Hang on, because this North Central Blue Subdistrict showdown has all the earmarks of a shootout. Elk River scores more than 45 points a game but allows more than 20 (22.7 to be precise).
So far this season, Rogers has posted exactly 100 fewer points than the No. 3-5A Elks, but the No. 9-5A Royals have allowed just 86 points — just more than half as many as Elk River (7-0, 6-0).
No team has stopped Elk River’s run-heavy offense (34 points is the lowest output this season) that boasts running backs Joe Nordstrom (1,054 yards, 13 TDs) and Carter Otto (913 yards, nine TDs) working behind a dominant offensive line.
Rogers (6-1, 6-0), with a 1,000-yard passer in Easton Miller (1,143, 10 TDs) and 1,000-yard running back in Ben Dahl (1,112 yards, nine TDs), has one of the state’s most balanced offenses.