Kasson-Mantorville, Goodhue face tough battles at The Bank

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Nov. 12—A look at local teams playing in the high school football state semifinals this week at U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings:

What: Class 4A state semifinal

Who: Kasson-Mantorville (10-1) vs. Grand Rapids (10-1)

When: 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at U.S. Bank Stadium.

About Grand Rapids: The Section 7-4A champion Thunderhawks have the most high-powered offense in the state in Class 4A, averaging 45.8 points per game. They didn't let off the gas in the state quarterfinals, beating Benilde-St. Margaret's 54-7. … They allow just 6.6 points per game. They have recorded five shutouts this year and have allowed 7 total points in the postseason. … Their only loss this season came on Sept. 5, a 24-7 setback against Class 5A Bemidji. … Grand Rapids' offense is well-balanced, but junior running back Mason Johnson had a huge game in the win against B-SM. He ran for 103 yards and four touchdowns on just 11 carries. … Four Thunderhawks have carried the ball 50 or more times this season. All of them average at least 7.9 yards per carry. … Johnson has 83 carries for 663 yards and 12 TDs, while quarterback Logan McNear has 66 carries for a team-best 730 yards and 16 TDs. … The Thunderhawks are dedicated to their running game; McNear averages just 3.0 pass attempts per game. … This is Grand Rapids' fifth trip to state, having previously qualified in 1980, 1994, 2006 and 2021.

About Kasson-Mantorville: K-M is at U.S. Bank Stadium for the second time in four seasons. … This will be the fourth consecutive game that the KoMets' defense faces a standout running game, after facing Stewartville and Malik Abdi in the section semifinals, Byron and Jordan Heimer in the section title game, then Hill-Murray's Grady Buetter in the state quarterfinals. Buettner ran for 198 yards against the KoMets, but K-M won that game 35-21. … The KoMets are at state for the 12th time in program history. They have reached the Prep Bowl once, in 2021. Their other state tournament appearances came in 1982, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2012 and 2013. … Like Grand Rapids, the KoMets have multiple playmakers, including quarterback Grady Babcock, running backs Jeremiah Peterson-Gordon and Parker Richards, and defensive back/running back Keymoni Bent. … K-M averages 35.1 points per game and allows 16.3.

Up next: The winner advances to the Class 4A Prep Bowl, against Orono or Marshall, at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at U.S. Bank Stadium.

What: Class 2A state semifinal

Who: Goodhue (11-0) vs. Holdingford (12-0)

When: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at U.S. Bank Stadium.

About Holdingford: The Huskers advanced to the state semifinals thanks to a 40-24 win against perennial state power Barnesville in the quarterfinals. Barnesville had reached the Prep Bowl two of the past three years, winning it in 2022. … Holdingford is located approximately 30 miles northwest of St. Cloud. … The high-powered Huskers offense averages 45.5 points per game. It's led by 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior QB Jaxon Bartkowicz, a University of St. Thomas commit. Bartkowicz has passed for 2,057 yards and 23 touchdowns. … His top targets are 6-foot-3 senior Nate Streit, a Minnesota State University, Mankato, commit, and 5-11, 175-pound receiver/running back Masyn Patrick. Streit has 60 catches for 977 yards and 9 touchdowns, while Patrick has 51 catches for 789 yards and 11 TDs. … Patrick won the 145-pound Class 1A state wrestling championship last March. … The Huskers average 10.1 points per game allowed, second in the state in Class 2A, behind only Goodhue.

About Goodhue: The Wildcats played a nail-biter in the state quarterfinals last Thursday, beating Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 29-28 in overtime when Cristian Monjaraz-Mendez drilled an extra-point kick after a Luke Roschen-to-Owen Roschen 9-yard TD pass. … Goodhue is at state for the fourth time in 10 seasons and the second consecutive year. … The Wildcats' defense allows a state-best 7.5 points per game and has recorded five shutouts this season. … Luke Roschen has passed for 786 yards and 17 touchdowns. … Senior Jack Carlson, a Bemidji State commit, leads Goodhue's rushing attack with 1,068 yards and 19 touchdowns on 148 attempts. … This is the Wildcats' first appearance at U.S. Bank Stadium. Their last trip to the state semifinals came in 2015, a year before the stadium opened.

Up next: The winner advances to the Class 2A Prep Bowl, against Eden Valley-Watkins or Jackson County Central, at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at U.S. Bank Stadium.

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