Gopher verbal Nate Triplett of Delano (MN) High ran for 61 yards
on 10 carries as they lost to Glencoe-Silver Lake 41-7. Triplett has 121 carries
for 976 yards with 13 touchdowns (eleven rushing) and 54 tackles.
Gopher verbal Jay Thomas of Oakdale (MN) Tartan rushed 17 times
for 208 yards to become the schools' all-time leader in career rushing yards as
the Titans beat North St. Paul, 20-15. Thomas had touchdown runs of 74 and 66
yards in the second half to give him 17 touchdowns this season, 15 rushing, both
Tartan records. Thomas has led the Titans to a 5-2 mark. He has excellent speed
and finished third in the 100-yard (10.77) and 200-yard dash (21.49) in the
state meet. Thomas was also a key reserve on the Titans team that that advanced
to the Class AAAA boys basketball tournament. Thomas has carried the ball 101
times for 1,129 yards this season.
Chris Joppru, a 6-5, 225-pound tight end from
Minnetonka (MN) High, caught three touchdown passes to help lead the Skippers,
ranked fourth in the state, to a 48-15 win over Robbinsdale (MN) Cooper. His
brother, Bennie, was a standout tight end for the Michigan Wolverines who is now
with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Minnetonka is off to a 6-1 start. Joppru is
hearing from Michigan, Minnesota, Ball State, North Dakota State and South
Dakota State. He has 22 catches for 361 yards this season.
Marcel Jones completed 17 of 35 passes as he threw
for 246 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans lost to St. Thomas Academy
41-28, falling to 3-4. Jones rushed 13 times for 41 yards. Jones, who was the
first player to commit to the Gophers this year, has completed 99 of 212 passes
for 1,529 yards with 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Gopher commitment Eric Decker, a 6-foot-3 wide receiver from Cold
Springs (MN) Rocori, caught six passes for 76 yards and one touchdown, but it
was not enough as the Spartans, ranked third in Class AAAA lost for the first time
this season, fell to No. 6-ranked Sartell 28-21. The Spartans (5-1, 6-1) will
be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Section 8, Class 4A playoffs. Decker attended
the Gopher football camp and became the fourth in-state player to pledge to
Minnesota. Decker has 46 catches for 676 yards (14.7 yards per catch) and 12
receiving touchdowns this season. He is also a standout basketball player for
Rocori.
Athletic Reggie Rock of St. Paul (MN) Cretin Derham Hall has moved
to defensive back after starting the season at quarterback. Most observers feel
that defensive back will be his primary spot in college. The Raiders defeated
Edina 37-0 and will face Evangel Christian Academy of Louisiana on Fox Sports
Thursday night. Rock, who is getting looks from Florida, Florida State,
Minnesota, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin, has completed 49 of 92
passes for 848 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Junior wide receiver Kimuel Royston, who attended the Gopher
football camp, had two catches for 25 yards. He also had three tackles as a
defensive back as the Raiders improved to 5-2. Royston has 20 catches for 395
yards and five touchdowns this season.
Quinn Hendel, a 6-3, 215-pound running back from
Plymouth (MN) Wayzata High,
had 55-yard touchdown run and finished with 213 yards on 26 carries as
the Trojans defeated Armstrong 25-3 to improve to 6-1. Hendel has 154 carries
for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.
Zach Larsen of Northfield scored 1- and
4-yard touchdowns as he helped lead the Raiders to a 36-8 win over Holy
Angels. He finished with six carries for 21 yards and also plays linebacker. The
Raiders have outscored their opponents 244-32 this season. Larsen has 36 carries
for 192 yards and five touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Adam Weber of Arden Hills (MN) Mounds View
completed four of nine passes for 31 yards and one touchdown, as the Mustangs
defeated Forest Lake 24-21. He is the son of former Gophers player
Bobby Weber. Weber has completed 61 of 117 passes for 1,074 yards and
11 touchdowns this season.