Chaska's Marcus Holasek explained the caterpillars he and fellow senior linebacker Stevo Klotz are sporting on their upper lips: "Mustaches, mohawks or mullets. That's kind of our motto this year. You have to have one of them. My mom won't let me get the haircut so I'm going with the 'stache.' "
That wouldn't fly at St. Thomas Academy, the all-boys Catholic school with military leadership as part of its mission, and the Hawks' opponent in Saturday's Class 5A Prep Bowl.
Follicly speaking, the teams couldn't be more different. High and tight St. Thomas Academy vs. do-what-you-like Chaska. On the field, however, both reached the 4 p.m. Saturday championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium by playing a physical, disciplined brand of football.
The teams met on Oct. 16, a 20-0 Chaska victory on the Hawks' home field, but both teams were without injured regulars.
"I'm guessing they've gotten a lot better; so have we," said Klotz, who also plays running back and posted 112 yards and a touchdown against the Cadets. "We're going to come out and be physical and try to wear them down. That's been our game plan this season."
It's a winning formula. Chaska (11-1) has posted five shutouts this season and reached its first state tournament championship game since 1974. The same playing style worked for St. Thomas Academy (11-1), a Prep Bowl qualifier for a second consecutive season and author of six victories by shutout.
"We know they are a good team and we know they won't be the same as they were last time," Holasek said. "Physically, we've got to come out and crack them right away."
Holasek, a Star Tribune All Metro second-team selection, is "the quarterback of our defense,'' said Klotz, an outside linebacker. "He likes to hit. He's a big, tough kid."