HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PICKS: State quarterfinals

PHERSY: Well Feldy, I'm coming back...slowly. I picked up another game in the standings last week, going 4-3 while Feldy went 3-4. That leaves me with an overall record of 50-27, while Feldy is 52-25. It's the state tournament, baby!

NINE-MAN

Mountain Lake Area (9-2) vs. Grand Meadow (10-1).

CLASS AA

Sibley East (9-1) vs. Caledonia (10-0)

CLASS AAA

Jordan (4-7) vs. Rochester Lourdes (11-0)

CLASS AAAA

Hutchinson (10-0) vs. Kasson-Mantorville (9-1)

CLASS AAAAA

Mankato West (4-6) vs. Owatonna (10-0)

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PHERSY: We'll jump right into my picks ...

NINE-MAN

Grand Meadow 42, Mountain Lake Area 28: GM is a battle-tested team, and it plays great defense. They also run the ball well, so I think they control this game from start to finish.

CLASS AA

Caledonia 35, Sibley East 12: The Warriors have become one of the best football programs in the state. Nobody is slowing down this train, especially now that they have their full lineup available.

CLASS AAA

Rochester Lourdes 50, Jordan 2: I have a bone to pick here ... Jordan knocked us out of the section basketball tournament my senior year. So, yeah, I don't like the Hubmen. Oh yeah, and Lourdes is good.

CLASS AAAA

Hutchinson 35, Kasson-Mantorville 28: I guess I didn't learn my lesson last week. But I believe the KoMets' ride ends this week.

CLASS AAAAA

Owatonna 37, Mankato West 30: What a great game ... it's about time they meet. West survived in OT last week, while Owatonna rolled into state again. The Huskies have an offense that can run and throw this year, so they're dangerous.

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NINE-MAN
Grand Meadow 36, Mountain Lake 24: The Larks have a short roadie to this one, at Rochester Regional Sports Stadium. Mountain Lake has close to three hours on the bus. Not that that will be the difference in this one. G.M. beat an outstanding Spring Grove team last week and will carry that momentum over.

CLASS AA
Caledonia 30, Sibley East 8: I feel like I say this every week, but give me Caledonia's defense against any team in Class AA football. The Warriors roll in this one.

CLASS AAA
Lourdes 28, Jordan 16: What's a Hubman? The rest of the state won't find out this year. Eagles notch another victory on their way to a state title.

CLASS AAAA
K-M 31, Hutchinson 30: I won't doubt the KoMets again after that beatdown they gave Faribault last week.

CLASS AAAAA
West 35, Owatonna 32: West is gonna have to score in bunches to win this game. The Scarlets might be the team from the Big Nine Conference best equipped to do that.