2024 MN High School Football thread

I imagine Esch will be at Minnetonka for the rest of his coaching career. Not sure how long that will be. He was 29 when he took over at Mankato West, so must be 47 or 48 now. I don't think he will be one of those guys that coaches into his 60's.
It will be interesting if Lombardi stays at Tonka as DC next year or if he looks for a new gig. I believe it lives up in STMA. HC jobs can be hard to find however. He may have found being an assistant comes with an easier life.

I think Esch left Mankato for his spouse's work and moved to the metro.
 




I hope nobody bet the under in this one....

Minneota is probably going to boat race them, but Sprngfield probably will throw up 35-40 on their own.
 


So Nelson may be the only coach to do it with two different schools in MN. His successor at Minnetonka could join him on that list Friday night.
I take full credit for Nelson's coaching success later on in life. He learned the Art of Discipline trying to deal with me in gym class at Northdale Jr. High.
 

What's the skinny on #20 of Minneota. The kid is a beast. Who is recruiting him?
 







Not only good, but those boys look like they bench silos for breakfast. That offensive line just ran downhill all game long. And, their defense shutdown Springfield in the 2nd half.
Programs that tend to win have wonderful speed and lifting programs. Kids just look different.

It's fun to see some of these smaller schools compete with their 2-Way players. Some of the kids look like they go on a bender after each game and rarely see the weight room. They truly love the sport and are laying it all on the field.
 

IMHO

After watching both the class A and 2A games

I feel you are spot on with the 2A game in your write up. But he class A game I don't think will be super close. Mahnomen racked up over 230 yards rushing on Springfield with its 3 yards and a cloud of dust split back veer and most of that in the 1st half. Minneota on the other hand has a FAR superior and dynamic run game along with being able to throw it a little. Minneota was able to shred the Parkers Prairie defense which also help Staples-Motley to a modest 24 points, something no 2A team has been able to do so far. I think Minneota rolls in this one
I don't always see things clearly, but this one turned out just like I thought it would... 500+ yards rushing in the title game is a thrashing. I also wish commentators would stop with the 2nd best team when talking about Springfield. Sure they get the 2nd place trophy, but they most likely are not he 2nd best team in class 1A

Would be interesting to see at what class Minneota is not competing anymore. After watching them a couple times in person now I feel like they could win class 2A as well.
 



I also wish commentators would stop with the 2nd best team when talking about Springfield. Sure they get the 2nd place trophy, but they most likely are not he 2nd best team in class 1A
State Tournament Finalist or Runner Up should be the proper designation.
 

TG with only two, 1st downs in the first half, but only down 14-0. Becker threw a pick in endzone looking to go up 21.
 

I don't always see things clearly, but this one turned out just like I thought it would... 500+ yards rushing in the title game is a thrashing. I also wish commentators would stop with the 2nd best team when talking about Springfield. Sure they get the 2nd place trophy, but they most likely are not he 2nd best team in class 1A

Would be interesting to see at what class Minneota is not competing anymore. After watching them a couple times in person now I feel like they could win class 2A as well.
By enrollment, Minneota is closer to a 9-man program, only graduating 43 people this year. Such consistency comes, as Reusse said, with committed parents, teachers, coaches, and students.
 



Impressive win for Jackson County Central. They showed there is a lot more to this team than Roman Voss. I have to admit that I wasn't sure they could pull it off.
 

Impressive win for Jackson County Central. They showed there is a lot more to this team than Roman Voss. I have to admit that I wasn't sure they could pull it off.
A coworker of mine grew up in Jackson. He didn't have high hopes for them after Voss went down but they played great.

Brutal start for Minnetonka giving up the defensive TD on the first drive.
 

Maple Grove up 21-7 at the half. Tonka battling but Maple Grove is clearly the better team.
 

Dave and Darrell "That's not grounding because there was a receiver in the area."

(Ref throws flag - replay shows no Minnetonka defender anywhere on that side of the field)

Yeah.
 

Well, if you wanted close games for today's finals then you were out of luck.
 


That running back from Maple Grove, Langama, looked awesome. NoDak getting a good one it seems
 

Larry Thompson won at Lakeville HS and got Lakeville South to the prep bowl 3 years after the schools split into North and South. Leidner was his QB and they lost that game to Eden Prairie 21-14.

Typically if they win and are a teacher at the school, they stay forever.
Marcus Brumm was the quarterback. Mitch Leidner graduated in 2012 and South took second in 2006.
 

That running back from Maple Grove, Langama, looked awesome. NoDak getting a good one it seems
Yeah, probably not quite big enough or fast enough for the power 4 level but could be a really good RB at the FCS level. He was impressive.

Solid game, feel like Minnetonka could have taken a few more deep shots after just missing on one early in the game where the receiver had the DB beat but the QB slightly overthrew it.

Maple Grove had to earn their title with a brutal run through the playoffs. No doubt they were the best team in the state this year.
 

By enrollment, Minneota is closer to a 9-man program, only graduating 43 people this year. Such consistency comes, as Reusse said, with committed parents, teachers, coaches, and students.
What I was referring to is how good are they? if they played a 3A schedule do they go 6-2? I wasn't questioning if they need to move up...
 

Impressive win for Jackson County Central. They showed there is a lot more to this team than Roman Voss. I have to admit that I wasn't sure they could pull it off.
Both teams playing with back up QBs was a let down. SM was a high powered offense when healthy and showed how high powered they were with their best WR having to play QB most of the game. Hard to say how it goes if Both Qbs were around at the end of the game.
 

I know coaches wanted seeding and one year is a small sample size, but last year’s games were more competitive than in 2024? It will be interesting how it plays moving forward.
 




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