2025 Minnesota High School Football Thread

[disco]

It's truly a dumb factor in 2025. It's like telling Hockey they can't have tryouts for youth during the football season. Teams of all fall sports are already into full practice and season well before the state fair starts.

Summer tourism and resorts is more of a MN factor but not to the extent some think.

I believe I was the one who said that, and it was actually a combination of the three. Starting practice that early would likely be an unpopular decision and I'd worry in some cases that it would lead to kids choosing not to play at all.

And the issue with hockey tryouts during youth football isn't that they have them. It's that they tell kids they have to miss fall sport GAMES for hockey TRYOUTS or they get bumped to the bottom without any exceptions.

 

[Ranger692]

I believe I was the one who said that, and it was actually a combination of the three. Starting practice that early would likely be an unpopular decision and I'd worry in some cases that it would lead to kids choosing not to play at all.

And the issue with hockey tryouts during youth football isn't that they have them. It's that they tell kids they have to miss fall sport GAMES for hockey TRYOUTS or they get bumped to the bottom without any exceptions.

I think adding a game kids would sign up to be there. Just adding a week of practice may get kids to not go out... Id like to know why every sport is ok with taking time from football, and we regulate that football cant do the same... Baseball in MN has gotten completely out of hand. Northern states have games scheduled with snow on the ground. The legion season starts before the high school playoffs are even close to being over and the fact that the summer ball playoffs roll into mid august is crazy. So baseball practice starts in march and goes into august. My nephew a couple years back played 89 baseball games for his town between April 10 and August 1. In 112 days they played 89 games. Everyone is ok with a schedule that looks like that but all hell breaks loose if you add a week to the football schedule...

 

[mcrow47]

I think adding a game kids would sign up to be there. Just adding a week of practice may get kids to not go out... Id like to know why every sport is ok with taking time from football, and we regulate that football cant do the same... Baseball in MN has gotten completely out of hand. Northern states have games scheduled with snow on the ground. The legion season starts before the high school playoffs are even close to being over and the fact that the summer ball playoffs roll into mid august is crazy. So baseball practice starts in march and goes into august. My nephew a couple years back played 89 baseball games for his town between April 10 and August 1. In 112 days they played 89 games. Everyone is ok with a schedule that looks like that but all hell breaks loose if you add a week to the football schedule...

Yeah, a friend of mine has a son that's really in to baseball and sounds like they start to practice in March and wasn't long ago the "season" ended.

 

[MaxyJR1]

I think adding a game kids would sign up to be there. Just adding a week of practice may get kids to not go out... Id like to know why every sport is ok with taking time from football, and we regulate that football cant do the same... Baseball in MN has gotten completely out of hand. Northern states have games scheduled with snow on the ground. The legion season starts before the high school playoffs are even close to being over and the fact that the summer ball playoffs roll into mid august is crazy. So baseball practice starts in march and goes into august. My nephew a couple years back played 89 baseball games for his town between April 10 and August 1. In 112 days they played 89 games. Everyone is ok with a schedule that looks like that but all hell breaks loose if you add a week to the football schedule...

Part of the problem is that there are too many competing seasons. If the schools are truly about participation, education and growing kids, then why don't they control more of the space in Sports. They could take over the youth sports world if they funded it and operated it. Why only an 8 week football season? Why only an 8 week baseball season? The boosters are sponsoring spring and fall basketball, why not just make it all part of the school system? Kids shouldn't need to try out for a school team in spring, a summer team, and then a fall team. Get it all under the school system. Train the coaches better, train the officials better, train the parents better and grow the kids.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Part of the problem is that there are too many competing seasons. If the schools are truly about participation, education and growing kids, then why don't they control more of the space in Sports. They could take over the youth sports world if they funded it and operated it. Why only an 8 week football season? Why only an 8 week baseball season? The boosters are sponsoring spring and fall basketball, why not just make it all part of the school system? Kids shouldn't need to try out for a school team in spring, a summer team, and then a fall team. Get it all under the school system. Train the coaches better, train the officials better, train the parents better and grow the kids.

That all sounds good but that is a lot of money and time that school districts are not willing to invest.

 

[MaxyJR1]

That all sounds good but that is a lot of money and time that school districts are not willing to invest.

Agree that it's the way of the land. Cities have park and rec programs. Schools have community ed programs. Associations have camps and programs. Clubs have programs. Private companies have programs. Everyone is trying for a piece of the pie, but no one actually works together to make it easier and better. Schools hold the wand to fix it, but there are too many that think that it's not part of education and the schools shouldn't be involved.

 

[disco]

Id like to know why every sport is ok with taking time from football, and we regulate that football cant do the same...

Football has the shortest season, no off-season leagues (at least not in MN) other than 7 on 7, which isn't a big deal here and isn't really the same game anyway.

It doesn't have the private groups/boosters/companies funding the sport, and probably most of all, it doesn't have parents spending thousands of dollars on equipment, travel team costs, private coaching and camps with the pie in the sky talk of scholarships etc. When mom and dad are investing the kind of money some do, and when the kids are playing year round or close to it, that's always going to take priority.

And I was on a motorcycle ride through Loretto last Sunday, and there was a baseball game going on at the town team field. In mid October.

 

[WAGopher]

And I was on a motorcycle ride through Loretto last Sunday, and there was a baseball game going on at the town team field. In mid October.

Yup, fall baseball is larger than you’d expect. Not a big fan draw, but is very popular for athletes not playing football.

 

[PMWinSTP]

I made the assumption that teams with byes will play at home this weekend...have seen some sites showing that and others saying "neutral site". Thoughts?

 

[Word]

That all sounds good but that is a lot of money and time that school districts are not willing to invest.

It's more likely that everything would switch to club and end school sports than it is the other way around.

 

[MaxyJR1]

I made the assumption that teams with byes will play at home this weekend...have seen some sites showing that and others saying "neutral site". Thoughts?

All up to the section on how they run their bracket and playoffs. I only see CDH at University of St. Thomas and St. Cloud Cathedral at St. John's University. I didn't notice any others.

Many section finals are at neutral sites on turf.

 

[mcrow47]

I made the assumption that teams with byes will play at home this weekend...have seen some sites showing that and others saying "neutral site". Thoughts?

IDK about other cases but for Hutch vs Marshall us at SWMN State but it's in Marshall so not really a neutral site.

 

[MNVCGUY]

It's more likely that everything would switch to club and end school sports than it is the other way around.

Sadly this is probably true.

 

[Some guy]

I made the assumption that teams with byes will play at home this weekend...have seen some sites showing that and others saying "neutral site". Thoughts?

I would assume that’s a section level decision

 

[PMWinSTP]

I would assume that’s a section level decision

Thanks...looks like MSHSL updated its website with locations. Semis at higher seed home field, Championship at neutral site.

 

[MaxyJR1]

IDK about other cases but for Hutch vs Marshall us at SWMN State but it's in Marshall so not really a neutral site.

Marshall plays all home games at SWMN State

 

[prespsguy]

Any 6A upsets tonight?

St. Michael-Albertville
Osseo

Anoka
Minnetonka

Moorhead
Blaine

Park of Cottage Grove
Rosemount

White Bear Lake
Prior Lake

Coon Rapids
Forest Lake

Farmington
Edina

Lakeville North
Eden Prairie

Roseville
Champlin Park

Hopkins
Centennial

Stillwater
Shakopee

Eagan
Woodbury

Andover
East Ridge

Rogers
Mounds View

Eastview
Maple Grove

Wayzata
Lakeville South

 

[mcrow47]

Marshall plays all home games at SWMN State

Ah...OK. I guess I hadn't paid any attention to that and haven't been out there for a game in a while.

 

[FireDaveLee]

Any 6A upsets tonight?

• Moorhead will throw up some points on Blaine. Question will be can Blaine grind & keep the ball out of the Spuds' hands?
• Will keep my on STMA-Osseo.
• I think EP wins comfortably, but don't think it will be some 5-7 TD difference; more like 2-3 TD's. From what I've heard, Lakeville North's defense is pretty decent but their offense couldn't score against air.
• Andover maybe?

Think the rest should be mere formalities....but you never know with 16-18 year olds.

 

[MNVCGUY]

• Moorhead will throw up some points on Blaine. Question will be can Blaine grind & keep the ball out of the Spuds' hands?
• Will keep my on STMA-Osseo.
• I think EP wins comfortably, but don't think it will be some 5-7 TD difference; more like 2-3 TD's. From what I've heard, Lakeville North's defense is pretty decent but their offense couldn't score against air.
• Andover maybe?

Think the rest should be mere formalities....but you never know with 16-18 year olds.

Can confirm your take on North.....their D is pretty good but their offense is a non-factor.

As for upsets, highly doubt we see any in the 1/8, 2/7 matchups. Assume there could be some good games in the 3/6 and 4/5 matchups.

 

[prespsguy]

• Moorhead will throw up some points on Blaine. Question will be can Blaine grind & keep the ball out of the Spuds' hands?
• Will keep my on STMA-Osseo.
• I think EP wins comfortably, but don't think it will be some 5-7 TD difference; more like 2-3 TD's. From what I've heard, Lakeville North's defense is pretty decent but their offense couldn't score against air.
• Andover maybe?

Think the rest should be mere formalities....but you never know with 16-18 year olds.

Moorhead will beat Blaine
STMA will beat Osseo
Andover will beat East Ridge

I could see Eagan over Woodbury

I also just have a gut feeling we are going to see a very surprising upset somewhere tonight.

 

[Ranger692]

Football has the shortest season, no off-season leagues (at least not in MN) other than 7 on 7, which isn't a big deal here and isn't really the same game anyway.

It doesn't have the private groups/boosters/companies funding the sport, and probably most of all, it doesn't have parents spending thousands of dollars on equipment, travel team costs, private coaching and camps with the pie in the sky talk of scholarships etc. When mom and dad are investing the kind of money some do, and when the kids are playing year round or close to it, that's always going to take priority.

And I was on a motorcycle ride through Loretto last Sunday, and there was a baseball game going on at the town team field. In mid October.

The investment they spend on baseball and basketball except for a select few is laughable when you take into account that money is going to land 0 scholarship and could be put towards tuition... But logic is hard to come by these days

 

[Slim Tubby]

I also just have a gut feeling we are going to see a very surprising upset somewhere tonight.

My Coon Rapids squad is going to shock the world tonight...and score a TD.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Moorhead
Andover
Rogers
STMA

Are my picks for possible road wins and now sure any would be upsets.

 

[Some guy]

Any 6A upsets tonight?

St. Michael-Albertville
Osseo

Maybe

Anoka
Minnetonka

No but anoka could make it fun by scoring

Moorhead
Blaine

Yes

Park of Cottage Grove
Rosemount

No

White Bear Lake
Prior Lake

No

Coon Rapids
Forest Lake

No

Farmington
Edina

Maybe

Lakeville North
Eden Prairie

No

Roseville
Champlin Park

No

Hopkins
Centennial

No

Stillwater
Shakopee

Maybe. Depends on how many of shakopee’s guys are injured. I think no unless they are all sitting

Eagan
Woodbury

No but if Eagan is healthy they could keep it close (I don’t think they’re healthy)

Andover
East Ridge

Yes

Rogers
Mounds View

No

Eastview
Maple Grove

No

Wayzata
Lakeville South

No

 

[Some guy]

Moorhead
Andover
Rogers
STMA

Are my picks for possible road wins and now sure any would be upsets.

I’ve got Moorhead, Andover

STMA, farmington, and Stillwater next most likely.
Stillwater only if shakopee is all injured.

Also not sure if any are upsets.

There won’t be a 7 or 8 win.
Moorhead is a 6 but wouldn’t have been a 6 if QB played all year.
White Bear and North have almost zero chance.
Rogers and Moundsview I don’t know enough to really have an idea

 

[disco]

The investment they spend on baseball and basketball except for a select few is laughable when you take into account that money is going to land 0 scholarship and could be put towards tuition... But logic is hard to come by these days

At large high schools, they're paying that for hockey, hoops and baseball with the hope the kid can make the high school team, much less play in college. Odds are they won't if they don't go through those systems.

There are some really good players that won't come close to making a team at Wayzata or Tonka, but would probably start as Freshman or Sophomores at a smaller, rural school, in basketball and baseball. I had a parent tell me they were literally considering moving to the middle of nowhere for this reason.

 

[Word]

At large high schools, they're paying that for hockey, hoops and baseball with the hope the kid can make the high school team, much less play in college. Odds are they won't if they don't go through those systems.

There are some really good players that won't come close to making a team at Wayzata or Tonka, but would probably start as Freshman or Sophomores at a smaller, rural school, in basketball and baseball. I had a parent tell me they were literally considering moving to the middle of nowhere for this reason.

Was just going to post the same thing. A kid that can't make many Lake Conference soccer varsity teams could be all-state at class A. You have to be on all the top club teams to even have a chance at making varsity at that level.

 

[MaxyJR1]

At large high schools, they're paying that for hockey, hoops and baseball with the hope the kid can make the high school team, much less play in college. Odds are they won't if they don't go through those systems.

There are some really good players that won't come close to making a team at Wayzata or Tonka, but would probably start as Freshman or Sophomores at a smaller, rural school, in basketball and baseball. I had a parent tell me they were literally considering moving to the middle of nowhere for this reason.

Really can't blame parents for wanting great experiences. As some say though, the $$ put into youth sports would pay for College if invested.

 

[State of Football]

I’ve got Moorhead, Andover

STMA, farmington, and Stillwater next most likely.
Stillwater only if shakopee is all injured.

Also not sure if any are upsets.

There won’t be a 7 or 8 win.
Moorhead is a 6 but wouldn’t have been a 6 if QB played all year.
White Bear and North have almost zero chance.
Rogers and Moundsview I don’t know enough to really have an idea

I’ll be at the MV Rogers game. I’m seeing this as a close game and wouldn’t be surprised if Rogers wins. They’ve got a nice two way kid. Plays rb and safety going to UMD. Game will be won in the trenches as JG would say.