Three Goal Third Period Pays Off for Delano/Rockford

 Alaina Pettit scored two goals as the Delano/Rockford Tigers broke open a scoreless game in the third period to beat the Hopkins/Park Royals 3-1 Thursday night at The Rec Center.  

Neither team would send the puck over the goal line in the first two periods.  The Tigers would have a  five on three advantage in the third period and it would pay dividends as Pettit would fire a power play goal with 11:00 to go.  D/R would go up by two as Kaelyn Wittwer would go top shelf.  Pettit would account for the Tigers third goal as she dribbled the puck through the center slot and send it to the net.  A shutout would be averted for H/P, thanks to Adrienne DeGiulio's goal with 1:20 to play.  

The Tigers improved their record to 5-3 and will travel to Inver Grove Heights on Tuesday, December 5 to face the Simley Spartans at 7 PM at the Veteran's Memorial Community Center.  The Royals fell to 3-4 and will also return to action on the 5th as they host North Wright County at 7 PM at the Minnetonka Ice Arena.  

Edina Hornets Spoil SLP Orioles Home Opener

 The St. Louis Park Orioles boys hockey team opened its home season Monday night with a tough opponent, the second ranked team in Class AA the Edina Hornets.  The Hornets got goals from four different players as they beat the Orioles 4-1 at The Rec Center.  

Edina scored the lone first period goal as Quintin Schafer found an opening on the right side of St. Louis Park goalie Bennett Anderson and sent it over the goal line.  Anderson got the start in place of the injured Josh Middleton.  

The Hornets would strike twice in the second period.  The first came while Sam Peckham was serving a slashing penalty and John Halvorson would score from the right side.  The second came when Casey Vandertop fired a shot from the right wall and it entered the cage to put Edina up by three.  

Edina would go up by four in the third period on Ryan Flaherty's liner goal.  There would be no shutout on this chilly Monday night as St. Louis Park's Sam Fuller fed Owen Anklam and he sent the puck from the right faceoff circle past Hornet goalie Joe Bertram.  

The Hornets improved their record to 3-0 and will host the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights on Saturday, December 2 at 7 PM at Braemar Arena.  The Orioles fell to 0-3 and will also return to action on the 2nd as they host the Armstrong/Cooper Wings at 7 PM at The Rec Center.  

2023 Day Two Prep Bowl Roundup

 To quote the late British poet William Blake, it was "Tiger tiger burning bright" Saturday at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as two teams nicknamed the Tigers took home championship trophies and a memorable game to wrap up the 2023 Prep Bowl.  Here's a recap of Day Two.  

                                             NEVIS 14, KINGSLAND 12

There's an age old question in a classic children's book "Do Tigers Ever Bite Kings?"  For the Nevis Tigers, the answer was yes as their defense took a bite out of the Kingsland Knights offense with two first half touchdowns to win their first state title 14-12 in the Class Nine Player Championship.  

The Knights defense got off to a good start with two straight sacks of Tiger quarterback Eli Lewis.  The offense took one play to get the early lead on a 52 yard touchdown pass from Kaaleem Reiland to Ayden Howard.  Nevis would vault ahead as Lewis completed a 48 yard pass to Joe Houchin and Lewis would keep the ball and head into the end zone on a one yard run.  Ayomedi Ogundeji would break two tackles and score on a 32 yard run and the Tigers led 14-6 at the half.  

It looked like Kingsland would come close to Nevis in the third quarter but Ayden Howard's second touchdown was called backed due to an aiding the runner penalty.  But the Knights would shine on a five yard keeper run to the right side that cut the Tiger lead to two but the would lose the ball on downs after a 31 yard pass from Reiland to Howard.  

Beau Wiersma, who led Kingsland with 297 yards in the semifinals against Fertile-Beltrami, ran for 162 yards.  

 Nevis ended their season with a record of 13-0.  Kingsland concluded their season at 12-1.  

                                                 STEWARTVILLE 43 ANNANDALE 13

The Stewartville Tigers made the most of their trip up Highway 52 as Carter Miller reached the end zone three times to lead them to a 43-13 rout of the Annandale Cardinals in the Class AAA championship game.  

Both teams tallied in the first quarter.  The Tigers struck first as Mr. Football candidate Ayden Helder fired a 17 yard pass to Miller.  The Cardinals tied the game as Connor Lampi score on a one yard run.  Stewartville regained the lead on a four yard left side touchdown run from Miller giving them a 14-7 halftime lead.  

Miller would reach the end zone for the third time in the third quarter on  a six yard run up the middle.  The Tigers would put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter as Helder scored on a one yard keeper run and threw a 44 yard touchdown pass to Tegan Malone.  Defense would also be the key for Stewartville as Jayce Klug recorded two interceptions.  With the outcome decided, both teams emptied their benches and they would also factor into the equation.  Tarin Conlin would score on a one yard run following a run of 37 yards for Stewartville and Gabe Westman hauled in a 17 yard pass from Michael Kovall for Annandale.  

Miller led the Tigers with 150 rushing yards.  

Stewartville finished the season with a 13-0 record and Annandale ended their season at 12-1.

                                        CHANHASSEN 34, ST. THOMAS ACADEMY 31 (OT)

If you got tired of the Minnesota Gophers making one blockhead mistake after another against Wisconsin, you could have changed the channel to one of the best games in Prep Bowl history that had Kaden Bush catch the winning touchdown pass in overtime to lead the Chanhassen Storm to a 34-31 win over the St. Thomas Academy Cadets in the Class AAAAA championship game.  

It was the first championship game to go into overtime since 2019 when Rocori beat the SMB Wolfpack to win the Class AAAA title.  

Following a missed field goal by the Cadets Declan Wilson, the Storm had their first drive and it would take one play as Maxwell Woods ran like he was headed to the light rail station 76 yards to put Chanhassen ahead.  Both teams reached the end zone in the second quarter as Savion Hart scored on a 12 yard run and Brayden Windschitl scored on a one yard keeper run following a 58 yard gain from the North Dakota State bound Woods.  The Storm led at halftime 14-7.  

It was Woods who made his second visit to the end one in the third quarter, scoring on a 10 yard run.  Luke Dobbs caught a seven yard touchdown pass for St. Thomas Academy and the Storm led 21-14 at the end of the third quarter.  

Hart would cause Cadets fan's hearts to beat faster in the fourth quarter when he ran the ball into the end zone from six yards to tie the game at 21.  The Storm went back in front as Daxton Bush received the pitch from Windschitl, broke through two tackles and scored on a 62 yard run.  St. Thomas Academy was not out of it as they would tie the game on Maximus Sims' eight yard pass to Chase Young to even the score at 28.  Chanhassen rwould run out the clock and send the game into overtime.  

Now to overtime and the Cadets would go first from the Storm 10 yard line.  They would get a 26 yard field goal from Wilson to take a 31-28 lead.  Could Chanhassen take home their first state title in their overtime drive?  The answer would be yes.  It would come down to fourth and goal at the St. Thomas Academy six yard line as Windschitl fired a high, short pass to Kaden Bush and he caught it to send the fans home to Carver County jubilant.  

Woods would lead the Storm with 215 yards on 20 carries and Hart led the Cadets with 226 yards on 37 rushes.  

Chanhassen ended their season at 13-0 and St. Thomas Academy finished with a record on 10-3.  

2023 Prep Bowl Day One Roundup

 HSGN was present Friday at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to cover a pair of games in the 2023 Prep Bowl that saw a perennial power take home another title and a North Metro school win their first championship.  

                                         HUTCHINSON 14, ROCORI 6

Charles Renner would run to glory in the Class AAAA title game as he scored two touchdowns,  including the game winner with 5:24 left in regulation time to lead the Hutchinson Tigers to a 14-6 win over the Rocori Spartans.  

Neither team tallied in the first quarter.  The Tigers would score the only first half points when Renner caught a 17 yard pass from Logan Butler and the he scored on a three yard run to give Hutchinson a 6-0 halftime lead.  

The Spartans would even the score as Will Steil fired  A 67 yard touchdown pass to Caleb Maddox.  The Tigers regained the lead on Renner's second touchdown, a two yard run with 5:24 to go.  Could Rocori possibly send the game into overtime?  The answer would be no when Nathan Thode intercepted Steil's pass.  

It was the eighth state title for Hutchinson, who finished the season with a record of 11-2.  Rocori ended their season at 10-3.  

                                     CENTENNIAL 28, EDINA 27

It was no little white lie that Marcus Whiting scored two touchdowns to lead the Centennial Cougars to a 28-27 win over the Edina Hornets in the Class AAAAAA title game.  

Just like the AAAA final, there was no first quarter scoring.  In the second quarter Whiting put the Cougars ahead on a one yard run.  They would go up by 14 after Josh Lee intercepted Edina quarterback Mason West and Daylen Cummings kept the ball and scored from 15 yards. The Hornets almost got on the board as West fired a pass to Mason Swinney but the replay review indicated that he was short of the goal line.  Not to worry Edina fans because John Warpinski ran the ball in on the next play. Lee would also shine on offense for Centennial as he hauled in an 8 yard touchdown pass from Cummings to give Centennial a 21-7 halftime lead.  

Warpinski would score his second one yard touchdown of the game in the third quarter to cut the lead to 21-14.  In the fourth quarter Whiting scored his second touchdown of the game.  The Hornets would come within 7 on West's six yard left side keeper touchdown.  West also went through the air late in the game as he threw a 21 yard strike to Sonny Villegas with :16 to go, cutting the Cougar lead to one.  Could Edina wrap up their first title since 1978 with a successful two point conversion?  The answer would be no as Warpinski came up short.  

Centennial concluded their regular season with a record of 12-1 and Edina ended their season at 9-4.  

2023 Prep Bowl Preview Part Two

 After four games on the 24th, there's more exciting action in day two of the 2023 Prep Bowl with three more games to be previewed. 

                                            SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

10:00:  Nine Player:  Kingsland vs. Nevis.  Saturday's first game featured two unbeaten teams, the Kingsland Knights and the Nevis Tigers.  The Knights, based in Spring Valley, have ascended toward the top of the Nine Player throne thanks to running back Beau Wiersma, who rushed for 297 yards and four touchdowns in the semifinals against the Fertile-Beltrami Falcons.  Kingsland is 2-1 in state title games and is a game away from their first championship since 2002.  They take on the Nevis Tigers, playing in their first title game since 2017 when they were shut out by the spring Grove Lions 32-0. The Tigers ended the championship reign of Mountain Iron-Buhl in the quarterfinals and routed the Otter Tail Central Bulldogs in the semifinals 35-0.  Eli Lewis threw four touchdown passes to lead Nevis.  Can Kingsland end their title drought or will Nevis take their first state title trophy back to Hubbard County?  

1:00:  Class AAA:  Stewartville vs. Annandale:  It's The Battle of the Unbeatens:  Part Deux as the Stewartville Trojans head up Highway 52 to Minneapolis for it's third trip to the Prep Bowl.  It's the trojans first title game since 1986 when they were shutout by the Cambridge Bluejackets 24-0.  They did appear once in the pre-Prep Bowl Era in 1977 as they were thrashed by the Granite Falls Kilowatts.  Stewartville advance to the Class AAA title game with a 28-7 victory over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.  Annandale is making its Prep Bowl debut and sixth state tournament trip.  They beat the Dassel-Cokato Chargers in the semifinals 24-14, led by the dual threat quarterback Nick Walter, who passed for 185 yards and ran for 109 yards.  Who will take home the gold medals and championship trophy.  

4:00:  Class AAAAA:  St. Thomas Academy vs. Chanhassen:  Here's a great way to end the 2023 Prep Bowl as two outstanding teams, the St. Thomas Academy Cadets and the unbeaten and top ranked Chanhassen Storm.  The Cadets, the only team in Saturday's field that isn't unbeaten, trailed by 23 points in the semifinals against the Alexandria Cardinals.  But there would be good news for the blue and clad fans as well as the uniformed students as St. Thomas Academy scored 42 straight points to defeat Alexandria 42-30.  Running back Savion Hart scored three touchdowns and ran for 227 yards.  The Storm would win a stormy battle against the Andover Huskies 54-46 in overtime on Brayden Windschitl's touchdown pass to Sam Macy.  It will be your final opportunity to see the StarTribune Metro Player of the Year Maxwell Woods before he heads to North Dakota State next season.  Woods reached the end zone twice and ran for 214 yards against Andover.  This should be a memorable conclusion to this year's Prep Bowl.  

2023 Prep Bowl Preview Part One

 This year there is no conflict with the Vikings playing on Thanksgiving night as the 2023 Prep Bowl returns to its regular dates after the holiday of Friday and Saturday, the 24th and 25th.  Here's Part One of the Prep Bowl Preview, with all seven games taking place at US Bank Stadium.  

                                           FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24

10:00: Class A:  Springfield vs. Minneota.  The 2023 Prep Bowl opens with a Southern Minnesota Shootout as the Springfield Tigers battle the Minneota Vikings. It's a rematch of last year's Class A final that was won by the Vikings 28-21.  Defense would be a key for Springfield as they capitalized on five Mahnomen/Waubun turnovers to beat the Thunderbirds 36-12.  Minneota, playing in their 16th state tournament and 11tWill the Tigers battle back from last year's title loss or will Chad Johnston lead the Vikings to another state championship trophy? 

1:00:  Class AA:  Barnesville vs/ Eden Valley-Watkins:  Last year, the fourth time turned out to be a charm for the Trojans as they took home the Class AA title trophy with a 35-20 win over the Chatfield Gophers.  This year, Barnesville earned it's fifth trip down I-94 with a 35-20 victory over the Jackson County Central Huskies.  Cameron Halvorson and Major Ness scored two touchdowns apiece.  The Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles are back to the Prep Bowl for the first time since 2016 and in the hunt for their first state title since 2005 when they beat the perennial power the Caledonia Warriors.  Wyatt Moehrle was they key to the Eagles success, catching three touchdown passes and running for one more.  It should be an outstanding Class AA final.  

4:00:  Class AAAA:  Rocori vs. Hutchinson.  The Class AAAA final is a regular season rematch between the Spartans and the Tigers on September 29 that was won by the Rocori 11-0.  But this is the state tournament and the stakes are even higher for both teams.  Rocori, whose touchdown by Will Steil was enough to beat the Byron Bears 7-0 in the semifinals.  Hutchinson's road to their seventh state title was no contest for the North Branch Vikings as they got four touchdowns from Nathan Thode that led them to a 56-28 semifinal win.  Who will win the rematch?  

7:00:  Class AAAAAA:  Centennial vs. Eden Prairie:  Two first time title teams head to US Bank Stadium to wrap up the Prep Bowl's first day.  The Centennial Cougars return to the Prep Bowl for the first time since 1984 when the lost to the Hutchinson Tigers in the Class A final.  The Cougars advanced to the finals with a 20-13 win over the Lakeville South Cougars.  As for the Edina Hornets, they pulled the biggest upset of the tournament with a 28-7 rout of the Eden Prairie Eagles.  Last time an Edina team played for a state football title was 1978 as the Edina West Cougars, under the veteran leadership of Stav Canakes shutout the Fridley Tigers 21-0.   Keep an eye on sophomore quarterback Mason West, who threw three touchdown passes against the Eagles and senior running back John Warpinski who ran for 194 yards and a trip to the end zone.   Can the Hornets end their long title drought or will the Cougars finally bring a title trophy back to Circle Pines.  

Next:  Saturday title games in Part Two.          

Hutchinson Tigers Trounce North Branch Vikings

 Friday night was a big night for Nathan Thode as he ran for four touchdowns, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble to lead the Hutchinson Tigers to a 56-28 win over the North Branch Vikings in the Class AAAA semifinals at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.  

The Tigers would tally on their first drive that bolstered by Carter Verhasselt's 45 yard run to the Viking one yard line and Thode would finish it off with a one yard touchdown run.  Hutchinson almost got the ball back on Manny Pearce's interception but it was nullified due to a pass interference penalty.  It would enable North Branch to tie the game on Jacob Robillard's 33 yard touchdown pass to Tyler Minke.  The Tigers would strike back quickly on Logan Butler's 64 yard touchdown pass down the middle to Charles Renner giving Hutchinson a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Thode would account for both of Hutchinson's second quarter touchdowns.  The first would come as he ran right for 10 yards and the second would come following an interception that would also be a 10 yard run.  North Branch would wrap up the first half scoring as Austin Anderson ran left and scampered 17 yards into the end zone.  The Tigers led at the half 32-16.  

In the third quarter, Hutchinson would capitalize on two North Branch fumbles.  The first was recovered Gunnar Fick and Verhasselt would score from two yards.  Thode would also play defense and his fumble recovery would set up Renner's second touchdown, this one from five yards.  Minke would reach the end zone a second time as he caught a 14 yard pass from Robillard.  The Tigers led 48-20 at the end of the third quarter.

There would be running time in the fourth quarter as Thode on fourth down and five would score his fourth touchdown of the game, an 11 yard run.  But the Vikings would end running time late in the game on Brody Beaver's three yard run with :58 to play.  The Tigers would take a couple of kneels to end the game.  

Thode would lead Hutchinson as he ran for 171 yards on 24 carries.  Verhasselt ran 13 times for 120 yards.  North Branch was led by Robillard as he carried 15 times for 112 yards.  

The Tigers improved their record to 10-2 and advanced to the Class AAAA final against the Rocori Spartans on Friday, November 24 at 4 PM at US Bank Stadium.  It will be a rematch of the September 22 game where Hutchinson was shutout by Rocori 11-0.  The Vikings concluded their season with a record of 9-2.  

Hopkins/Park Hammers Hutchinson Tigers

 Not only was Saturday Veteran's Day, it was the start of the winter sports season in St. Louis Park with the traditional outdoor girls hockey game involving Hopkins/Park.  The got the season off to a solid start as Lucy Johnson and Hazel Schenkelberg scored two goals apiece to lead H/P to an 8-4 win over the Hutchinson Tigers at The Rec Center.  

Kavci Helstrom would begin the scoring for H/P as she scored on a rebound.  The Tigers would even the score when Addison Longie found an opening on the left side of the net and she sent it past the goal line.  H/P would wrap up the first period with two more goals, the first coming from Ella Koethe and the second :32 later on Schenkelberg's center slot goal.  

Schenkelberg would account for H/P's only second period goal as she got  centering pass from Johnson and she fired it into the net.  

If you liked plenty of scoring, you came just in time for the third period.  Hutchinson began the scoring on Longie's unassisted goal 1:14 into the period. Lucy Johnson would tally twice for H/P to extend the margin to four.  The Tigers would roar back :33 later on Kohle Fitterer's goal.  There would be a flurry of goals in the final two minutes.  Elle Schweim would cut the lead to two.  Any comeback attempts for the Tigers were aborted when Audrey Hanson was sent to the penalty box for body checking.  H/P would capitalize on the power play when Adrienne DeGiulio would send the puck past Kaiden Fitterer and LindsaySchuchard would score an unassisted goal :24 later.  

H/P improved their record to 2-0 and will host the Pine City Dragons on Tuesday, November 14 at 7 PM at the Minnetonka Ice Arena.  Hutchinson fell to 1-1 and will also return to action on the 14th as they host the Willmar Cardinals at 7 PM at Burich Arena.