After devouring turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and other tasty treats on Thanksgiving, high school football fans throughout Minnesota will descend on US Bank Stadium for the 2019 Prep Bowl November 29 and 30. Here's the first of a two part preview starting with the four games on Friday the 29th.
10:00: Class A- BOLD vs. Blooming Prairie. The 2019 Prep Bowl kicks off with a battle of unbeaten teams as the BOLD Warriors take on the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms. The Warriors return to Minneapolis for the second straight year and make their 12th trip to the state tournament. The Olivia based school came up one point short in last year's championship game, losing to Mahnomen/Waubun 22-21. Quarterback Jordan Sagedahl threw four touchdown passes to Gavin Vosika to help blow out the Browerville/Eagle Valley Tigers 56-7. Let's not overlook the Warrior defense. This season, they have been a key to five shutouts this season.
Blooming Prairie is in their ninth state tournament but in their first trip to the Prep Bowl. The Awesome Blossoms have lived up to their name, scoring more than 40 points in all but one game this season. It was a 27-6 win over the Goodhue Wildcats September 20. Thanks to running back Mathhew Pryor's 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns, Blooming Prairie earned their championship berth with a 41-0 shutout against the Ada-Borup Cougars. Will it be a high scoring game or will both team's defenses keep the score low? It should be a great start to the day's festivities.
1:00: Class AA- Minneapolis North vs. Caledonia. Friday's second title game features two more undefeated teams as the Minneapolis North Polars battle one of the most dominant teams in recent history the Caledonia Warriors. The Polars are in their sixth straight trip to state and are back at US Bank Stadium for the first time since they won the 2016 Class A championship. The good news for Mpls. North is that Terrance Kamara ran for 205 yards and reached the end zone three times to lead them into the finals. The bad news is they have to face Caledonia, winner of four consecutive state championships and nine overall. The Warriors have a chance to be the first team to win five straight state titles since Stephen-Argyle won in 2003-07. Caledonia broke open a 6-6 tie in the semifinals against with three touchdowns from sophomore Elijah King. His brother Noah, a senior quarterback, reached the end zone twice. Can Caledonia enter the history books with their 10th state title?
4:00: Class AAAA- SMB Wolfpack vs. Rocori. The defending Class AAAA champion SMB Wolfpack, a co-op between St. Paul Academy, Minnehaha Academy and Blake returned to the title game on Jalen Suggs touchdown pass to Savion Robinson with :50 left in regulation time to beat the Hutchinson Tigers in the semifinals. Suggs did it all against the black and gold bunch from Highway 7. He threw three touchdown passes, rushed for 88 yards and intercepted two passes, including a key fourth down pass from Russell Corrigan to stop a potential scoring drive.
The Spartans are in their 10th state tournament and playing in their first championship game since they won the Class AAAA title in 2011. Rocori (which stands for the towns of Rockville, Cold spring and Richmond), clinched a championship berth by doubling up the Winona Winhawks in the semifinals 48-24. It was a stellar day for running back Jack Stell who rushed for 168 yards and made five trips to the the end zone. Stell will need to gel to end the Wolfpack's title reign.
7:00: Class AAAAA-Champlin Park vs. Wayzata. There was no joy in Lakeville the weekend of November 14 when defending champion Lakeville North was beaten by the Champlin Park Rebels and Lakeville South fell to the Wayzata Trojans. In five state tournament trips, the Rebels played in two Class AAAA championship games in 1998 and 2002, losing to Woodbury and Eden Prairie. In those two games, they scored a total of seven points. The number could go even higher depending on how good of a game quarterback Jaice Miller has. In the semifinals, he passed for 277 yards and ran for two touchdowns.
Looking at the Trojans, their in their 14th trip to state and sixth appearance in a title game. Wayzata took home the championship hardware in 2005, 08 and 10 and came up short in 2004 and 11. Can they hit the .500 mark in title games? It could happen if running back Christian Vassar has another great game. The senior ran for 269 yards and scored three touchdowns. The Champlin Park defense will need to slow down Vassar to win their first state title.
Next: A preview of Saturday's title games.
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