HS Football Picks: Section finals edition

PHERSY: Well, Feldy you picked up another game on me. This is getting embarrassing (or more embarrassing than it already was). I already knew I wasn't good at picking games, but I always felt good knowing that I was at least better than you. It looks like this is finally going to be your year. Feldy went 5-2 last week and improved to 38-32 and I went 4-3 to move to 36-34. Here we go with the section finals ...

1AAAAA

Owatonna vs. Lakeville North

1AAAA

New Prague vs. Northfield

1AAA

La Crescent vs. Kasson-Mantorville

1AA

Zumbrota-Mazeppa vs. Caledonia

2AA

Triton vs. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown

1A

Goodhue vs. Blooming Prairie

Nine-man

Houston vs. Grand Meadow

* * * *

FELDY: All good things must come to an end. That's likely to happen to my streak this week. The lead is nice ... while it lasts. Here goes:

1AAAAA
Lakeville North 35, Owatonna 21: Owatonna is playing really well right now, but we'll see how their offense fares against a metro school that is likely faster and more skilled all around than any opponent Owatonna has seen this season.

1AAAA
Northfield 33, New Prague 19: The Raiders win the section for a second straight season. Their offense is too talented and too unpredictable (in a good way).

1AAA
Kasson-Mantorville 31, La Crescent 20: This is a grudge match for La Crescent, but since the start of the season we've heard about how talented this K-M team is. They showed it last week against Lourdes and will do the same this week.

1AA
Caledonia 42, Z-M 26: No disrespect meant to the Cougars; Caledonia is just that good.

2AA
W-E-M 18, Triton 16: Speaking of grudge matches, I don't think there's a lot of love between these teams. Respect? Yes. Love? No. W-E-M in a squeaker on its home field.

1A
Blooming Prairie 23, Goodhue 20: Both of these teams are playing very well. It just feels like the Blossoms' time to get back to state after having so many very good teams that didn't.

9-MAN
Houston 24, Grand Meadow 22: If I've been consistent at anything this year, I've been consistently awful at picking Nine-Man games, so .... the coin came up heads for Houston, which means ... Grand Meadow, congratulations on your section title.

•••

PHERSY: Gee, thanks Feldy ... you didn't pick any upsets, so that means I really have to go out there to gain any ground. Looks like you're the champ ...

1AAAAA

Directional Lakeville school 35, Owatonna 13: Lake Conference vs. Big Nine ... I think we know who wins that matchup.

1AAAA

Northfield 21, New Prague 6: I wasn't impressed with Northfield last week, but I still think the Raiders will do enough to get past New Prague.

1AAA

Kasson-Mantorville 37, La Crescent 20: The KoMets have proved to be one of the best teams in the state. And they've proven you can move their game any where you want, and they'll still beat ya!

1AA

Caledonia 40, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 19: I'd like to see Caledonia play for the Class AAA state title. But I'll settle for watching it go for the AA crown. They're the best!

2AA

W-E-M 24, Triton 23: W-E-M plays on a horrible field, but it's home for the Bucs, so I'll take them by home-field advantage. Like I always say, though, never count out Don Henderson. This certainly isn't his most talented team, but he's gotten a lot out of this group.

1A

Goodhue 31, Blooming Prairie 25: G-Force! G-Force! G-Force! The Wildcats are purple hot, and that will continue.

Nine-man

Grand Meadow 32, Houston 29: Somebody once told me to never pick against Houston. Well, Feldy has forced me to do so. Sorry ...