prep picks

Staff writers David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen bring private disagreements public about key high school football games each week. Through the first three sets of picks, David has picked seven of nine winners correctly (a .778 percentage), while Jim has struggled, predicting just four of nine winners (.444).

PRIOR LAKE AT EDEN PRAIRIE, 8 p.m.

Jim says: I was at Eden Prairie when Edina ended the Eagles’ 49-game home winning streak last year. So they can be beaten at home. But Eden Prairie is too deep and too physical for Prior Lake. Expect Mike Grant to pull out at least one unexpected play that will befuddle the Lakers.

Pick: Eden Prairie 31, Prior Lake 14

David says: Prior Lake’s wing-T offense went for big yards last week. And two of those running backs, Blake Weber and Alex Hart, played a significant role on the defense. Their efforts, while spirited, simply won’t offset Eden Prairie’s superior muscle and manpower.

Pick: Eden Prairie 21, Prior Lake 7

BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S AT COOPER, 7 p.m.

Jim says: Benilde-St. Margaret’s went up to rough-and-tumble Albany and smacked the Huskies around in a 47-8 victory. Behind a marvelous athlete in QB Keaton Stensrud. the Red Knights are out to show it was no fluke.

Pick: Benilde-St. Margaret’s 29, Cooper 16.

David says: These teams combined for 91 points in their opening game last year, a 49-42 B-SM victory. I’m taking the under in this one. I’m also taking Cooper to make the right plays in a tight game.

Pick: Cooper 28, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 21

CHASKA AT CHANHASSEN, 7 p.m.

Jim says: It’s been two weeks since Chaska’s last-minute comeback victory over Hopkins, giving the Hawks plenty of time to prepare. QB Justin Arnold and RB Kolby Seiffert are excellent athletes who will test the Chanhassen defense in ways that Hudson (Wis.) couldn’t.

Pick: Chaska 36, Chanhassen 28

David says: Winners of the past three games in this intradistrict rivalry, Chanhassen holds the all-important mental edge. Never mind the loss to Hudson last week. Throw in a jackhammer offensive line and active defense and the Storm makes it four consecutive.

Pick: Chanhassen 21, Chaska 17