Class 6A
After being ranked the top-team in Class 6A for each installment of the 2016 Associated Press Minnesota State High School Football Polls, Totino-Grace (7-0, 6-0) is finally a unanimous No. 1, earning six first-place votes and 60 points. The Eagles have already locked up a West Metro District, North Division title ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with Coon Rapids (0-7, 0-6), so the only ladder left to climb for Totino-Grace is the one that leads to the state championship.
Coming in at No. 2 is the only other undefeated team in Class 6A, Lakeville North. The Panthers have outscored their last three opponents by a combined 118-12 coming into this week's game against Rosemount. The Panthers hope to avoid last year's result in this fixture, when the Irish spoiled Lakeville North's perfect season in the eighth week of the regular season.
In third place is Eden Prairie with 49 points. The Eagles have already won the West Metro District, South Division crown, and they'll will face Lake Conference rival Wayzata (2-5, 2-4) to close out the season, in a game that could serve as a tuneup for Eden Prairie heading into playoffs.
East Ridge sits in fourth place with 41 points. The Raptors hope to extend their six game winning streak on Wednesday against Woodbury (3-4, 3-3), but they may be without star running back Dominik London, who is doubtful for the season finale with an ankle injury. The Minnesota-commit hasn’t played since Sept. 30.
Rosemount rounds out the top five with 34 points. The Irish bounced back from their Oct. 7 loss, the first on the season, with a 21-0 win over Burnsville last week, but upcoming Lakeville North will be the best opponent Rosemount has seen so far this season.
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Class 5A
Elk River remains the top-ranked team in Class 5A, heading into the final regular season game. The Elks, who received seven first-place votes and 78 points, hit the road to face Moorhead (4-3, 4-2) Wednesday. Elk River needs a win to ensure an outright North Central District, Blue Division chamionship.
With a first-place vote and 78 points, Mankato West sits at No. 2. The Scarlets will do battle with Winona on Wednesday, with a pair of perfect records and a Big Southeast District, Blue Division title on the line.
Spring Lake Park is in third with 61 points. The undefeated Panthers' ground attack (378 yards per game) has dominated opposing defenses. But to finish out a perfect regular season, Spring Lake Park will have to beat Robbinsdale Cooper, one of nine undefeated teams in the top ten.
Mahtomedi and Chanhassen check in at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
The Zephyrs (7-0, 7-0) are coming off of their smallest margin of victory of the season, a 50-40 win at Park of Cottage Grove. Expect a more comfortable victory Wednesday, when Mahtomedi battles Simley (1-6, 1-6).
The Storm faces winless Bloomington Kennedy on Wednesday with a chance to finish the regular season undefeated and win a Suburban District, White Division title.
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Class 4A
South St. Paul is the yet again No.1 in Class 4A, receiving all eight first-place votes and 95 points. The Packers host Hill-Murray (1-6, 1-6) this week, whom they will need to beat to win at least a share of the East Metro District, Red Division title.
Checking in at No. 2 is Hutchinson with 87 points. The undefeated Tigers have already locked up a division championship, but Wednesday’s matchup against East Central District, South Division foe Allendale would give Hutchinson its first perfect regular season since 2014.
With a pair of first-place votes and 84 points, Marshall sits in third place. The Tigers have what is likely their toughest test of the season in Belle Plaine (6-1, 5-1) this week. If Marshall can defeat the Tigers at home this week, they can lock up an undefeated regular season as well as at least a share of the South Central District, Red Division title.
In fourth with 67 points is Winona.The undefeated Winhawks face No.2-5A Mankato West on Wednesday.
Rounding out the top five is Fergus Falls, who rises from last week’s No. 6 ranking into the top five. The Otters head to Perham (5-2, 5-1) this Wednesday, where a win would mean a share of the Midwest District, Red Division title for Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes (if they also win).
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Class 3A
With eight-of-nine first place votes and 89 total points, St. Croix Lutheran continues to reign atop the Class 3A rankings. The undefeated Crusaders close out the season with a road matchup against Minneapolis Washburn on Wednesday. The explosive St. Croix Lutheran rushing attack has helped the Crusaders score an average of 41 points per game, making this game a difficult task for the Millers (4-3, 3-2) to overcome.
Checking in at No. 2 is Jackson County Central, with one first-place vote and 76 points. Last year’s runner up in the Class 3A state tournament, the Huskies can continue to build momentum towards another postseason run with a win over St. James (1-6, 1-5) this week.
Rochester Lourdes is third in Class 3A, receiving 73 points. The Eagles are undefeated so far, but they are ending the regular season against perhaps their strongest opponent in Stewartville (6-1, 5-1), a team which has averaged 241.3 passing yards per game this season. A win for the Eagles would not only mean an undefeated regular season but also a Southeast District, Red Division title.
Pierz finds itself ranked fourth with the regular season finale yet to be played. The defending Class 3A champions, Pierz has won five straight games since a 20-6 Week Two loss to Maple Lake. The Pioneers need a win over Holdingford this week to take a share of the Mid State District, Subdivision 1 title.
Rounding out the top five is Fairmont with 50 points. The Cardinals face Waseca (6-1, 6-1) this week. A win for Fairmont won’t get the Cardinals a South Central District, Red Division title, but it would give Fairmont momentum heading into the difficult Class 3A, Section 3 tournament.
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Class 2A
Caledonia remains the unanimous selection for the top spot in the Class 2A rankings, earning all nine first-place votes and 90 total points. The Warriors (7-0, 6-0) should have no difficulties with Chatfield (2-5, 2-4) this week, especially with their balanced offense (24 passing, 17 rushing touchdowns).
Barnesville is second with 81 points and an undefeated record. The Trojans have a chance to win sole possession of the Midwest District, White Division with at the Fargo Dome over Pelican Rapids this week.
Pillager is ranked No. 3 with 69 points, and holds the only other undefeated record in the class 2A rankings. The Huskies haven’t allowed more than 12 points in any game this season, giving them a favorable matchup against this week’s opponent: Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, a team that has only 29.6 points per game.
In fourth place with 63 points is Eden Valley-Watkins. To take at least a share of the Mid State District, Subdivision 1 title, the Eagles will need a win against Maple Lake this week.
Finishing out the top five is Eveleth-Gilbert, with 41 points. The Golden Bears jump up from No. 10 last week, after a 26-22 win over Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin last week and a Redwood Valley, last week's No. 4, loss.
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Class 1A
Minneota continues to hold down the top spot in Class 1A, receiving seven first place votes and 78 total points. The defending Class 1A champions are in position for another deep postseason run, but the Vikings still have to get past Lakeview (6-1, 5-1) this week to win the Southwest District, East Division.
Last year’s runner up in Class 1A, Minneapolis North ranks second in this week’s poll, earning 70 votes. The undefeated Polars need a win over St. Agnes (4-3, 3-1) this Wednesday to clinch a Twin City District, Blue Division title. A loss would mean both teams share the title.
Coming in at No. 3 is BOLD, which got a first-place vote and 66 points. A win over Yellow Medicine East this week would give the Warriors their first undefeated season since 2012, in addition to a Mid State District, Subdivision 2 crown.
Rounding out the top five is Rushford-Peterson in fourth with 51 points, and Hinckley-Finlayson in fifth with 38 points.
The Trojans take their high-powered offense which has scored 108 points in the past two games to Goodhue (5-2, 4-2) this week.
A victory over Chisholm this week would give Hinckley-Finlayson the Northeast District, Silver Division championship outright.
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9-Man
Grand Meadow heads into the final matchup of the regular season in the same place they have been all year: at the top of the 9-Man rankings. The Superlarks earned six first-place votes this week, and 78 points overall.
But this week’s matchup, against No. 2 Spring Grove, will likely drop the loser outside the top five. Spring Grove earned a first-place vote and 71 points this week. The Lions have only allowed an average of 5.3 points per game (and zero points in the first half), but they’ll have their toughest test of the season in Grand Meadow, a team that averages 412.3 offensive yards per game.
In third place is Waubun, getting a first-place vote and 61 points. The undefeated Bombers could take the West District, North 2 Division with a win over Win-E-Mac (2-5, 1-3) this week.
Cleveland trades places with Waubun this week to drop to fourth place. The Clippers could fall further with a loss to fifth-ranked Edgerton/Ellsworth on Wednesday. In the battle of unbeatens, it'll be Cleveland’s potent offense (53.42 points per game) against Edgerton/Ellsworth’s shutdown defense (2.57 points per game).
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