Prep Spotlight, a series of high school football games streamed for free at startribune.com, this week features Mankato West and Andover, prominent Class 5A teams meeting at 7 p.m. Friday at Andover.
Meet Mankato West and Andover, the football teams meeting in the Prep Spotlight game of the week
The game, pitting two Class 5A powers, will be streamed free and live Friday at startribune.com.
September 7, 2023 at 12:25PM
![Mankato West's Jalen Smith (3) makes a catch while defended by Elk River's Darioh Balisidya (4) in the first half of the Minnesota High School football Class 5A State Championship at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. ] SHARI L. GROSS • shari.gross@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/7QKV4RB2FCYTDPPT5RHOPNMK4Q.jpg?&w=712)
Here's a look at the details:
Records: Each is 1-0. Andover opened with a 55-29 victory at St. Thomas Academy. Mankato West defeated Northfield 42-0. Those scores indicate a truth: If you watch, you'll see touchdowns.
Key players: Mankato West features wide receiver Jalen Smith, who has committed to the Gophers. Andover starts with quarterback Chase Pemberton, who went 17-for-22 for 206 passing yards in the opener. Cameron Begalle caught nine of those, for 91 yards.
Last season: Andover went 7-3 and lost to Elk River in the section final. Mankato West went 12-1, losing to Elk River in the Class 5A championship game.
The Prep Spotlight games are produced by Neighborhood Sports Network. The stream will be available at 7 p.m. Friday at startribune.com/sports.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
