While Metro Top 10 is set up to acknowledge the best teams in the metro, there are plenty of others who have played well enough to deserve a little love.

Here are my choices for the most pleasant surprises of the season so far:

• Anoka (2-1): The Tornadoes won just three games from 2017 to 2020, never more than one a season. They’ve already topped that total this season with victories over Forest Lake and Burnsville. And the remainder of schedule sets up well.
• Osseo (2-1): After a season-opening loss to Maple Grove – no shame there – the Orioles are showing off a lot of offense weapons, starting with senior QB Cade Fitzgerald. Plenty of playmakers behind him in RBs Adrian Bertin, Devin Williams and B.J. Zakiel.
• Bloomington Kennedy (2-1): The last time the Eagles were above .500 at this point of the season was 2007, which is also the last time they finished with a winning record. They’ve bounced back from a big first-game loss by outscoring their last two opponents by a combined 67-7.
• Watertown-Mayer (3-0): Less than a year removed from a 29-game losing streak, the Royals improved to 3-0 with an impressive victory over Albany, christening their brand-new stadium in style. Expect interest in Friday’s game against also-undefeated Dassel-Cokato to be intense.

METRO TOP 10 – WEEK 3

1. Lakeville South (3-0): Def. Eden Prairie 42-7. The Cougars answered any questions about who is No. 1 with emphasis, crushing the metro’s longtime big dogs.

2. Wayzata (3-0): Def. St. Michael-Albertville 34-14. A converted wide receiver, Julian Alfaro Diedrich, is the Trojans’ new bell-cow, running for more than 200 yards and five TDs Friday.

3. Rosemount (3-0): Def. Lakeville North 17-0. The Irish appears to be rounding into shape just in time to play at Eden Prairie on Friday.

4. Shakopee (3-0): Def. Farmington 63-20. No one has been able to stop the Sabers’ quick-hitting option offense, which is averaging 52.3 points per game.

5. Maple Grove (3-0): Def. Minnetonka 35-7. With the Skippers focused on stopping RB Derrick Jameson, QB Jacob Kilzer stepped into the spotlight, running for three scores and passing for two more.

6. Eden Prairie (2-1): lost to Lakeville South 42-7. Sure, they lost, but it came at the hands of the top team in the state. However, the score was very un-Eden Prairie like.

7. Stillwater (3-0): Def. Roseville 42-7. The Ponies’ defense is for real and giving the offense, behind QB Max Shikenjanski and a improving running game, a chance to develop.

8. Woodbury (3-0): Def. Eagan 48-15. QB George Bjellos spread the wealth, completing 14 passes to seven different receivers, five of them for touchdowns.

9. St. Michael-Albertville (2-1): lost to Wayzata 34-14. The loss looks worse that it was. The final score was the Knights’ largest deficit of the game and it was a one-score game for much of the night.

10. (tie) St. Thomas Academy (3-0) and Andover (3-0): These two teams have separated themselves as the best 5A teams in the metro, both coming off convincing victories.

Also worth considering: Prior Lake, Minnetonka, Osseo, White Bear Lake, Blaine, Elk River (5A)