For fans of Minnesota high school football, this is the week you’ve been waiting for.
The Minnesota Top 20, the Star Tribune’s statewide, class-crossing football rankings: Week 7
Class 5A, the state’s second-largest — and deepest — classification takes center stage in Jim Paulsen’s new list.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 7, 2024 at 7:45PM
Sure, the big Class 6A teams tend to hog the attention, but it’s been obvious the last few weeks that the real intrigue in high school football this season is in Class 5A.
There are five undefeated teams among the many talented squads in 5A, but eyes will be on one game in particular on the final Friday of the regular season.
No. 2-ranked Moorhead and its juggernaut offense averaging more than 50 points per game makes the 100 or so mile trip down Interstate 94 to play at No. 1 Alexandria and its wealth of athletic talent.
Both are undefeated and enjoy high-level quarterbacking, with 6-foot-8 senior Chase Thompson for Alexandria and sophomore Jett Feeney for Moorhead.
Adding to the pregame hype, both teams are in Section 8, 5A. While this game won’t decide anything other than regular-season bragging rights, it’s the type of titanic matchup that makes the regular season so compelling... and it will add spice to a potential post-season meeting.
While Moorhead vs. Alexandria is the marquee matchup in 5A this weekend, it’s not the only one worth watching.
East and West High Schools will pack ‘em in when they square off in the seasonal Battle of Mankato at Blakeslee Stadium on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Friday. The same night, neighboring rivals Chaska and Chanhassen play each other, and undefeated Owatonna (6-0) puts its perfect season on the line when it travels to meet Rochester John Marshall (5-1).
Lastly, let’s not overlook a biggie in Class 4A: No. 3 Orono at No. 2 Totino-Grace, pairing two programs with nary a loss between them.
Week 7: The Minnesota Top 20
1. Maple Grove (6-0)
Previous: 1. Last: def. Coon Rapids 56-14. Next: Thursday, home vs. St. Michael-Albertville, 7:30 p.m.
2. Lakeville North (6-0)
Previous: 2. Last: def. Rochester Mayo 24-13. Next: Friday, home vs. East Ridge, 7 p.m.
3. Minnetonka (5-1)
Previous: 3. Last: lost to Eden Prairie 21-20, OT. Next: Friday, at Buffalo, 6 p.m.
4. Alexandria (5A, 6-0)
Previous: 6. Last: def. Bemidji 35-13. Next: Friday, home vs. Moorhead, 7 p.m.
5. Moorhead (5A, 6-0)
Previous: 7. Last: def. Sartell 52-14. Next: Friday, at Alexandria, 7 p.m.
6. Shakopee (5-1)
Previous: 5. Last: def. Edina 42-12. Next: Friday, home vs. Rosemount, 7 p.m.
7. Owatonna (5A, 6-0)
Previous: 8. Last: def. Mankato West 28-14. Next: Friday, at Rochester John Marshall, 7 p.m.
8. Robbinsdale Armstrong (5A, 6-0)
Previous: 9. Last: def. Hastings 42-6. Next: Thursday, home vs. Mahtomedi, 7 p.m.
9. Andover (5A, 5-1)
Previous: 10. Last: def. St. Francis 35-13. Next: Friday, at Sauk Rapids-Rice, 7 p.m.
10. Elk River (5A, 5-1)
Previous: 11. Last: def. Rogers 41-7. Next: Friday, at Cambridge-Isanti, 7 p.m.
11. Becker (4A, 6-0)
Previous: 12. Last: def. Rocori 30-14. Next: Friday, home vs. Big Lake, 7 p.m.
12. Eden Prairie (3-3)
Previous: NR. Last: def. Minnetonka 21-20, OT. Next: Friday, at Rochester Mayo, 7 p.m.
12. Edina (4-2)
Previous: 4. Last: lost to Shakopee 42-12. Next: Thursday, home vs. Stillwater, 7 p.m.
13. Eagan (4-2)
Previous: 13. Last: def. Farmington 18-10. Next: Friday, at Forest Lake, 7 p.m.
14. Forest Lake (4-2)
Previous: 15. Last: def. Woodbury 34-6. Next: Friday, home vs. Eagan, 7 p.m.
15. Totino-Grace (4A, 6-0)
Previous: 17. Last: def. Minneapolis North 34-14. Next: Friday, home vs. Orono, 7 p.m.
16. Mounds View (4-2)
Previous: NR. Last: def. East Ridge 35-14. Next: Friday, at Park of Cottage Grove, 7 p.m.
17. Mankato East (5A, 5-1)
Previous: 20. Last: def. Chanhassen 43-19. Next: Friday, at Mankato West, 7 p.m.
18. Rochester John Marshall (5A, 5-1)
Previous: NR. Last: def. Rochester Century 41-0. Next: Friday, home vs. Owatonna, 7 p.m.
19. Two Rivers (5A, 6-0)
Previous: NR. Last: def. Minneapolis Washburn 42-17. Next: Thursday, home vs. St. Paul Central, 6:30 p.m.
20. Anoka (4-2)
Previous: NR. Last: def. Centennial 14-0. Next: Thursday, home vs. Osseo, 7 p.m.
Also deserving consideration: Orono (4A), Buffalo, Stillwater, Blaine, Stewartville (3A).
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