Lakeville South secured a place in the Class 6A state football tournament with a 41-34 victory over Mounds View on Friday, Nov. 6, as Griffen Dean delivered three crucial touchdowns. The section finals also brought long-awaited state berths for Forest Lake and Hastings, along with Prior Lake’s upset of top-ranked Moorhead.
Dean caught a 16-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Cougars a 21-20 halftime advantage. His two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter restored their lead at 35-34. With Mounds View near midfield and threatening to move ahead late in the game, Jalen Lansing intercepted Tanner Jude at the Lakeville South 20. Three plays later, Dean broke free for an 80-yard touchdown on third and 10 with just over two minutes left. Jude finished his final game of the season with four rushing touchdowns.
Forest Lake beat Eagan 29-14 to earn its first state appearance since 1991, breaking through on its fourth consecutive trip to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Running back Mark Jurkovich, a St. Thomas commit, scored three rushing touchdowns and also contributed on defense. Coach Brad Beeskow credited his players with responding to injuries and the season’s setbacks.
Hastings defeated rival St. Thomas Academy 29-13 for its second victory over the Cadets in a month, earning a state berth for the first time since 2003. The Raiders also recorded their first nine-win season since 2004. Shatek, the state’s leading rusher, gained 309 yards, ran for four touchdowns and intercepted a pass to seal the result. Elsewhere, Centennial built a 31-0 halftime lead before beating Eden Prairie 31-13. The 2023 state champion has reached state four times in five years.
Cretin-Derham Hall booked its third consecutive state appearance by beating Mahtomedi 14-7. Receiver De’mandre Frierson-Hollie threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Shaheed Suggs on a trick play, then turned a middle screen into a 45-yard fourth-quarter score. He finished with seven catches for 120 yards. Cartier Russell Jr.’s interception in the final minute ended Mahtomedi’s late threat. Hill-Murray, meanwhile, defeated Simley 42-7 behind Grady Buettner’s 290 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Prior Lake eliminated No. 1 Moorhead 19-14 on the Spuds’ home field. Moorhead, last season’s Class 6A runner-up, had won each of its first nine games by at least 14 points. Prior Lake’s Zak Loehlein intercepted Gophers commit Jett Feeney twice, while Feeney finished with 124 passing yards. Moorhead played without injured receiver David Mack, another Gophers commit.
Spring Lake Park protected a 21-14 lead against Robbinsdale Armstrong with a defensive stand in the closing seconds. On fourth and goal from the Panthers’ three-yard line, sophomore linebacker Mark Erickson tipped Jordan Wordlaw’s pass before senior linebacker Ian Aalund knocked it away, sending the defending Class 5A champions back to state.
In Wisconsin, New Richmond survived Brookfield Central’s late touchdown to win 21-20 in a Level III playoff game. Conley Abbott blocked the potential tying extra point after Brookfield Central scored with 79 seconds remaining. New Richmond will face Monona Grove in the Division 2 semifinals the following week.
