Prep Bowl primer: What to know about this week's 7 high school football state championship games
Nov. 21—The Prep Bowl — Minnesota's two-day feast of high school football state championship games — is set for its traditional place on the calendar: the two days after Thanksgiving.
Fourteen teams remain in the hunt for championships, and seven of them will take happy bus rides home from Minneapolis and U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday or Saturday.
Here's a quick glance at all seven Prep Bowl games on tap this week:
Watch online: All seven Prep Bowl games will be streamed live at
Who: Kingsland (Section 1, 13-0) vs. Nevis (Section 5, 12-0)
When: 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 25
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About Kingsland: The No. 5-ranked Knights are one of just three teams (Edina, Annandale) to go from .500 or worse last season to the Prep Bowl this fall. ... Kingsland was 4-5 a year ago; it has taken the biggest jump, in terms of winning percentage (plus-.556), of any of the 14 teams playing in the Prep Bowl. ... Sr. Beau Wiersma, a fast and powerful 5-foot-9, 200-pound running back, has rushed for more than 2,000 yards this season, including 297 and three scores in a 36-28 state semifinal win against Fertile-Beltrami. Wiersma, who has 38 touchdowns this season, is committed to Winona State University. ... Soph. Kaaleem Reiland, the Knights' strong-armed and shifty QB, ran for 115 yards and passed for one TD in the semifinals. ... Kingsland is in the Prep Bowl for the fourth time in program history. It has won it twice (1995, 2002) and finished as runner-up in 2003.
About Nevis: The No. 3-ranked Tigers are in the state tournament for the sixth time in school history (1981, 1990, 1993, 2012, 2017, 2023) and in the Prep Bowl for the second time (state runners-up in 2017). ... They average 43.8 points per game (fifth-best in the state in 9-Player) and allow 8.1, second in the state only to Mountain Iron-Buhl, the team Nevis beat 12-8 in the state quarterfinals. ... The Tigers shut out Ottertail Central 35-0 in the state semifinals. ... They have allowed eight or fewer points in six of their past seven games. ... Eli Klimek, a 6-1, 205-pound linebacker, led the Tigers with 10 tackles in the state semifinals. He has 25 tackles over the past two games. ... QB Eli Lewis, a 6-1, 170-pound senior, threw four TD passes in the semifinal win. ... Nevis is located in central Minnesota, approximately 45 miles south of Bemidji.
Who: Springfield (Section 3, 12-1) vs. Minneota (Section 5, 13-0)
When: 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 24
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About Springfield: Springfield was the No. 3 seed in the Section 3-1A playoffs. ... The No. 7-ranked Tigers avenged their only loss of the season in the section title game, beating Sleepy Eye United 36-18. SEU had beaten Springfield 16-14 in the regular season. ... Springfield averages 39.5 points per game and allows 13.2. ... The Tigers are in their ninth state tournament and in the Prep Bowl for the third time, and second consecutive season. They won the 2005 Class 1A state title, and lost to Minneota last year. ... Springfield is located approximately 55 miles west of Mankato.
About Minneota: This is a rematch of last year's Class 1A state final, which Minneota won 38-21. ... No. 1-ranked Minneota is in the Prep Bowl for a third straight season, looking for its second win in that span. It beat Springfield last year and lost to Mayer Lutheran 20-14 in 2021. ... The Vikings are at state for the 17th time in program history. They're in the Prep Bowl for the 12th time, having won in eight of their previous 11 appearances (1986, 1987, 1988, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022). ... Minneota averages 51.2 points per game and allows just 7.6 points per game, both marks the best in Class 1A. ... Minneota is located in southwestern Minnesota, approximately 15 miles west of Marshall.
Who: Barnesville (Section 8, 13-0) vs. Eden Valley-Watkins (Section 5, 12-0)
When: 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 24
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About Barnesville: The No. 1-ranked Trojans are second in the state in Class 2A in points per game (45.8) and points allowed per game (8.8). ... Barnesville has won eight consecutive section championships, this year beating Pelican Rapids 44-14. ... The Trojans' high-powered offense is guided by quarterback Zach Bredman, a 6-foot, 150-pound dual-threat senior. He had 179 total yards in the section final, then ran for one TD and passed for another in the state quarterfinals, before passing for 118 yards and three TDs in last week's 38-23 state semifinal win against Jackson County Central. ... The Trojans are in their fifth Prep Bowl and seeking their second straight and overall state title. They beat Chatfield 35-20 in last year's title game.
About Eden Valley-Watkins: The Eagles are ranked No. 3 in the state. They average 45.5 points per game and allow a state-best 8.6 points per game. ... EV-W hadn't allowed more than 14 points in a game this season until Cannon Falls scored 24 in last week's state semifinal, a 42-24 EV-W victory. ... Eden Valley is located approximately 35 miles southwest of St. Cloud. ... The Eagles are in the state tournament for the 12th time and in a Prep Bowl for the fourth time. They won the program's only state title in 2005, while falling in the state title game in 2004 and 2016.
Who: Stewartville (Section 1, 13-0) vs. Annandale (Section 5, 12-0)
When: 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 25
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About Stewartville: The No. 1-ranked Tigers are led by an offense that can strike quickly and a defense that allows just 4.8 points per game, the best mark in the state in Class 3A. ... Stewartville has recorded six shutouts — including a 22-0 state quarterfinal win against Waseca — and has allowed more than 7 points just three times in 13 games. It hasn't surrendered more than 14 points in a game. ... The Tigers' offensive strength is their depth, led by senior QB Ayden Helder. The 2023 Mr. Football finalist broke a school record for touchdown passes in a season during Stewartville's 28-7 state quarterfinal win against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton last Saturday. Helder now has 40 TD passes this fall. ... Stewartville is at state for a second consecutive season and seventh time in program history. The Tigers have played in two state championship games, in 1977 and 1986, Finishing as runners-up both times.
About Annandale: The No. 3-ranked Cardinals have made a big leap, from going 5-5 last season to 12-0 this fall. ... They are one of three teams in Minnesota, along with Kingsland and Edina, to go from .500 or worse last year to the Prep Bowl this year. ... The Cardinals' defense has two shutouts this season and has held 10 of its 12 opponents to 14 pints or fewer. It allowed 19 points once (a 29-19 win at New London-Spicer) and 20 points once (a 61-20 win against Glencoe-Silver Lake). ... Annandale is located approximately 30 miles south of St. Cloud. ... The Cardinals are in the Prep Bowl for the first time in six state tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023).
Who: Rocori (Section 8, 10-2) vs. Hutchinson (Section 2, 10-2)
When: 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 24
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About Rocori: The Spartans, ranked No. 4 in the state, are led by talented senior athlete Will Steil. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound quarterback/defensive back is a Mr. Football finalist and is committed to Division I-FCS power North Dakota State University, where he projects to play safety. ... Steil led the Spartans to a hard-fought 7-0 win against Byron in the state semifinals. He has 190 carries for 1,008 yards and 17 rushing TDs this fall, while passing for 1,216 yards and seven TDs. He also has 31 tackles and three interceptions on defense, one of which he returned 95 yards for a TD. ... Rocori is at state for the 12th time and in a state title game for the fifth time. It won championships in 2011 and 2019.
About Hutchinson: The Tigers are in the Prep Bowl for the third consecutive year. They beat Kasson-Mantorville 42-14 in 2021, then lost to Simley 42-28 last year. ... Since 2020, counting the pandemic-shortened season, Hutchinson is 38-7 overall. ... The Tigers average 35.5 points per game this season and allow 11.6 points per game. ... Their scoring average has boosted by 10 points, to 45.5 per game, in the postseason, including a 56-28 win against North Branch in last Friday's state semifinals. ... This is the 26th state tournament appearance for Hutchinson and its ninth Prep Bowl appearance. It won state titles in 1983, 1984, 1998, 2012, 2013 and 2021.
Who: St. Thomas Academy (Section 3, 10-2) vs. Chanhassen (Section 2, 12-0)
When: 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 25
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About St. Thomas Academy: The No. 9-ranked Cadets are coached by Elgin native Travis Walch, who is in his first season at STA after 17 seasons as a college assistant coach. ... STA averages 38.8 points per game and allows 20.1. ... The Cadets are averaging 44.5 points in the postseason. They defeated Owatonna 46-28 in the state quarterfinals Nov. 11, then beat Alexandria 42-30 in the state semifinals last Friday. ... STA's only two losses came against Section 7-5A champ Andover, 55-29, in the season opener, and Chaska, 35-34 in OT in the regular-season finale. Andover lost to STA's Prep Bowl opponent, Chanhassen, 54-45 in last week's state semifinals. ... The Cadets are at state for the 27th time. Their only state championship to-date came in 1975.
About Chanhassen: A stark contrast to St. Thomas Academy and its 27 section titles, Chanhassen won its first section championship — and earned its first state tournament berth — on Nov. 3, beating Section 2 rival and perennial state power Mankato West in a thriller, 37-36. ... The Storm beat Mahtomedi 28-22 in the state quarterfinals, then topped Andover in a high-scoring game, 54-45, in Saturday's state semifinals. ... Chanhassen averages 36.9 points per game and allows 20.1. ... It is the No. 1-ranked team in both the state-wide media poll and the QRF formula. ... Until Andover posted 45 points against the Storm last week, Rochester Century had scored the most points against Chanhassen this season, 41 in a 63-41 loss in Rochester on Sept. 15.
Who: Centennial (Section 5, 11-1) vs. Edina (Section 6, 9-3)
When: 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 24
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
About Centennial: No. 4-ranked Centennial edged No. 3-ranked Lakeville South 20-13 in the state semifinals last week. ... Centennial, located in the northern Twin Cities suburb of Circle Pines, is in a state championship game for the second time in program history and the first time since 1984, when it was the Class A state runner-up. ... Centennial QB Dylan Cummings ran for two touchdowns in the semifinal win against Lakeville South, then threw the 69-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Josh Lee with eight minutes remaining in the game. Cummings accounted for 206 total yards (163 passing) in the game. ... Centennial averages 32.1 points per game and allows 12.8, the latter being the best mark in the state in Class 6A.
About Edina: The Hornets are the No. 9-ranked team in the state. They stunned No. 1-ranked Eden Prairie 28-7 in a state semifinal game on Friday to reach a state championship game for the first time. ... That semifinal win avenged one of Edina's three regular-season losses — a 36-14 defeat at Eden Prairie back on Sept. 8. ... The Hornets take an eight-game winning streak into the Prep Bowl, after starting the season 1-3. ... They also beat No. 5 Maple Grove and No. 6 Stillwater in the postseason, en route to the Prep Bowl. ... RB John Warpinski ran for 192 yards in the state semifinal win against Eden Prairie, while QB Mason West passed for 170 yards.
