Star Tribune metro football subdistrict outlooks and predictions

2018 season predictions from staff writers Ron Haggstrom, David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen. NOTE: Records are from 2017.

Cretin-Derham Hall shed its recent reputation as underachievers by finishing 2017 strong, winning six straight before falling to Minnetonka in a tight Class 6A semifinal. The Raiders have talent on both sides of the ball and harbor legit title hopes. Woodbury has high hopes for junior QB Jake Wenzel and, with nine starters back on offense, enough experience to buffer his development. Injuries crushed Stillwater's hopes in 2017 but the Ponies should bounce back, thanks to experience on the lines.

1. Cretin-Derham Hall (8-3)

2. Woodbury (4-5)

3. Stillwater (2-7)

4. Roseville (7-3)

5. Mounds View (3-6)

7. White Bear Lake (0-9)

St. Michael-Albertville, new to Class 6A a year ago, was a gut-wrenching last-minute loss to Maple Grove away from reaching the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Totino-Grace had its roughest regular season under coach Jeff Ferguson, losing three regular season games. Expect the Eagles to rebound and reclaim the district title. They'll get a strong challenge from the Knights, who will be christening a new stadium this fall. Champlin Park, Centennial and Blaine have talent but also significant question marks. Champlin Park, with the return of QB Bennett Otto from injury, looks to be the best of that bunch.

1. Totino-Grace (6-4)

2. St. Michael-Albertville (9-2)

3. Champlin Park (5-5)

5. Blaine (6-4)

6. Anoka (0-9)

7. Osseo (3-6)

Lakeville North and Prior Lake have beefed up offenses to match their typically stout defenses. The Panthers have perhaps their deepest set of skill position players in coach Brian Vossen's tenure, all set to operate behind a big and physical offensive line. Prior Lake coach Matt Gegenheimer brought in former Mankato West coach Mark Esch to work with the offense, which has tended to sputter in past. Rosemount, always dangerous and disciplined, has game-breakers on offense.

1. Lakeville North (7-4)

3. Rosemount (6-4)

4. Shakopee (5-5)

5. Lakeville South (4-6)

6. Farmington (2-7

7. Eastview (2-7)

9. Eagan (1-8)

Top to bottom, the toughest subdistrict in 6A and likely the state. Expect defending 6A champ Eden Prairie to get a strong push from Minnetonka, the 2017 runner-up that might be the most talented team in the class. Both teams boast elite-level QB play (Cole Kramer for Eden Prairie, Aaron Syverson for Minnetonka), which will make their late-season matchup a whole lotta fun. Edina is developing a reputation as a straightforward physical bunch. Maple Grove has the state's best running back in Evan Hull. Wayzata has stockpiled talent and looks poised to return to prominence.

1. Eden Prairie (13-0)

2. Minnetonka (11-2)

3. Edina (8-3)

5. Wayzata (2-7)

Elk River has made back-to-back Prep Bowl appearances, winning the Class 5A crown in 2016 and falling to Owatonna in the 2017 final. The Elks are positioned to make another title run thanks to a talented roster led by RBs Adam Nelson and Kevin Egbujor and two-way lineman Lafayette Bade. Coach Steve Hamilton said this "could be our best team we have had." Andover lost the entire backfield from the squad that scored 50 or more points seven times last year, but will be able to lean on a veteran defense. Keep an eye on Buffalo, which has D-I talent at QB (Aidan Bouman), WR (Treyton Welch) and OL (Hunter Poncius).

1. Elk River (11-2)

2. Andover (8-3)

3. Buffalo (4-5)

5. St. Francis (3-8)

6. Monticello (1-8)

7. Chisago Lakes (3-7)

8. Cambridge-Isanti (3-6)

Quality abounds, led by Rocori, which has made four consecutive state tournament trips and has a stud RB in senior Matt Koshiol. Perennial power Hutchinson returns QB Lane Glaser and RB Josiah Nelson. Another traditional powerhouse, Becker, is in QB Josh Fobbe's capable hands. The dark horse is talented Big Lake, led by DE DeVonne Harris and RB DeAndre Hill. Nick Keenan, who coached Big Lake before leaving for Champlin Park this year, called Big Lake "a state tournament team."

2. Hutchinson (7-3)

3. Big Lake (5-6)

4. Becker (7-5)

5. Willmar (4-5)

6. St. Cloud Apollo (5-5)

Coon Rapids made the most of taking on programs its own size, winning five games or more for the first time since 2010. Though also clear of the better Class 6A programs, Hopkins and Forest Lake didn't fare as well and hope to rebound. Armstrong looks to remain solid and maybe add a few more victories. A Week 7 matchup of Coon Rapids and Armstrong could settle the subdistrict title.

1. Armstrong (5-4)

2. Coon Rapids (5-4)

3. Hopkins (1-8)

4. Forest Lake (2-7)

1. Cooper (9-1)

2. Spring Lake Park (5-5)

3. Irondale (4-5)

4. Park Center (3-7)

5. North St. Paul (0-9)

1. Mahtomedi (9-2)

2. South St. Paul (9-3)

3. Simley (4-7)

4. Tartan (5-6)

5. Hill-Murray (3-7)

1. St. Thomas Academy (6-5)

2. Park of Cottage Grove (6-3)

3. Apple Valley (10-2)

4. Hastings (3-7)

5. Henry Sibley (3-6)

1. Orono (6-5)

2. Benilde-St. Margaret's (8-1)

3. St. Louis Park (7-4)

4. Holy Angels (12-1)

5. DeLaSalle (6-5)

Quarterback Jacob Miller and RB/LB Cade Plath provide Chanhassen with a potent duo. About 20 seniors are expected to start for the Storm, though some are seeing their first extended action. A Week 3 visit to neighboring Chaska will be pivotal in the subdistrict title chase. The sleeper teams are Bloomington Jefferson, led by playmaking quarterback Isaiah Watts, and Waconia, which upset Chaska in the Class 5A, Section 2 playoffs.

1. Chanhassen (6-3)

2. Chaska (8-1)

3. Bloomington Jefferson (1-8)

4. Waconia (5-6)

With plenty of experience coming back on both sides of the ball, including all of its skill position players, Spectrum will once again dominate this district. Its closest game a year ago in league play was four touchdowns (28 points). The Sting is led by senior quarterback/linebacker Fisher Marberg.

1. Spectrum (7-2)

2. Brooklyn Center (5-4)

3. Concordia Academy (4-5)

4. St. Agnes (4-6)

6. St. Paul Humboldt (1-8)

7. Minneapolis Roosevelt (1-8)

Mound Westonka hasn't lost a district game in three years despite being in two different divisions. Minneapolis Southwest has the best chance to end that streak, considering it was in every game a year ago and has key players returning, led by junior running back/defensive back TK Marshall (6-0, 180). He was a 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore.

1. Mound Westonka (8-2)

2. Minneapolis Southwest (4-5)

4. Providence Academy (5-5)

5. Minneapolis Henry (0-9)

6. Academy Force (1-8)

St. Croix Lutheran senior quarterback Jonathan Liesener will be handing off and throwing to plenty of new faces as the Crusaders graduated players at skill positions. Liesener ran the option efficiently last season, and should do so again behind a solid offensive front. The Class 3A state tournament runner-up last year is seeking an eighth consecutive state trip.

1. St. Croix Lutheran (12-1)

3. Fridley (8-4)

4. St. Paul Highland Park (4-5)

5. Minneapolis Washburn (3-7)

6. St. Paul Central (2-7)

Minneapolis North averaged 53.7 points per game while going undefeated in district play a year ago. With most of its skilled position players back from that group, this year should be no different. Coach Charles Adams' squad has won at least 10 games in each of the past four seasons and should do so again. Breck, returning 10 offensive and nine defensive starters, will pose the biggest threat to the Polars.

2. Breck (5-4)

3. St. Anthony (6-3)

4. Columbia Heights (5-4)

5. St. Paul Como Park (6-3)

6. Minneapolis South (3-6)

This could wind up being the most intriguing subdistrict. Delano is the defending champion, and its two closest games last year were against Dassel-Cokato and Glencoe-Silver Lake. Those two teams welcome back more starters than the Tigers, so look for this to turn into a three-team battle for the No. 1 spot.

1. Delano (7-2)

2. Glencoe-Silver Lake (9-2)

3. Dassel-Cokato (5-5)

4. Holy Family (4-5)

6. Litchfield (2-7)