Prep Blog: Week 5 Top Performances
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Just when we thought the prep football landscape was starting to take shape this season, we were thrown a few curve balls last week.
There are just a few weeks left in the regular season, which means playoff seeds are beginning to solidify and league titles can be won or lost with one game. A few teams were thrown for a loop when games ended last week.
East Ridge still controls its own fate in the Suburban East Conference, but the Raptors allowed a late touchdown in a tough 10-7 loss to Cretin-Derham Hall. With three weeks to go, East Ridge is in a three-way tie at the top at 4-1 with Mounds View and Roseville.
The South Suburban Conference is a three-way race with Rosemount leading at 4-0. Lakeville North is one game behind in the loss column after a 20-6 loss to Prior Lake. The race for that league title most likely comes down to the final week of the regular season, when Rosemount will host Lakeville North.
In the Lake Conference, this week had all the makings of a No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up in Class 6A as Eden Prairie will host Minnetonka. But Edina topped the Skippers, allowing Eden Prairie to take the top spot in the league with the big match-up this week.
When you have big games, you tend to have a lot of standout performances from elite players and last week was no exception. Here are some of the best.
Barber leads Totino-Grace past Elk River 28-14
Since losing to Eden Prairie in Week 3, Totino-Grace has responded well with a pair of victories, including last week's 28-14 win over Elk River for homecoming. The Eagles have plenty of athletes, but Kai Barber stole the show with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the win. Totino-Grace is now 4-1 on the season with a huge game this week at Andover. Barber is the team's third-leading rusher and second-leading receiver through five games. Andover will come in hungry from a 20-7 loss to Osseo.
Kraft's special teams leads Delano past Orono
Adam Kraft had a big night in special teams as Delano got a big win over Orono to stay atop the Wright County Conference at 3-0. Kraft ran back a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception 78 yards for a score as the Tigers beat the Spartans 28-6. It's a big win for Delano as it travels to Hutchinson this week for its biggest game of the season. The winner is the front-runner for the league title. Kraft is one of Delano's top receivers with nine catches and three touchdowns on the season. Hutchinson is coming off a 47-0 win over Holy Family Catholic, a squad Delano finishes the regular season with.
QB has big night as Glencoe tops Litchfield
Quarterback Keaton Anderson is having a big season, and he continued that with a big night for Glencoe-Silver Lake in a 40-7 win over Litchfield. Anderson had two touchdown runs, including one that went for 80 yards, and two passing touchdowns in the win. Glencoe improved to 4-1 on the season and has a big game this week against Spring Lake Park in non-conference action. Anderson has three passing touchdowns on the season and is also one of the Panthers top threats to run the ball.
Jones scores 7 TDs, Washburn wins 62-6
Jeff Jones has established himself as the best running back in the Twin Cities, and he didn't disappoint Friday night. Jones ran for 190 yards and seven touchdowns as the Millers stayed atop the Minneapolis City Conference with a 62-6 win over Roosevelt. Jones and Washburn will travel to Minneapolis South this week. The Tigers lost 50-19 to North on Friday. Washburn leads the league at 3-0 with three games left. Jones has more than 660 rushing yards on the season and leads the state with 18 touchdowns.
Extra: Walter sparks Spring Lake Park to victory
Grant Walter was nothing short of effective in Spring Lake Park's 41-13 victory over North St. Paul on Friday. He only got the ball 13 times in the run game, but he went off for 207 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the win. The Panthers improved to 3-2 on the season but have a huge test this week, heading west to take on Glencoe-Silver Lake. Through five games, Walter leads Spring Lake Park in rushing with well over 500 yards and eight touchdowns.
Check back with the WCCO Prep Blog later this week as we preview some of the biggest match-ups around the Twin Cities.
