RaJa Nelson rushed for 126 yards and three TDs to lead the Lakeville North to a 42-7 victory over defending Class 6A state champion Totino-Grace in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs on Friday.
Lakeville North eliminates 6A champ Totino-Grace
Brian Curtis ran for 64 yards and a TD and threw a TD pass for the Panthers (7-3), who will play Eden Prairie in the quarterfinals next Thursday at Chanhassen.
Eden Prairie defeated Champlin Park 34-24 on Friday. Eden Prairie, which lost to Totino-Grace in the 6A championship game last year, defeated Lakeville North 41-13 on Sept. 8.
Apple Valley 42, St. Thomas Academy 7: Tyler Cardella rushed for 103 yards and two TDs to lead the Eagles past the visiting Cadets.
Cretin-Derham Hall 12, Shakopee 0: The Raiders got third-quarter rushing TDs from Danny Callahan and Zion Guerra and the Raiders defense limited the Sabers to 69 yards to earn the team's first state tournament berth since 2011.
CLASS 4A
Cloquet 46, North Branch 26: Spencer Wehr rushed for 211 yards and six TDs and caught a TD pass to lead the Lumberjacks past the Vikings in the Section 7 championship game at Duluth.
CLASS 3A
Jordan 42, Glencoe-Silver Lake 41 [OT]: Jonathan Draheim scored on a 10-yard run and Mason Vogel kicked the PAT to lift the Hubmen past the Panthers in the Section 2 championship game played at Rockford. Carsen Streich scored on a 9-yard TD run — his fourth TD of the game — to start the overtime and give the Panthers a 41-35 lead, but the Panthers missed the PAT.
CLASS 2A
Minneapolis North 44, Maple Lake 30: Armon Dalton threw three TD passes and the Polars returned a kick and a punt for TDs to earn their fourth straight state tournament berth. After the Irish opened a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, the Polars responded with 44 unanswered points. The Polars, who moved up this year after winning the Class 1A state title last year, have won 23 consecutive games.
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It's a newsworthy week in the NFC North. The 11-1 Lions host the 9-3 Packers on Thursday night while the Vikings welcome back Kirk Cousins on Sunday and the Bears hand the reins to interim head coach Thomas Brown.