It’s Jug Week! We think. With so many COVID-related postponements — or flat out cancellations — there’s no telling who might be playing whom in any given week. This rivalry game (2.8 miles separate the west metro campuses), which awards the victor one of the coolest traveling trophies in the state, was originally scheduled for Oct. 16. It took the willingness of athletic directors at Hopkins and Robbinsdale Armstrong to reshuffle their schedules to create an open date.
Chaska (2-1, 1-0) is the defending Class 5A state champion, but the Hawks, ranked No. 1 in the Class 5A Associated Press statewide poll from Oct. 21, are coming off just their seventh loss in their last 41 home games dating back to 2013 after suffering a 24-14 setback against No. 4-4A Orono last Friday.
Senior quarterback Matthew Paul threw for 93 yards and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run for the Hawks in the matchup against Orono. Dewandis Youmans and Jack Boyle are Chaska’s top rushers. Youmans had a team-high 51 rushing yards against the Spartans.
Chanhassen (2-0, 1-0) overwhelmed Benilde-St. Margaret’s 27-13 last week by scoring three touchdowns in the opening quarter. Senior Jason Collins, the No. 9-5A Storms’ top rusher, suffered a knee injury in the third quarter last week, and junior Brady Grandstaff took over as the featured back.