Star Tribune staff writers Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque are on to Day 2 of Week 1 of the high school football season, picking winners of several games each gameday as they have since 2010.
Orono at
Cooper, 7 p.m.
Jim says: The unexpected death of defensive line coach Andrew Ariegwe on Saturday set the Hawks on their heels. How will they respond? Head coach Willie Howard has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the 27-year-old Ariegwe’s family. As of Thursday morning, $13,615 of a $20,000 goal had been raised. 
Pick: Cooper 30, Orono 24

David says: Brad Anderson, coach of some great Wayzata state championship teams, is now an assistant at Orono. He brought many of the Trojans’ offensive philosophies to a Spartans program seeking change. So if they don’t score a lot, blame the new guy. Just teasing. 
Pick: Cooper 28, Orono 21
St. Thomas Academy at South St. Paul,
7 p.m.
Jim says: Ask just about any player at South St. Paul which team they consider their fiercest rival and the answer comes back “St. Thomas Academy.” The Packers have lost a few players to the Cadets over the years, which fuels the rivalry. Expect emotions to be high under new head coach Manuel Spreigl, but St. Thomas is too solid to pick against. 
Pick: St. Thomas 24, South St. Paul 14

David says: Spreigl is a new head coach, but don’t expect the South St. Paul graduate and longtime assistant to change how they play. “He’s going to keep the grit, toughness and blue-collar mentality,” predecessor Chad Sexauer said. “You will know you’re in a football game.”
Pick: St. Thomas 21, South St. Paul 20
Champlin Park
at Woodbury, 7 p.m.
Jim says: This has been touted as a rematch of the 1998 Class 5A Prep Bowl, but none of the players had been born by then, so how much that matters is up for debate. What matters more are the players on the field. Both teams have holes to fill on offense, but Champlin Park has a game-changer in RB/DB Darius Givance. He’ll make the difference. 
Pick: Champlin Park 21, Woodbury 16

David says: Agreed, Jim. Forget history. It’s all about right here, right now. Woodbury, placed in the weaker “Maroon” scheduling pod, is hungry to show its stuff against “Gold” opponents such as the visiting Rebels. And I believe the Royals win one for the “trying to have” programs. 
Pick: Woodbury 24, Champlin Park 19