Metro football Top 10

With just one more night of regular-season football left, staff writer Jim Paulsen’s penultimate set of metro football rankings:

1. Eden Prairie (7-0): The Eagles host Hopkins on Wednesday for the last Lake conference title ever. Big for Mike Grant, who stresses conference championships.

2. Rosemount (7-0): The Irish likely clinched the top seed in Section 3, 6A with its victory over Lakeville South.

3. Mounds View (6-1): Still undefeated in Minnesota after a near-perfect effort in beating East Ridge

4. Prior Lake (6-1): Maybe the Lakers’ offense is enough. They average almost 28 points per game.

5. Maple Grove (6-1): A close loss in a rivalry game – 27-26 to Osseo, missing a game-winning field goal at the end – can be forgiven.

6. Hutchinson (7-0): A very high ranking for a Class 4A team, I admit, but the Tigers’ aren’t your average 4A team.

7. Lakeville North (6-1): The Panthers’ offense stepped up with five first-half touchdowns in a 42-13 rout of Burnsville.

8. East Ridge (6-1): The big question is how Friday’s loss to Mounds View will affect the Raptors going forward.

9. Rogers (7-0): The Royals turn their focus to Wednesday’s colossal matchup against rival St. Michael-Albertville.

10. Hopkins (5-2): OK, I’m on board. The Royals have a chance to prove just how much they’ve improved at Eden Prairie.