The 2024 high school football season begins in Minnesota on Thursday, and there are a handful of teams playing big games right from the start.
Week one features three top-25 showdowns in Minnesota high school football. Stillwater faces Lakeville North, while Prior Lake and Forest Lake compete in Class 6A showdowns. Class 5A features Andover and St. Thomas Academy, two teams that made it to U.S. Bank Stadium last season.
READ: MINNESOTA PRESEASON ALL-STATE OFFENSE | DEFENSE
Here are High School on SI’s predictions for the top games in Week 1 of Minnesota high school football.
No. 6 Stillwater vs. No. 5 Lakeville North — 29.8., 7 p.m.
Stillwater vs. Lakeville North is the top game of the first week of the high school football season in Minnesota.
The Ponies’ junior quarterback Nick Kinsey is one of the best quarterbacks in the state and will provide a unique challenge to Lakeville North’s normally high-caliber defense. Stillwater lost many seniors but was able to retain playmakers at all three levels of defense for 2024.
Lakeville North is also led by a good quarterback. Riley Grossman is entering his final season and averaged more than one passing touchdown per game in 2023.
Prediction: Lakeville North 27, Stillwater 20
No. 16 St. Thomas Academy vs. No. 14 Andover — 29.8., 7 p.m.
St. Thomas Academy lost one of its best graduating classes in school history, so this will be an early look at how the Cadets fill those vacancies. Defensive backs Charles Probst and Finn Benz will return to lead their Cadets’ defense.
They’ll have their hands full with one of the state’s best wide receivers, Cameron Begalle. The Huskies lost quarterback Chase Pemberton to graduation, but they were still an effective team last season despite his injury. Senior Kaleb Weikel leads the Huskies’ defense from the linebacker position.
Prediction: Andover 24, St. Thomas Academy 14
No. 12 Previous Lake vs. No. 21 Forest Lake — 29.8., 7 p.m.
These are two programs that will try to advance to the top tier of Class 6A in 2024. Last season, Prior Lake defeated Forest Lake 7-6 in Week 1, so this game could serve as a benchmark for how these teams have changed since then.
Forest Lake has one of Minnesota’s best players in defensive lineman Howie Johnson. The Rangers are losing their top three rushers from last season and will therefore enter 2024 with some inexperience at the skill positions.
Prior Lake also lost top playmakers, especially on defense. The Lakers always have talent, but they will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the state.
Prediction: Prior Lake 17, Forest Lake 10
More top games in high school football in Minnesota
(Predicted winners in bold)
Rocori against Detroit Lakes – 30.08., 19:00
No. 25 Stewartville against Waseca – August 30th, 7 p.m.
Mahtomedi vs. No. 19 Brainerd — 30.8., 7 p.m.
New Prague against Bloomington Jefferson – August 29, 7 p.m.
More Minnesota high High School Football Preseason Coverage on SI
Minnesota High School Football: Projected rankings for each section in Class 5A
Minnesota High School Football: Projected ranking order for each section in Class 6A
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— Jack Butler | [email protected] | @Butler917 on X
