Saturday Prep Bowl Games Crown Another Section 1 Champion

The Rochester Lourdes Eagles upended top-ranked St. Croix Lutheran 42-35 to become the third Section 1 representative to win a championship during Prep Bowl 35.

Considering the fact there are no southeastern Minnesota teams in Class 6A, (I consider the Lakeville schools and Farmington as part of the metro area) then three of the five remaining classes have a champion from Section 1.

Grand Meadow won the nine-man, Caledonia Class 2A and Lourdes Class 3A titles.

Rochester Lourdes won their fourth state title Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium in a very entertaining see-saw game with the Crusaders of St. Croix Lutheran. The game was tied 21-21 at the half.

The Lourdes Eagles finished the game with 462 total yards on offense, 192 rushing and 270 passing. St. Croix Lutheran tallied 399 total yards, 280 rushing and 119 passing. There were just three penalties called in the game.

Two Prep Bowl records were set during the game by Rochester Lourdes.

• Senior Carter Greguson had 20 unassisted tackles in the game. The old mark was 18 shared by Marr Jarland of Harmony (1984), Michael Weick of Cliinton-Graceville-Beardsley (2008), and Jared Blackwell of Nicollet (2009).
• Rochester Lourdes also tied a record for the longest scoring drive with a four-play, 99-yard drive with 8:02 to go in the fourth quarter. The Eagles share the record with Hastings (1999), Mahtomedi (2005), Becker (2005), Mankato West (2008), and Wayzata (2008).

Lourdes senior quarterback Noah Hillman connected on 12 of 16 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns and had seven rushes for 102 yards and a score.

The Crusaders had two running backs go over 100 yards in the game. Senior Daniel Rust ran 17 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns and junior Mike Stern had 109 yards on 23 carries and a score.

St. Croix senior quarterback Isaac Tietz was 6 of 18 for 119 yards and a touchdown and threw three interceptions.

Earlier in the day, the Rushford-Peterson Trojans were defeated by Minneapolis North Community 30-14.

The Trojans trailed 16-14 at the half and the Polars defense keyed on Rushford-Peterson senior star Noah Carlson in the second half to shut down the Rushford-Peterson attack. The Trojans had just 10 total yards on offense the final 24 minutes of the game.

Carlson ran for 140 yards in the first half and finished the game with 161 yards on 27 carries. He completed the only pass he threw for 32 yards.

Sophomore quarterback for Rushford-Peterson Landon Skalet was 1 for 9 for 11 yards and a touchdown and interception.

Polars senior quarterback Azerick Rodgers was 10 of 13 for 115 yards and two touchdowns and a pick. He also ran for 60 yards.

Sophomore running back Nasir El-Amin rushed 11 times for 70 yards to lead Minneapolis North Community's ground attack.

Rushford-Peterson ran for 156 yards and threw for 43 for a total offensive output of 199 yards and the Polars rushed for 245 yards and threw for 115 for a total offense amounting to 360 yards.

Minneapolis North Community wins their first MSHSL football title

The final regular season high school football game had the Elk River Elks solidify their No. 1 Class 5A ranking with a 42-14 win over the Panthers of Spring Lake Park.

The Elks led 27-0 at the half.

Elk River threw no passes in the game to throw out the belief you must be able to throw and run to win a title.

Spring Lake Park threw only six passes in the game and completed 3 for 22 yards.

Senior running back Nicholas Rice had 13 carries for 242 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Elks attack. Classmate Sam Gibas had 105 yards on 11 carries and a score.

Spring Lake Park's leading rusher was senior Mark Buley with 114 yards on 11 runs.

Elk River captured their first state football title.

Next Saturday the first State All-Star high school football game will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium.