Quantcast
skip navigation

Thursday's prep football state tournament picks

By Star Tribune, 11/08/17, 8:28PM CST

Share

Thursday starts three consecutive nights of state tournament quarterfinal action.

Thursday starts three consecutive nights of state tournament quarterfinal action. Two games in Class 6A have staff writers Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque squaring off.

eden prairie (10-0) Vs. lakeville north (7-3) AT chanhassen, 7 P.M.

David says: A rematch of a Week 2 game won by Eden Prairie 41-13. You can’t control every aspect of a football game, but the Eagles must be sharper than they’ve been at times this season. The talent is there. Perhaps playing the Panthers inspires better focus as the Eagles try to regain the throne.

Pick: Eden Prairie 28, Lakeville North 20

Jim says: It’s a different defensive lineup Eden Prairie will show against Lakeville North than the one that controlled the Panthers on Sept. 8. The Eagles have as many as five players either out or nursing injuries. Still, Eden Prairie has enough playmakers on offense to offset losses on the other side of the ball.

Pick: Eden Prairie 27, Lakeville North 21

maple grove (7-3) Vs. st. michael-albertville (9-1) AT park center, 7 P.M.

David says: St. Michael-Albertville hasn’t permitted more than a touchdown in four of its past five games. The Knights, newcomers to Class 6A, are playing the type of football that keeps you around into November. Maple Grove has the experience edge, but the Knights are something special this season.

Pick: St. Michael-Albertville 24, Maple Grove 14

Jim says: Let’s retire the “new to Class 6A” storyline for St. Michael-Albertville. The Knights are flat-out good, regardless of class. Maple Grove has developed an identity on offense and his name is Evan Hull. In two playoff games, he’s carried the ball 70 times for 645 yards and eight touchdowns. Crimson in a close one.

Pick: Maple Grove 17, St. Michael-Albertville 14

Related Stories