Friday nights in Minnesota are basically a religion, but the 2025 season felt different. You’ve got the smell of crisp November air, the turf at U.S. Bank Stadium, and thousands of fans screaming until they’re hoarse. If you were looking for mn state high school football scores this past November, you weren't just looking for numbers on a screen; you were looking for the stories of underdogs finally catching a break and powerhouses cementing their legacies.
Honestly, the 2025 Prep Bowl was a rollercoaster. We saw everything from record-breaking rushing performances to goal-line stands that will be talked about in small-town diners for the next decade.
The Shootout: Edina vs. Moorhead (Class 6A)
If you like defense, this game was probably your worst nightmare. But for everyone else? It was pure magic. Edina outlasted Moorhead 42-35 in a game that basically broke the scoreboard.
Chase Bjorgaard is a name you won't forget anytime soon. The senior running back for Edina—who also happens to be a star goalie for their hockey team—rushed for 320 yards on 31 carries. That’s not a typo. He scored four rushing touchdowns and caught two more. Six touchdowns in a state final. He tied a Prep Bowl record that has stood for years, and he did it with a 24-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Moorhead didn't go down without a fight, though. Their junior quarterback, Jett Feeney, broke an all-time Prep Bowl record by throwing for 373 yards. He was slinging the ball all over the dome. He even connected on an 86-yard bomb to Zak Walker to bring the Spuds within seven late in the game, but they couldn't recover the onside kick. It was Edina’s first title in the "Prep Bowl Era," and they earned every bit of it.
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The First-Timers: Annandale and Spring Lake Park
There is something special about a school winning its first ever state title.
Annandale’s Defensive Masterclass
Annandale took down Waseca 17-7 in the Class AAA final to claim their first championship in school history. It wasn't about flashy offense here; it was about a defense that was absolutely suffocating. They forced four interceptions. Colton Purcell was everywhere, snagging three of those picks himself.
Offensively, they used a bit of trickery to get the job done. Gabriel Westman caught two long touchdowns, including one on a double pass that Annandale had been sitting on all week. Sometimes the "boring" defensive games are the ones that stick with you the most because you see the discipline it takes to win at this level.
Spring Lake Park’s Long Wait
In Class 5A, Spring Lake Park ended a drought that stretched back to 1991. They beat Chanhassen 24-21 in a game that came down to the absolute final seconds.
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Cade Skelly, a senior linebacker, had never recorded an interception in his entire high school career. Talk about timing—he picked off a pass with 11 seconds left on the clock to seal the win. Their quarterback, Nolan Roach, only completed two passes the whole game, but he ran for 162 yards and two scores. It was old-school, smash-mouth football at its finest.
Nine-Player Power: Hills-Beaver Creek
Down in the Nine-Player division, Hills-Beaver Creek erased years of "so close" heartbreak by beating Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 46-22.
The Metzger brothers basically ran the show. Jamin Metzger, the quarterback, threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns while adding two more on the ground. His brother Brodie added 126 yards rushing and three total touchdowns. It was a dominant performance from a team that stayed undefeated all year.
Why These Scores Matter for 2026
Looking ahead, the landscape of Minnesota football is shifting. We are seeing a lot of talent staying in-state, which keeps the competition level incredibly high. If you're following the mn state high school football scores for the upcoming 2026 season, keep an eye on these names:
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- Roman Voss (Jackson County Central): A versatile athlete who can play almost anywhere.
- Howie Johnson (Forest Lake): A defensive lineman who is a nightmare for offensive coordinators.
- Jett Feeney (Moorhead): After his record-breaking performance as a junior, he’s going to be the most watched QB in the state.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Recruiters
If you're a parent, a student, or just a fan trying to keep up with the chaos of the MSHSL playoffs, here is how to stay ahead:
- Watch the QRF Rankings: The Minnesota-Scores QRF system is weird, and honestly, a bit confusing at first, but it’s the best way to predict who actually has the strength of schedule to survive the playoffs.
- U.S. Bank Stadium Logistics: If you plan on attending the Prep Bowl next year, buy tickets early online. The MSHSL has moved almost entirely to digital ticketing, and trying to figure it out at the gate is a mess you don't want to deal with.
- Follow the Trenches: While everyone watches the quarterbacks, Minnesota state titles are almost always won by teams like Annandale or Spring Lake Park—teams with massive, disciplined offensive lines.
The 2025 season proved that rankings don't mean much once the snow starts flying. Whether it was Edina’s high-flying offense or Annandale’s lockdown secondary, the scores only tell half the story. The rest is written in the turf.
To stay updated on the 2026 season schedule, you should check the official MSHSL brackets as they are released in late October, as section play often results in major upsets that shift the state tournament seeding entirely. Watching the "Nine-Player" highlights is also a great way to see the rawest form of the game before the big schools take the stage at the Prep Bowl.