Maple Grove vs. Osseo

7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 30

Maple Grove and Osseo high schools are just 4.5 miles apart, and if proximity is any indicator of close gridiron matchups (as it has been recently), then this matchup could prove thrilling.

Three of the last four games between these programs have been decided by 10 points or less — last year’s 28-7 blowout by the Crimson was the lone outlier — with Maple Grove finishing on top the past two seasons. The Orioles won the matchups in 2014 and 2015.  

Maple Grove has been as one of Class 6A’s most competitive programs, winning at least eight games each year since 2012. This season, the Crimson offense will rely on senior running back Evan Hull, who rushed for 19 touchdowns and fumbled just once last season. 

Osseo is looking to recover from a slump that the Orioles have been mired in since winning the Class 6A state title in 2015. The program won just two games in 2016 and three games last fall, when the program still found no postseason success despite moving down to Class 5A.

Victories this season might be difficult to come by as the Orioles graduated their starting quarterback, running back and top wide receiver from last season, but an upset of rival Maple Grove could be the tonic for Osseo's doldrums.