Elk River drops defending champ Chanhassen in Class 5A football semifinal

Chanhassen ended its 2024 season much the way the Storm got started — losing to Elk River.

The score was closer in the Class 5A state tournament game Friday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, a 21-19 loss vs. the 44-22 blowout suffered by the Storm against the Elks in their season opener.

Chanhassen, the defending Prep Bowl champion, shared a great deal with Elk River — a champion in 2016, 2017 and 2022.

“We both got a lot better,” Elk River coach Steve Hamilton said.

The Elks now await the other Class 5A semifinal winner, Alexandria or Owatonna, who play at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Chanhassen’s defense turned over the Elk River offense at the Storm’s 4-yard line in the first quarter. But the Elks defense picked up the offense as senior defensive back Ben Hickman intercepted a pass and returned the ball 65 yards for a score and 7-6 second-quarter lead.

“We practice over and over again these drops, these drops,” Hickman said. “I turned and saw the route I had seen all week in practice, then I saw the ball. I looked up at the Jumbotron because I was worried about getting caught.”

Hamilton joked: “It’s always funny to hear that because I think I would trip and fall.”

Turning serious, Hamilton said: “It was a huge play that electrified our sideline.”

Elk River’s offensive swagger returned late in the second quarter as quarterback Levi Harris scored from 1 yard and produced a 14-6 halftime lead.

The second half went back and forth.

Junior Kade Bush trimmed Chanhassen’s deficit to 14-12 with his 3-yard scoring plunge. Elk River sophomore running back Carsyn Kleffman carried up the middle for a 17-yard score and a 21-12 lead. But the Storm weren’t finished.

They drew closer when Nathan Ramler hit James Kopfmann for a touchdown, making the score 21-19 with 1:44 on the clock, but that score went final.