterback Elijah Solum, who scored three touchdowns in the semifinal game against Fertile-Beltrami and Hunter Holland ran for 130 yards.  Can the Rangers end their 50 year state title drought or will the Lions bring another title trophy south?  

1:00:  Class AAA:  Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton vs. New London-Spicer.  Five towns.  Two teams.  One Class AAA championship to be decided.  The Rebels are in their fourth state tournament and their first game for a state championship.  D-G-F advanced to the finals with wins over Esko and Fairmont.  The Rebels are led by running back Jordan Summers, who ran for 168 yards and a touchdown against Fairmont.  The Wildcats make their seventh trip to state and will play in their fourth title game.  Last time New London-Spicer won a state title was 2009.  They got a couple of close wins in the tournament, starting with Milaca in the quarterfinals and Watertown-Mayer in the semifinals.  In the semifinals, Brycen Christensen reached the end zone three times.  Will fans in Dilworth, Glyndon and Felton be celebrating their first state title or will New London-Spicer take home their first championship trophy in 13 years?  

4:00:  Class AAAAA: Elk River vs. Mankato West.  It's been a great year for the Elk River School District as all three District 728 schools have played at US Bank Stadium.  Rogers and Zimmerman were eliminated and now the Elks are the last school standing.  Head coach Steve Hamilton has relied on the run all season as quarterback Cade Osterman ran for 218 yards in the semifinals against Mahtomedi. Memo to PJ Fleck.  Come to the Class AAAAA final.  You could use Osterman next season in the backfield when Mo Ibraham graduates.  As for the Scarlets, they are the defending Class AAAAA champions and are playing in their 14th state tournament.  Mankato West is 5-0 in state title games, including foiling a district showdown against Elk River with a 14-10 semifinal victory over the Rogers Royals.  Will Governor Tim Walz cheer on his former school to state title number six or will the Elk River rushing attack ground the Scarlets.  

Plenty of high school football action coming up December 2 & 3.  

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