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Star Tribune staff picks for Friday night of week No. 3

By Star Tribune, 09/12/19, 3:53PM CDT

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One of our prep writers is predicting a loss for the Class 6A defending champs.


Rosemount's Jake Ratzlaff (21), who will play hockey for the Gophers, teams with Gopher football recruit Jonathan Mann to create a formidable pass-catching duo for the Irish, who play Lakeville North on Friday. Photo: Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Star Tribune staff writer Jim Paulsen (7-2) enjoyed perfection in the second week. His colleague David La Vaque (3-6) not so much. Two out of three games are up for grabs Friday so nobody will have all the glory to themselves. Of course, both of them could fall on their face.

LAKEVILLE NORTH (2-0) AT ROSEMOUNT (1-1), 7 P.M.

Jim says: Rosemount has a three-game regular-season winning streak over Lakeville North dating back to 2013 (North did win a 2014 playoff squeaker). Expect a good, old-fashioned donnybrook between hard-nosed teams. First team to 14 wins. Lakeville North 14, Rosemount 10.

David says: Looking forward to Rosemount’s solid passing game, featuring future Gopher athletes Jonathan Mann (football) and Jake Ratzlaff (hockey) at receiver vs. Lakeville North’s relentless pass rush (10 sacks). Bold pick: The defending champs go down. Rosemount 20, Lakeville North 17.

ST. LOUIS PARK (1-1) AT COOPER (1-1), 7 P.M.

Jim says: Cooper lost to Waconia in Week 1. St. Louis Park defeated Waconia last week. So, St. Louis Park has the edge, right? Not so fast. Cooper has won 11 of the last 12 meetings in this rivalry. St. Louis Park has scored only seven points in the first three quarters this season. Cooper 23, St. Louis Park 15.

David says: Both quarterbacks were superb last week. Joseph Russell threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns in Cooper’s victory. Aaron Ellingson passed for 199 yards and a score and added 53 yards rushing with two touchdowns. But can Ellingson run effectively against the Hawks? Cooper 28, St. Louis Park 21.

 

ST. THOMAS ACADEMY (2-0) AT MAHTOMEDI (1-1), 7 P.M.

Jim says: Last season St. Thomas Academy outscored regular season opponents by an average of 41-5. This year, the Cadets have outscored their two foes 89-6. Mahtomedi has enough defense to slow them down, but you can’t win if you can’t score and St. Thomas Academy makes that tough. St. Thomas Academy 24, Mahtomedi 7.

David says: In their first two games, the Cadets didn’t exactly knock off Eden Prairie and Lakeville North, alright? As for Mahtomedi’s offense, quarterback Johnathon Devore and running back Jordan Hull are playmakers capable of putting all manner of pressure on defenses. Mahtomedi 21, St. Thomas Academy 14.

Star Tribune metro top 10 in action Friday night

(all games 7 p.m.)
1. Lakeville North (2-0) at Rosemount
2. Eden Prairie (2-0) vs. Minnetonka
3. St. Michael-Albertville (2-0) vs. Shakopee
4. Wayzata (2-0) at Prior Lake
5. Mounds View (2-0) at Woodbury
6. Prior Lake (2-0) vs. Wayzata
7. Eastview (2-0) at East Ridge
8. Champlin Park (2-0) at Centennial
9. Farmington (2-0) at Eagan
10. SPA/Minnehaha/Blake (Class 4A) (2-0) at St. Croix Lutheran

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