ROBBIE GRIMSLEY
Hutchinson • Football
It took one bad play to spur Grimsley to heights rarely seen in a Prep Bowl setting.
The mercurial junior fumbled the ball away while fighting off a tackler on the opening kickoff of the Class 4A championship game.
"I was mad at myself," Grimsley admitted.
He made up for it the next three times he touched the ball. He scored touchdowns each time, on runs of 76, 57 and 92 yards, leading the Tigers to a 49-7 victory over Holy Angels and their second consecutive state title. His last scoring jaunt set a record for the longest run in Prep Bowl history. He finished with 261 yards rushing and three touchdowns on six carries.
"I think [the fumble] might have motivated Robbie a little bit," said coach Andy Rostberg. "He's a good back. He doesn't need much of a crack, and if he gets into the secondary, it's usually over."
Grimsley said the plan at halftime was to see if he could approach the Prep Bowl record of 374 yards, but he turned an ankle and missed much of the third quarter. It didn't bother him, however.
"Getting a state championship and a record 92-yard run is good enough," he said.
TYLER CLINE
Blaine • Hockey
The Bengals opened with a difficult road swing through northwestern Minnesota. Thanks to the senior forward's play, Blaine beat Roseau (8-4) and Moorhead (6-4). Cline had hat tricks in both games, and he leads the team in scoring with seven total points.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN
Irondale • Hockey
The high-scoring senior forward has nine goals and five assists in her last three games — five goals and two assists in a victory over Farmington; four goals and an assist in a victory over Simley; and two assists in a 3-0 shutout of Champlin Park.
JOHNNY HELLER
Eden Prairie • Football
The senior linebacker had his best performance of the season in Eden Prairie's 28-7 victory over Rosemount in the Class 6A championship game. He made a team-high 12 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage that resulted in 7 yards lost.
TREVER KOESTER
St. Croix Lutheran • Football
The junior running back got the Crusaders off to a fast start in their 48-44 victory over New London-Spicer in the Class 3A title game, running 68 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. He finished with 139 yards rushing and two TDs.
ANNA SCHMITT
Waconia • Basketball
The junior point guard thrived in the Wildcats' new high-scoring offense. She had 58 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in a 111-104 victory over St. Anthony and a 91-68 victory over Providence Academy in the Hamline Invitational.
TAYLOR WILLIAMSON
Edina • Hockey
The Hornets improved to 5-0 with victories over highly regarded opponents. The junior forward paced the offense in both victories: She scored two goals as they beat Breck 4-2 and had a hat trick and an assist as they downed Benilde-St. Margaret's 4-2.
JIM PAULSEN
