This segment of the Preps Insiders blog used to belong former colleague and prep sports guru John Millea, who is now plying his prodigious skills for the Minnesota State High School League. I can't replace him; I can only occupy the same space.

Because it's Week 1 of the 2010 season, I've broken up the Top 20 into categories to give a semblance of reason to the selections:
• Metro Top 10
• 2009 State Champions (Cretin-Derham Hall and Totino-Grace are listed among the Top 10)
• Teams In Difference Conferences
• Games That Interest Me.

One note: While Eden Prairie is currently No. 2 in the Metro Top 10, I did not include them because the Eagles are splitting up their squad and playing two games Friday in Winnipeg, Canada. The games will be played by Canadian football rules, which throws a wrench into the works. Will skates be used? Is the field measured in meters? Do teams wear fur jerseys? Is it legal to tackle by grabbing a mullet? There's just too much to consider.

Metro Top 10
• 1. Cretin-Derham Hall 31, Forest Lake 13
• 3. Blaine 34, Anoka 20
• 4. Wayzata 27, Owatonna 7
• 5. Mounds View 34, Roseville 14
• 7. Totino-Grace 23, 6. Minnetonka 17
• 8. Rogers 34, Zimmerman 12
• Orono 21, 9. Glencoe-Silver Lake 19
• 10. Buffalo 19, Cambridge-Isanti 12

2009 State Champs
• Stephen-Argyle 40, North Border (N.D.) 8
• Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 23, Jordan 13
• Minneota 32, Adrian 18
• New London-Spicer 30, Morris 14

Old Faces in New Places
• Apple Valley 16, Prior Lake 10
• Champlin Park 20, Armstrong 7
• Hutchinson 26, Dassel-Cokato 20
• Rochester Century 27, Chaska 21

Games That Interest Me
• East Ridge 26, Woodbury 23
• Lakeville North 20, Eastview 14
• Lakeville South 28, Eagan 27
• Mankato West 35, Northfield 21

Jim Paulsen