St. Michael-Albertville Knocks Off St. Thomas At Prep Bowl

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mitchell Kartes rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday as St. Michael-Albertville held off St. Thomas Academy 28-21 on Saturday to win its first Class 5A championship.

Jacob Veire threw for 177 yards and Isaiah Weston had a touchdown reception for the Knights (12-1), who lost in the state semifinals the past two years. Mac Brown had 120 receiving yards, including an 83-yard score, for St. Thomas Academy (11-2). Tied at 14 midway through the third quarter, Weston hauled in a 25-yard pass from Veire. Kartes, a sophomore who hobbled off the field a few minutes earlier, scored from 1 yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 28-14 lead. Woody Hubbell had a 7-yard reception with 4:16 left, to get the Cadets within seven.

Noah Boser ran for two touchdowns and caught a third as Pierz beat Jackson County Central 36-8 Saturday to win the Class 3A state championship. Lane Girtz added 119 yards rushing and Aaron Weber threw two touchdown passes for the Pioneers (13-0), who won their second state title and first since 2004. Boser rushed for 107 yards. Ryan Salzwedel had a touchdown reception for Jackson County Central (10-3), but the Huskies lost fumbles twice deep in Pierz territory. Boser's 3-yard run gave Pierz a 22-8 lead early in the third quarter. Jackson County Central then marched down the field before Keegan Moore fumbled at the 3. The Huskies also fumbled at the Pierz 15. Weber had a 75-yard pass to Michael Meyer and 49-yard pass to Boser as the Pioneers took a 15-8 halftime lead.

Isaac Hennen ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns as Minneota beat Minneapolis North 35-18 to cap off its second consecutive Minnesota Class A state football title Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It is the Vikings' (14-0) second straight perfect season. The program went 40-1 over the past three years. Hennen, a sophomore, teamed with senior running back Bryce Bruner to lead the way. Bruner finished with 107 yards and a score on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Alex Pohlen finished with 124 yards and one passing touchdown. Minneota took the lead for good on a 34-yard Hennen touchdown run with 10:08 to play in the second quarter. The Vikings held the Polars (12-1) scoreless in the second half. Quarterback Tyler Johnson accounted 295 of North's 326 total yards, including 186 and two touchdowns on the ground.