Chaska Hawks-SLP Orioles Football Preview

 The 2022 high school football regular season wraps up Wednesday night as the St. Louis Park Orioles host the Chaska Hawks.  

In their last two games, the Hawks tallied 35 points in victories against the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders and the Orono Spartans.  Not so last Friday against the team that's very likely to be the top seed in St. Louis Park's section, the Armstrong Falcons.  Chaska broke a 7-7 tie on Reese Turner's second quarter touchdown that would eventually be the game winner since the scoreboard result remained stationery in the second half.  The Hawks improved their record to 5-2 with a 14-7 win over the Falcons.  Turner had 34 carries for 140 yards, the highest total since he gained 235 yards against Orono the previous week.  

The keys to the game for Chaska are for Turner to have another outstanding ground game and for quarter back Jamarrius Courtney to be a dual threat like he was most of the season.  He has rushed for four touchdowns against Benilde-St. Margaret's and Cretin Derham Hall.  

As for St. Louis Park, last Friday's game was very Munsterlike, just like the dark and gloomy weather.  The Orioles were washed out by the Waconia Wildcats 55-7.  The St. Louis Park defense was decimated by Max McEnelly's 272 yard performance that also included four trips to the end zone.  St. Louis Park was also minus Declan Gaines for the second straight week due to a concussion, so Stefano Giovannelli ran the Oriole offense.  Giovannelli did not fare well, completing five of 18 passes for 43 yards.  St. Louis Park's only touchdown came from AJ Foster, who led the Orioles with 15 carries for 53 yards.  There was one bright spot on defense as Zach Helfmann recorded 15 tackles.  

The keys to the game for St. Louis Park.  Will this be the week Gaines returns?  Foster has to continue his momentum from Waconia and the defense needs to slow down Courtney and Turner.  

The weather picture for Wednesday should be a little better with the high temperature around 50 degrees.  Dress warm for the regular season finale.  Game time is 7 PM.