Forget the presidential race. Star Tribune prep reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen are tied with 11-4 records deep into the regular season. Who has the best path to victory?
MINNEAPOLIS NORTH (4-0) AT FRIDLEY (4-0), 4 p.m.
Jim says: North averages more than 41 points per game, Fridley allows just four. North may struggle more than it has all year, but at some point these Polars, especially if they avoid turnovers, will break through. North 24, Fridley 22
David says: This is North’s second statement game this season. Last week the Polars edged three-school co-op SMB, an appropriate test as they prepare for a relentless Fridley team. North 30, Fridley 21
HOPKINS (2-2) AT SPRING LAKE PARK (3-1), 7 p.m.
Jim says: Spring Lake Park has been defensively dominant, allowing just six points over the last three weeks. Hopkins’ offensive firepower will test that defense, but can the Royals stop Nate Litke and the Panthers’ zone read? Spring Lake Park 40, Hopkins 20
David says: These teams are a good competitive fit despite Hopkins (Class 6A) and Spring Lake Park (5A) being in different classes. They split their past two meetings. The Royals will hang around but the surging Panthers are too much. Spring Lake Park 21, Hopkins 14
SOUTH ST. PAUL (2-2) AT TARTAN (4-0), 7 p.m.
Jim says: Tartan’s winning formula — fast starts and offensive balance — has been effective. If the Titans get an early lead — they’ve led at halftime in every game this season — methodical South St. Paul will be forced out of its comfort zone. Tartan 33, South St. Paul 21
David says: Conditions favor Tartan as well. This won’t be a rainy night on the Ettinger Field grass in South St. Paul. The Titans are on their home turf on a beautiful fall evening. They will be hard to catch. Tartan 28, South St. Paul 14
(Games 7 p.m. unless noted)
1. Lakeville South (4-0) at Farmington
2. Eden Prairie (4-0) at Prior Lake
3. St. Michael-Albertville (4-0) vs. Centennial
4. East Ridge (3-0) vs. Mounds View
5. Rosemount (3-0) vs. Burnsville
6. Farmington (4-0) vs. Lakeville South
7. Maple Grove (3-1) vs. Anoka
8. Prior Lake (2-2) vs. Eden Prairie
9. St. Thomas Academy (5A, 4-0) at Hastings
10. Andover (5A, 4-0) at Cambridge-Isanti, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY
(All games at 7 pm, unless noted)
EAST CENTRAL
North
• Princeton at Foley
• Zimmerman at Little Falls
South
• Glencoe-Silver Lake at Annandale
METRO
East
• Mounds View at East Ridge
• Stillwater at Cretin-Derham Hall
North
• Anoka at Maple Grove
• Champlin Park at Totino-Grace
• Osseo at Blaine
South
• Burnsville at Rosemount
• Eastview at Eagan
• Lakeville South at Farmington
West
• Eden Prairie at Prior Lake
• Minnetonka at Edina
• Shakopee at Wayzata
MID SOUTHEAST
Red
• Alden-Conger/G-E at Lester Prairie/HT
MID STATE
Sub I
• Pierz at Rockford
NORTH CENTRAL
Blue
• Andover at Cambridge-Isanti, 6 pm
• Buffalo at St. Francis, 6 pm
White
• Delano at Rocori, 5 pm
• Becker at Hutchinson
• Big Lake at Willmar
SOUTH CENTRAL
Silver
• Norwood Young America at Sibley East
• Tri-City United at Belle Plaine
SUBURBAN
Blue
• Coon Rapids at Park Center, 5 pm
• Irondale at Armstrong, 6 pm
• Spring Lake Park at Hopkins, 6 pm
SUBURBAN
Grey
• South St. Paul at Tartan
Maroon
• St. Thomas Academy at Hastings
Red
• Benilde-St. Margaret’s at Holy Angels
TWIN CITY
Blue
• Minneapolis North at Fridley, 4 pm
• Providence Academy at SMB
• St. Anthony at Mound Westonka
Gold
• Minneapolis South at Brooklyn Center, 2 pm
• Academy Force at Minneapolis Roosevelt, 3:30 pm
Maroon
• Minneapolis Henry at Breck
• Spectrum at Concordia Academy
Red
• Richfield at Minneapolis Southwest, 6 pm
• Columbia Heights at Bloomington Kennedy
Silver
• St. Paul Johnson at St. Paul Humboldt, 5 pm
METROPOLITAN AREA
• St. Agnes at Minneapolis Edison, 6 pm
• St. Cloud Apollo at Armstrong, 6 pm
• Apple Valley at Chaska
• Bloomington Jefferson at Cooper
• Buffalo at Hill-Murray
• Centennial at St. Michael-Albertville
• Forest Lake at Park of Cottage Grove
• Hill-Murray at DeLaSalle
• Howard Lake-W-Winsted at Kimball Area
• LeSueur-Henderson at Jordan
• Litchfield at Albany
• Milaca at Holy Family
• Red Wing at Rochester Lourdes
• Simley at Henry Sibley
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SATURDAY
EAST CENTRAL
South
• Watertown-Mayer at Dassel-Cokato, 1 pm
METRO
East
• Woodbury at Roseville, 2 pm
SUBURBAN
Grey
• Mahtomedi at North St. Paul, 1 pm
TWIN CITY
Red
• St. Croix Lutheran at Minneapolis Washburn, 1 pm
METROPOLITAN AREA
• St. Louis Park at Orono, noon
• Sauk Rapids-Rice at Rogers, noon
• Lakeville North at White Bear Lake, 1 pm