GameTracker highlights the most intriguing contests over the next week. It typically runs each Thursday morning, but because of this week’s unique football schedule, with the majority of games being played today and Thursday, we bumped it up a day.
FOOTBALL
EDEN PRAIRIE at HOPKINS: Today, 7 p.m.
With the postseason rapidly approaching, tonight’s showdown takes on added significance, as the winner likely will lock up the No. 1 seed for the Section 6-5A Playoffs. Eden Prairie is 6-0 and ranked second in 5A, while Hopkins is 5-1 and No. 5. The Eagles are allowing just eight points per contest, and have posted two shutouts the past three weeks. The Royals, meanwhile, have allowed opponents a robust average of 24.5 points a game, though that number has been offset by Hopkins’ explosive offense. The Royals’ lone setback came at Wayzata in Week 5.
ANDOVER at BLAINE: Today, 7 p.m.
The Bengals are at it again. In 2008, Blaine caught fire at the end of the season and rifled all the way to the 5A state championship game. A year later, the Bengals (5-1) are streaking once more, having won four in a row behind the talented duo of Mike Thai and Eric Kline. A junior, Kline has passed for almost 1,000 yards and 10 TDs, and he’s added 553 yards and nine more scores on the ground. Blaine is ranked third and Andover (5-1) ninth. The Huskies are coming off a stunning 19-7 loss to Anoka.
CRETIN-DERHAM HALL at MOUNDS VIEW: Today, 7:15 p.m.
What a bizarre week for the Raiders, who found out that top-flight passer Mark Alt could miss the remainder of the season after breaking a collarbone during an Oct. 7 hockey game. They’ll try to regroup tonight against Mounds View (5-1), ranked 10th in Class 5A. Cretin-Derham Hall (5-1) fell from No. 3 to No. 6 in the 5A poll following last week’s wild 12-7 defeat to Stillwater – the Raiders’ first game without Alt. Joe Miller filled in for Alt and player admirably with hardly any time to prepare.
SAUK RAPIDS-RICE at SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN: Today, 7 p.m.
The winner of tonight’s Central Lakes Conference showdown will be in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in Section 8-4A. Sartell-St. Stephen is undefeated at 6-0, while Sauk Rapids-Rice is 5-1. The Storm, whose lone setback came against St. Cloud Tech, edged Willmar 33-27 in overtime a week ago. The Sabres have ridden a physical defense to an unblemished start. They rolled to a snowy 28-0 victory over Bemidji last week.
SOUTHLAND at CALEDONIA: Today, 7 p.m.
A pivotal matchup in Class 2A, tonight’s contest features the No. 1-ranked Warriors and 10th-ranked Rebels. The two clubs carry matching 6-0 marks into the game. Caledonia hasn’t allowed a point since a 40-13 win over Plainview-Elgin-Millville – the No. 5 team in 3A – way back on Sept. 18. In fact, the Warriors boast four shutouts and have yielded just 19 points all season. Upstart Southland has made steady progress in the 2A rankings, as the Rebels own a handful of impressive victories, including 35-20 over Rushford-Peterson and 26-7 over Chatfield.
FOLEY at ALBANY: Today, 7 p.m.
Both Foley and Albany bring 5-1 records into tonight’s Section 6-3A and West Central Conference battle. A win would be a big boost for postseason jockeying. Foley’s only loss came to Mora, 19-6 on Oct. 2, while Albany fell 14-2 to New London-Spicer.
ROSEMOUNT at LAKEVILLE NORTH: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Both teams are 4-2. Rosemount, which started the season ranked sixth in Class 5A, has rebounded from a pair of early losses – to Eastview and Eden Prairie – with three consecutive wins. The two losses for the Irish were both tight, as they fell 13-10 in overtime to Eastview and 28-21 to EP, a game they led 21-7 at halftime. The Panthers were wiped out 35-7 by Wayzata a week ago, when they gained just 11 yards of total offense in the first half against perhaps the best defense in the state.
VOLLEYBALL
PRIOR LAKE at HUTCHINSON: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Say this for the Hutchinson Tigers: They’re not afraid of a challenge. Hutchinson (18-3) competed in Burnsville’s Blazer Invitational last weekend, where it upset Stillwater (ranked ninth in Class 3A) 2-1. And the Tigers hooked up with Shakopee on Tuesday. Next week, it’s a date with Prior Lake, which is the No. 10 team in 3A. Hutchinson is ranked fourth in 2A.
BELLE PLAINE at JORDAN: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Kelsey Chambers leads the Jaguars, as well as most of the state, in kills. The sophomore middle hitter has collected a ridiculous 420 winners, and averages roughly six and a half per set. She teams with senior Ashley Hartman to give Jordan, ranked seventh in Class 2A, a potent offensive duo. Belle Plaine is ranked eighth in 2A.
EASTVIEW at CHASKA: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
It doesn’t get much bigger than this. Third-ranked Eastview and second-ranked Chaska get together in an intriguing Class 3A clash. It’s the regular-season finale for Eastview, while Chaska will host its own tournament Oct. 24.
Last week’s GameTracker results:
FOOTBALL
Glencoe-Silver Lake 28, Delano 7
Duluth East 49, Duluth Denfeld 22
Stillwater 12, Cretin-Derham Hall 7
Edina 22, Mahtomedi 8
Barnesville 33, Hawley 16
Caledonia 37, Chatfield 0
Hutchinson 53, New Prague 13
New Ulm Cathedral 18, Wabasso 0
VOLLEYBALL
LeSueur-Henderson 3, Jordan 0
Shakopee 3, Hutchinson 0
Chaska 3, Eden Prairie 0
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