Road to the 2023 Prep Bowl

Seven championship games will be played on Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25 as Prep Bowl XLI brings the Minnesota State High School League’s football season to a crescendo.

All games will be televised live by 45TV, the League’s broadcast partner. As well, 45TV will stream the games live, free of charge, on www.prep45.com

Here is a look at the championship game matchups:

Friday, Nov. 24

Class A, 10 a.m.

Springfield (10-1) vs. Minneota (13-0)

Meet Springfield

• Nickname: Tigers
• School colors: Maroon and Vegas Gold
• State tournament appearances: 9
• Prep Bowl appearances: 2005 Class A champion; 2022 Class A runner-up.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Fillmore Central 22-12 in the quarterfinals; defeated Mahnomen/Waubun 36-12 in the semifinals.  

Did you know?

• Springfield had 76 return yards on three interceptions in its victory over Mahnomen/Waubun in the semifinals.
• The Tigers have scored 50 or more points in four games this season.
• Senior quarterback Jakob Nachreiner has a state-best 3,205 passing yards and 52 touchdowns.

Meet Minneota

• Nickname: Vikings
• School colors:  Blue and Gold
• State tournament appearances: 16
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1986 Class C champion; 1987 Class C champion; 1988 Class C champion; 1993 Class C runner-up; 2009 Class A champion; 2014 Class A champion; 2015 Class A champion; 2017 Class A champion; 2021 Class A runner-up; 2022 Class A champion.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Braham 55-0 in the quarterfinals; defeated Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 63-6 in the semifinals.

 Did you know?

• In its semifinal victory over Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Minneota had 593 total yards while the defense surrendered just 81.
• Minneota has scored at least 63 points or more points five times this season, including 70 in a playoff victory over Lakeview.
• The town of Minneota was first called “Pumpa” by Norwegian settlers because of the location of the railroad water pump.

Class AA, 1 p.m.

Barnesville (13-0) vs. Eden Valley-Watkins (12-0)

Meet Barnesville

• Nickname: Trojans
• School colors: Purple and White
• State tournament appearances: 10
• Prep Bowl appearances: 2010 Class A runner-up; 2018 Class AA runner-up; 2019 Class AA champion; 1978 Class B runner-up in the pre-Prep Bowl Era.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Osakis 42-36 in the quarterfinals; defeated Jackson County Central 38-23 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Barnesville’s defense has shut out six opponents this season.
• Barnesville scored 32 unanswered points in its semifinal victory over Jackson County Central.
• In 1895, a high school curriculum was added to the Barnesville School District.

 Meet Eden Valley-Watkins

•  Nickname: Eagles
•  School colors: Navy, Silver and White
•  State tournament appearances: 12
•  Prep Bowl appearances: 2004 Class AA runner-up; 2005 Class AA champion; 2016 Class AA runner-up.
•  Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Moose Lake/Willow 60-0 in the quarterfinals; defeated Cannon Falls 42-24 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Eden Valley-Watkins lost in the semifinals last season to Chatfield, the eventual Class AA runner-up
• Four of the five passes completed by Eden Valley-Watkins senior quarterback Nolan Geislinger were to junior wide receiver Wyatt Moehrle for 170 yards. Three were touchdown passes. Geislinger, by the way, also rushed for 120 yards. Moehrle had a team-best 13 tackles.
• Eden Valley is located in both Meeker and Stearns counties.

 Class AAAA, 4 p.m.

 Rocori (10-2) vs. Hutchinson (10-2)  

Meet Rocori

• Nickname: Spartans
• School colors: Red, Black and White
• State tournament appearances: 12
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1991 Class A runner-up; 2011 Class AAAA champion; 2012 Class AAAA runner-up; 2019 Class AAAA champion. Pre-Prep Bowl Era: 1977 Class A runner-up.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Orono 28-27 in the quarterfinals; defeated Byron 7-0 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• In the Section 8AAAA final, Rocori defeated Becker 30-21, a team it had lost to 20-0 in Week 6.
• The Spartans defeated Hutchinson 11-0 in Week 4.
• Rocori boys basketball coaching legend Bob Brink was inducted into the League’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

 Meet Hutchinson

• Nickname: Tigers
• School colors: Black and Gold
• State tournament appearances: 26
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1983 Class A champion; 1984 Class A champion; 1998 Class AAAA champion; 2003 Class AAAA runner-up; 2012 Class AAAA champion; 2013 Class AAAA champion; 2021 Class AAAA champion.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Totino-Grace 44-12; defeated North Branch Area 56-28 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Hutchinson has scored at least 52 points in three of its past five games.
• Since rebounding from back-to-back losses in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively, the Tigers have outscored the opposition 310-91, a span of seven games.
• Lindsay Whalen, selected for induction into the League’s Hall of Fame Class of 2024, is a Hutchinson native.

Class AAAAAA, 7 p.m.

Centennial (11-1) vs. Edina (9-3)

Meet Centennial

• Nickname: Cougars
• School colors: University Red and White
• State tournament appearances: 6
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1984 Class A runner-up.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Rosemount 24-0 in the quarterfinals; defeated Lakeville South 20-13 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• The first building on Centennial’s campus was dedicated on Feb. 7, 1958 and called South East Anoka County High School.
• Former Centennial boys hockey goalie Greg Stutz was selected to the All-75 Year State Tournament Hockey Team for posting three consecutive shutouts in the 2004 state tournament. He was the first goalie in state tournament history to post the feat.
• Senior quarterback Daylen Cummings completed five passes in the semifinal victory over Lakeville South for 163 yards. Three of those receptions went to senior wide receiver Josh Lee for 121 yards.

Meet Edina

• Nickname: Hornets
• School colors: Kelly Green and White
• State tournament appearances: 4
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1978 Class AA champion as Edina West.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Stillwater 49-21 in the quarterfinals; defeated Eden Prairie 28-7 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Edina might be the toughest team to play right now. After being 1-3 at the midway point of the regular season, eight games in a row, including an upset of top-ranked and previously undefeated Eden Prairie in the semifinals. Eden Prairie had defeated Edina 36-14 in Week 2.
• With a victory during the Girls Soccer State Tournament this fall, Edina has won a state-record 201 team state championships.
• Senior safety Owen Kemper had a team-best 10 tackles and an interception in the victory over Eden Prairie.

Saturday, Nov. 25

Class Nine-Player, 10 a.m.

Kingsland (13-0) vs. Nevis (12-0)

Meet Kingsland

• Nickname: Knights
• School colors: Black and Silver
• State tournament appearances: 4
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1995 Class B champion; 2002 Class AA champion; 2003 Class AA runner-up.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Hills-Beaver Creek 26-14 in the quarterfinals; defeated Fertile-Beltrami 36-28 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Kingsland is in its first year as a Class Nine-Player program.
• Senior running back Beau Wiersma averaged 10.2 yards per carry in the Knights’ victory over Fertile-Beltrami. He finished with 297 yards on 29 carries. He also had a team-best 11 tackles on the defensive side.
• Kingsland head coach Matt Krolling, in his fourth season, played on Kingsland’s state championship team in 1995.

Meet Nevis

• Nickname: Tigers
• School colors: Green and Gold 
• State tournament appearances: 6
• Prep Bowl appearances: 2017 Class Nine-Man champion runner-up.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Mountain Iron-Buhl 12-8 in the quarterfinals; defeated Otter Tail Central 35-0 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Nevis defeated Mountain Iron-Buhl, the reigning Class Nine-Player champion, in the quarterfinals.
• Nevis High School has never won a team state championship.
• Three “Eli’s” are ball carriers for the Tigers: senior quarterback Eli Lewis; junior running back Eli Klimek and junior wide receiver/back Elk Lindow.

Class AAA, 1 p.m.

Stewartville (13-0) vs. Annandale (12-0)

Meet Stewartville

• Nickname: Tigers
• School colors: Maroon and Gold
• State tournament appearances: 7
• Prep Bowl appearances: 1977 Class B runner-up in Pre-Prep Bowl Era; 1986 Class A runner-up.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Waseca 22-0; defeated Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 28-7.

Did you know?

• Stewartville senior quarterback Ayden Heider has thrown 37 touchdown passes this season.
• The top-ranked Tigers have posted six shutouts this season.
• Richard Warren Sears, the founder of Sears, Roebuck & Company, was a notable resident of Stewartville.

Meet Annandale

• Nickname: Cardinals
• School colors: Red, White and Black
• State tournament appearances: 6
• Prep Bowl appearances: First
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Esko 14-7; defeated Dassel-Cokato 24-14 in the semifinals. 

Did you know?

• Senior quarterback Nick Walter passed for 195 yards and ran for 103 in the Cardinals’ semifinal victory over Dassel-Cokato.
• The Thayer Hotel, built in 1895, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Ben Greve, the husband of Minnesota basketball icon Lindsay Whalen, was inducted into the Annandale High School Hall of Fame in 2018. He played football, basketball and golf.

Class AAAAA, 4 p.m.

St. Thomas Academy (10-2) vs. Chanhassen (12-0)

Meet St. Thomas Academy

• Nickname: Cadets
• School colors: Royal Blue and White
• State tournament appearances: 28
• Prep Bowl appearances: 2000 Class AAAA runner-up; 2006 Class AAAA runner-up; 2015 Class AAAAA runner-up; 2018 Class AAAAA runner-up; 2019 Class AAAAA runner-up. Pre-Prep Bowl Era: 1975 Class A champion.
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Owatonna 46-28 in the quarterfinals; defeated Alexandria Area 42-30 in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• First-year St. Thomas Academy head coach Travis Walch was a Division II All-America running back at Winona State. Before taking the position at St. Thomas Academy, he had coachings posts at Winona State, Carleton, Macalester and the University of St. Thomas.
• Senior running back Savion Hart rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns in the Cadets’ victory over Alexandria in the semifinals. Teammate Maximus Sims completed 12 of 15 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
• Former U.S. Olympic swimmer Thomas Malchow was a 1995 graduate of St. Thomas Academy. He was a three-time Olympian and two-time medalist.

Meet Chanhassen

• Nickname: Storm 
• School colors: Blue and Vegas Gold
• State tournament appearances: First
• Prep Bowl appearances: First
• Road to the Prep Bowl: Defeated Mahtomedi 28-22; defeated Andover 54-46 in overtime in the semifinals.

Did you know?

• Chanhassen had 533 yards of total offense in its victory over Andover.
• Senior running back Maxwell Woods rushed for 221 yards and scored two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Brayden Windschitl passed for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
• Chanhassen is nicknamed the Storm, in part, because Minnesota’s National Weather Center facility is within view of the high school.