Quantcast
skip navigation

Star Tribune staff football picks, Week 7

By Star Tribune, 10/13/16, 9:45PM CDT

Share

The penultimate week of the regular season sees staff writers Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque at odds over a key Class 5A showdown

Prep picks

The penultimate week of the regular season sees staff writers Jim Paulsen (16-5) and David La Vaque (14-7) at odds over a key Class 5A showdown. No moderator needed in the picks format, however. Civility reigns when it comes to high school football.

Burnsville (5-1) at

Rosemount (5-1), 7 p.m.

Jim says: Rosemount, big and physical and ornery after unexpectedly losing to Farmington last week, at home no less. Burnsville without its starting QB. I can’t imagine a tougher scenario for the Blaze. If Burnsville pulls off the upset, it might qualify as the biggest single victory of the season. But Rosemount gets its title hopes back on track here.

Pick: Rosemount 26, Burnsville 7

David says: To your point, Burnsville coach Tyler Krebs acknowledged walking into a “hornet’s nest” Friday given Rosemount’s collapse. Be sure to watch Blaze defensive back Jake Shepley on Irish receiver Griffin Lanoue. Not sure who gets the better of this matchup, but Rosemount wins this game.

Pick: Rosemount 21, Burnsville 10

Mahtomedi (6-0) at park of Cottage Grove (5-1), 7 p.m.

Jim says: A classic case of a potent offense vs. prohibitive defense. Park averages 40 points and 460 total yards per game. Mahtomedi gives up barely 200 yards per game and has held four of six opponents under 10 points. While Park is 3-0 at home, I’m always more comfortable picking the tougher defense.

Pick: Mahtomedi 27, Park of Cottage Grove 20

David says: Mahtomedi’s defense has done a great job of punching out opposing offenses. Park QB Brandon Alt can hit back, however. He’s good for more than 200 yards and at least two touchdowns. He also averages 7.1 yards per carry. His dual-threat capabilities make the difference as the Wolfpack stays perfect at home.

Pick: Park of Cottage Grove 31, Mahtomedi 28

benilde-st. margaret’s (5-1) at Spring Lake Park (6-0), 7 p.m.

Jim says: Spring Lake Park begins the toughest part of its schedule, hosting the Red Knights before ending the regular season at Cooper. The Panthers play tough-guy football, with a hard-nosed ground game and a beatdown defense. Benilde-St. Margaret’s, on the other hand, has the metro’s fastest back in Ricky Floyd. I’m leaning strength over speed in this one.

Pick: Spring Lake Park 30, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 21

David says: Benilde-St. Margaret’s, stout against the run this season, won’t fare so well against Spring Lake Park’s wrecking ball offense. QB Zachary Ojile leads the team with 861 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and handoffs to Drew Swenson (433 yards, five TDs) and Anthony Fleischfresser (400 yards, eight TDs) yield results.

Pick: Spring Lake Park 35, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 14

Related Stories