With the end of the prep football season Saturday, it's time to hand out some West Metro football awards and look forward a bit.
Top player (large school): Brad Davison, Maple Grove. The Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year was easily the best QB in the metro this season. Passed for 2,418, and rushed for 819 yards.
Top player (small school): Isaiah Cherrier, Mound Westonka. The senior RB/DB/KR was a factor in every facet of the games. Scored 22 TDs: 10 rushing, six receiving, six on returns.
Offensive MVP: Alex Spillum, Chanhassen. Moving the uber-athletic Spillum from WR to QB was a stroke of genius, helping to propel the Storm to an undefeated regular season and the Class 5A state tournament.
Defensive MVP: Danny Anderson, Eden Prairie. Every great defense has a gritty linebacker at its core, and Anderson fits that bill for an Eagles defense that blanked seven opponents.
Game of the year: It wasn't a nail-biter, but it's safe to say no one went home unsatisfied in Blaine's 70-42 victory over Buffalo in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. The two teams combined for 1,303 total yards (Blaine had 679, Buffalo 624). Despite his team's loss, Buffalo WR Tyler Johnson set a state record for receiving yards with 18 receptions for 344 yards and three TDs.
Player to watch, 2017: Benny Sapp Jr., Eden Prairie. The son of the former Vikings defensive back moved from Florida to Eden Prairie last spring but didn't play all season due to a knee injury. He's expected to dazzle as a senior next season.
Jim Paulsen
