With six weeks gone in Minnesota’s high school football season, only two teams remain unbeaten in Class 6A, Maple Grove and Lakeville North, both 6-0.
And only three teams are 5-1 at this point - Buffalo, Minnetonka and Shakopee.
There is no guarantee that any of the five teams listed above will make it to the Prep Bowl Thanksgiving week. With 32 teams in Class 6A football, there are 12 more teams standing either 4-2 or 3-3. Edina appears to be the best of the 4-2 teams and Eden Prairie is the most dangerous 3-3 team.
Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant knows better than anyone else what it takes to win big-school state championships. He has 11 Prep Bowl wins on his resume and won a mythical state championship the year that the Prep Bowl was not played due to COVID-19.
Grant’s theory is that anyone with a potent running game in September and October has a good chance to still be playing in November.
When the Eagles upset Minnetonka 21-20 in an overtime game Oct. 4 at Eden Prairie, both teams showed the type of running prowess that could lead to a rematch in November. Eden Prairie had 56 offensive plays with 13 passing attempts. Minnetonka ran 53 plays with only eight passes.
Fullback Jeremy Fredericks had the lion’s share of carries for EP with 25 attempts for 105 yards. Halfback Elijah Rumph had 13 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 65-yard pass play from quarterback Jackson Bakkum.
Minnetonka two main ball carriers, quarterback Caleb Francois and halfback Chase Conrad combined for 37 rushes. Francois had 104 yards on 20 attempts and Conrad had 96 yards on 17 attempts.
Edina’s approach
Edina has the state’s best passing attack with 6-6, 210-pound junior Mason West at the controls. He has been averaging almost 20 completions per game and could surpass last years totals of 2,625 passing yards and 28 air touchdowns.
EP coach Grant, whose team lost to Edina 35-14 Sept. 6, said, “West and his receiver [Meyer Swinney] might be two of the top five players in the state.”
Swinney, a 6-2 senior, is committed to the University of California-Berkeley.
Success stories
Every year there are several high school football programs that rebuild and rebound.
Among the winners in this category for 2024 are Buffalo (5-1), Eagan (4-2) and Hopkins (3-3).
Hopkins’ success this season is nothing short of a miracle. New head coach Chauncy Williams-Barefield has brought the pride back. At the time he walked through the front door of the school, Hopkins had lost 28 football games in a row. His first season began with back-to-back losses, but then the Royals beat Eastview 22-21 in overtime. Wins over Burnsville and Park of Cottage Grove followed before a 55-35 loss at Roseville Oct. 4.
“We had a solid offensive night in the Roseville game with five touchdowns,” coach Williams-Barefield said. “But there were a few turnovers that hurt us. Our goal is to play fast, physical, disciplined football.”
Congratulations to Hopkins activities director Jared Ellerson for hiring the right coach. Williams-Barefield described his coaching style: “I am like a CEO.”
Two of Williams-Barefield’s best decisions were his choice of coordinators - Bryan Cupito on offense and M’Angelo Harris on defense.
But his most impactful decision of all was getting All-Lake Conference basketball guard Jayden Moore to come out for football. Moore is a future NCAA Division I basketball player. Now he has the option of Division I football as a wide receiver. Coach Barefield-Williams calls Moore “a world-class athlete.”
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