The 2025 Minnesota high school football season began Thursday, with several of the state’s top teams cruising to victories.

• Maple Grove begins defense of 6A football championship by turning back Stillwater

You can find more scores of high school football across Minnesota on Strib Varsity.

Preseason videos are also available to watch: The 2025 Preseason Football Dream Team and the The 2025 Preseason Minnesota Top 25 rankings

Final: Rocori 28, Totino-Grace 7

“No negativity!” yelled a student pressed up against the railing of Totino-Grace’s bleachers, turning to tell classmates not to bemoan a first-quarter false start called on Totino-Grace.

Requesting a little grace was understandable. The Eagles had graduated about three-quarters of the starters from last year’s Class 4A state runner-up season — including their leading passer, receiver, rusher, tackler and sacker.And while Totino-Grace kept it close early, Rocori’s size and experience proved ready-made for a season-opening victory, 28-7. The fresh-out-of-the-box Spartans scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to pull away from the Eagles.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Late 4Q: Rocori 28, Totino-Grace 7

Seems like the final score won’t reflect how close most of the game was, but the Spartans are surely pulling away here with less than six minutes to play. Senior Maddox Abel picks off an underthrown pass and takes it to the house for a 50-yard pick-six.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

4Q: Rocori 20, Totino-Grace 7

Quarterback Max Fredin throws a 34-yard pass up the middle into the outstretched hands of a streaking Caleb Maddow, who tumbles into the end zone and gives Rocori its first breathing room of the night with 9:50 left to play. Two-point conversion, no good.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End 3Q: Rocori 14, Totino-Grace 7

We head into the fourth quarter still a one-possession game. The Eagles weren’t able to find the red zone in the third quarter, and Rocori’s in possession on its own 39-yard line.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Final: Maple Grove 37, Stillwater 17

Kaden Harney caps the night off with an 11-yard touchdown run to give the defending Class 6A champion Crimson the opening night victory.

— Marcus Fuller

Updates from around Minnesota

Blaine 21, Lakeville North 14: The game in Blaine goes final, a tight one for No. 15 in the Minnesota Top 25.

Robbinsdale Armstrong 41, Burnsville 21: Armstrong cruised to 35 points in three quarters and an eventual victory.

Big Lake 76, DeLaSalle 22: That’s a big number for Big Lake, and it’s a final score.

3Q: Rocori 14, Totino-Grace 7

We’ve seen some impressive catches out of the Rocori receiving corps tonight. Junior receiver Mayson Wahnschaffe leaps to come down with senior quarterback Max Fredin’s 20-yard pass up the seam. Then, Fredin drops a dime from the 36-yard line to senior receiver Caleb Maddox for the first points of the second half. The two-point conversion is no good, though, with 3:57 left to play in the third.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Final: Minnetonka 41, East Ridge 0

Things could not have been scripted any better for Minnetonka as the Skippers got a 70-yard touchdown run from Caleb Francois on their third offensive play from scrimmage and rode that wave to a 41-0 victory . Francois made his debut as a full-time running back stand out, rushing for 178 yards and three touchdowns.

— Jim Paulsen

4Q: Maple Grove 31, Stillwater 17

The Crimson felt the Ponies creeping up from behind, so they looked to fullback Jeffrey Nordvold for a 26-yard TD to give them some cushion.

— Marcus Fuller

Updates from around Minnesota

Hill-Murray 52, Chisago Lakes 15

Edina 35, Hopkins 14

Elk River 34, Bemidji 34

Stewartville 18, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 0

4Q: Maple Grove 24, Stillwater 17

It’s a game, folks. The biggest play yet for the Ponies was a 31-yard TD catch, Carter Zollar on a flea-flicker from Jaylen Rosalez to Jack Runk.

— Marcus Fuller

4Q: Minnetonka 41, East Ridge 0

The Skippers have called off the dogs but still managed to score on a 28-yard run by Caleb Francois, his third TD of the game. Minnetonka relied on 6-5 backup quarterback Brooks Henriksen on its scoring drive. Let’s guess Gutzmer is out for the game.

Going to the fourth quarter with a 41-0 lead means running time.

— Jim Paulsen

Watch this TD pass from Moorhead’s Jett Feeney

End 3Q: Maple Grove 24, Stillwater 10

Stillwater finally answers with a 16-play drive to pull within two scores on a 26-yard field goal from Colin Johnston. Emilio Rosario Matias was the workhorse in the third quarter with nine carries for the Ponies, who picked up momentum going into the fourth quarter.

— Marcus Fuller

Updates from around Minnesota

Moorhead 42, Rogers 10: We’re into the fourth quarter of a blowout in Moorhead.

Champlin Park 21, St. Michael-Albertville 12: It’s a final at Champlin Park.

Hill-Murray 52, Chisago Lakes 15: That score went final, too.

Elk River 28, Bemidji 26: Tension is building in the game at Bemidji State University.

Blaine 21, Lakeville North 14: Into the fourth quarter at Blaine and not much separation.

Bloomington Kennedy 45, Roosevelt 7: One way to build a big lead is to score 25 points in the third quarter.

Hill-Murray 52, Chisago Lakes 15: Lots of TDs are in play in Chisago.

Halftime: Rocori 8, Totino-Grace 7

In the second quarter, Rocori nearly took an improbable lead on two gutsy fourth-down calls. The Spartans dug themselves out of a hole facing fourth-and-16 just past the 50, with Max Fredin throwing a 30-yard dart up the middle into the hands of senior receiver Noah Olmscheid, into a tight window. But on the 8-yard line, the Eagles dug their heels in for a goal-line stand, with sophomore corner back Edward Benson picking up the fourth-down tackle on the doorstep of the end zone.

No one has been able to re-enter the red zone since, with Rocori forcing an Eagles fumble late.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Updates from around Minnesota

Moorhead 42, Rogers 10: It’s all coming together for the Spuds in the season opener.

Shakopee 28, Eagan 0: Shakopee is No. 3 in the Top 25 and looking that way. Eagan is No. 21 and facing a buzzsaw.

Edina 28, Hopkins 14: The Hornets are up comfortably but giving up touchdowns.

Minneapolis North 45, Simley 7: The Polars are rolling.

3Q: Maple Grove 24, Stillwater 7

South Dakota State recruit Kaden Harney connected on his first touchdown pass of the season, 10 yards to Henry Knutson in the corner of the end zone. The Crimson are trying to pull away in the second half.

— Marcus Fuller

Other scores around Minnesota

Andover 17, Wayzata 6: That’s No. 11 in the Minnesota Top 25 leading No. 9 late in the second quarter.

Bemidji 20, Elk River 14: No. 7 in the Minnesota Top 25 has fallen behind in the first half.

Jackson County Central 38, Maple River 12: Only one Class 2A team made the Top 25, and that team is way ahead.

Stewartville 12, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 0: The defending Class 3A champion had a first-half lead and a shutout working.

Halftime: Minnetonka 34, East Ridge 0

Minnetonka is piling it on East Ridge. Caleb Francois scored his second touchdown of the night, going over from 3 yards out to make the score 34-0 just before halftime.

Skippers QB Caden Gutzmer has been effective, running and passing. Skippers coach Mark Esch said before the game he expected the 6-2, 205-pound Guzmer to have some success running the ball.

The Minnetonka defense has just stifled East Ridge, particularly without Cedric Tomes. The Raptors had just two first downs before halftime.

— Jim Paulsen

Halftime: Maple Grove 17, Stillwater 7

Defense and special teams created two big plays to help Maple Grove take control with 17 unanswered points in the first half, including a 36-yard field goal from Preston Berg for a 10-point halftime lead. James Engle had 15 carries for 83 yards and two TDs in the first half for the Crimson.

— Marcus Fuller

End 1Q: Rocori 8, Totino-Grace 7

Totino-Grace answers with 40.3 seconds left in the first quarter. The Eagles faced a scary moment at the end of Rocori’s touchdown drive, as Totino-Grace senior Victor Meadows exited the game on a stretcher after a hard hit during the two-point conversion. Meadows was responsive as he left the field with medical professionals, and his teammates and coaches prayed on their sideline.

After a three-minute warmup period, and the teams exchanging punts, Totino-Grace senior quarterback Michael Sarych, making his first start, started to find a rhythm for the Eagles offense. He connected with senior receiver Jaden Miller for a 39-yard pass to put the Eagles in the red zone, then with senior tight end Luther Bunge in the back corner of the end zone for a 16-yard passing touchdown.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2Q: Maple Grove 14, Stillwater 7

Maple Grove lost its top rusher from last season in Charles Langama, who is now at North Dakota. James Engle has looked the part of a top tailback with his second rushing TD of the first half for Stillwater.

— Marcus Fuller

1Q: Rocori 8, Totino-Grace 0

Rocori has size and experience on this young Totino-Grace team, and it showed in the first drive. After forcing the Eagles to punt, the Spartans, led by senior quarterback Max Fredin, marched down the field, helped by a pass interference and roughing-the-passer call near Totino-Grace’s red zone. The Eagles also picked up offsides and false start penalties early. At the 4-yard line, Fredin kept the ball and snuck in between Eagles defenders. He connected with senior receiver Caleb Maddox for the two-point conversion.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End 1Q: Minnetonka 20, East Ridge 0

It’s been a nightmare of a first quarter for East Ridge. The Raptors trail 20-0 after a 22-yard touchdown run by Quinton Restrepo, one play after a botched punt gave the ball to Minnetonka on the 22. East Ridge has managed just one first down, and that was by penalty. And Cedric Tomes is still out.

— Jim Paulsen

End 1Q: Maple Grove 7, Stillwater 7

The Crimson edged out Minnetonka in the Prep Bowl last year to end the season. And they are in another tight game going into the second quarter to open the 2025 season. Junior Jack Runk, a first-year Ponies starter, had 70 yards passing in the opening quarter.

— Marcus Fuller

Moment of silence

Spectators at Totino-Grace devoted a moment of silence and prayer before the national anthem to recognize the Annunciation community. “We will take a brief moment to come together in prayer, in a moment of silence for the students, families and staff of Annunciation Catholic school, as well as all those affected by yesterday’s tragedy,” was read over the public address system. “Let us hold them in our hearts and ask for God’s peace, comfort and protection. Live Jesus in our hearts forever.”

1Q: Minnetonka 14, East Ridge 0

That didn’t take long. After forcing an East Ridge punt, Minnetonka goes 47 on four plays, scoring on a 29-yard pass from Caden Gutzmer to Cody Braun, who side-stepped the defenders and went untouched into the end zone. Injury alert: East Ridge QB Cedric Tomes left the field to have an injured finger on his throwing hand looked at. Raptors have backup QB Leo Stalsberg in the game.

— Jim Paulsen

1Q: Stillwater 7, Maple Grove 7

After being stuffed on fourth-and-3 by Stillwater on its first drive, Maple Grove responds with an interception from linebacker Beaux Thyen. That sets up the game-tying score four plays later on a 2-yard run by James Engle with under five minutes to play in the first quarter. Strib Varsity’s Jim Paulsen included Thyen among his Dirt Dogs in a recent story.

— Marcus Fuller

1Q: Minnetonka 7, East Ridge 0

Minnetonka senior Caleb Francois looks like he’s ready to pick up where he left off a year ago. He carried the ball on all three plays on the Skippers’ opening drive, topped by a 70-yard run for a touchdown on which he pulled away from the East Ridge defenders as he cruised into the end zone. Francois put on a nice jump-cut at the line of scrimmage to avoid the first wave of the Raptors defense.

— Jim Paulsen

Updates from around Minnesota

Moorhead 13, Rogers 10: Highly regarded Moorhead, sixth in the Minnesota Top 25, is ahead, but not by much, after Rogers’ second-quarter field goal.

Blaine 14, Lakeville North 7: Blaine pulls ahead with a second-quarter touchdown.

North 32, Simley 0: It’s not even halftime.

Edina 7, Hopkins 0: The Hornets, fourth in the Minnesota Top 25, are off to a quick start.

— Kevin Bertels

1Q: Stillwater 7, Maple Grove 0

Stillwater strikes first on the opening drive behind new starting quarterback Jack Runk. A junior, Runk completed five passes for 61 yards, including the 10-yard touchdown to Chase Edstrom.

— Marcus Fuller

Late 2Q: Moorhead 13, Rogers 7

4:12 left in second quarter. Rogers scored first, Moorhead tied it at 7-7, then took the lead less than three minutes later.

2Q: Lakeville North 7, Blaine 7

Blaine, No. 15 in the Minnesota Top 25, and Lakeville North are keeping it close.

Pregame: East Ridge at Minnetonka, 7 p.m.

Einar Anderson Stadium at Minnetonka is filling up fast for the season opener between East Ridge and 2024 Class 6A runner-up Minnetonka.

The big story tonight is the position switch of Minnetonka senior Caleb Francois. He rushed for 1,624 yards as a read-option QB last year, but he’s been moved back to his more customary position at running back. That allows Minnetonka to take advantage of strong-armed junior QB Caden Gutzmer. Minnetonka coach Mark Esch admitted before the game he expects it will add versatility to the offense.

On the East Ridge front, I’m excited to see senior QB Cedric Tomes. He’s a Gophers basketball commit, but he’s got some skills on the gridiron, too. Minnetonka’s unproven defense will have its hand full.

— Jim Paulsen

2Q: Champlin Park 14, St. Michael-Albertville 6

Final: Minneota 42, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 7

Minneota, the defending Class A state champions, begin the season with a resounding victory.

Columnist Pat Reusse wrote about the Vikings’ success in football before their 2024 state title run.

6 p.m., Champlin Park

Pregame: Maple Grove at Stillwater, 7 p.m.

I’m here at Stillwater to see the Ponies take on Maple Grove, which lost several starters after its second Class 6A state championship in three years but could still have enough depth for another title run.

Third-year starting quarterback Kaden Harney, a South Dakota State recruit, is one of only two returning starters on offense after leading his team to a 13-0 record in 2024. The other starter joining Harney on that side of the ball is senior offensive tackle Matthew Perusse, committed to Montana State.

Maple Grove coach Adam Spurrell likely will lean heavily on his defense to start this season. Four returning starters are back for that unit: Ryder Skanson (Air Force), Brayden Dozier (North Dakota State), Gavin Elmquist (Minnesota State Mankato) and Bo Thyen.

The Ponies, who were 4-5 last season, lost starting quarterback Nick Kinsey to transfer, but they welcome back senior tailback Emilio Rosario Matias, who rushed for 1,205 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.

— Marcus Fuller

5:15 p.m. - Moorhead

Pregame: Rocori at Totino-Grace, 7 p.m.

I’m here in Fridley at Totino-Grace — which, by the way, made Strib Varsity writer Jim Paulsen’s recent list of the top places to watch high school footballin Minnesota. The 10-time state champion Eagles are hosting fellow Class 4A team Rocori to kick off both teams’ season.

The Eagles and the Spartans aren’t frequent foes, but they did meet in the 1977 state championship, with Totino-Grace winning 36-12. Rocori has two state titles of its own, in 2011 and 2019.

On the Spartans’ sideline, Greg Enz will make his Rocori head coaching debut. He was promoted from assistant coach after James Herberg left to join the coaching staff at St. John’s University.

Totino-Grace has a young team this year, with some big shoes to fill. The 2024 season stats reveal that team leaders in passing yards, receiving yards, rushing yards, tackles, sacks and interceptions all graduated, leaving room for new faces to step up and build on the Eagles’ state finalist finish last season. (They lost 24-8 to Becker in the Prep Bowl, their only loss after a dozen wins in a row.)

Rocori, which finished 6-3 last fall, returns senior quarterback Max Fredin and two Division I commits, left tackle Andrew Trout (Minnesota) and tight end/defensive end Brody Woods (North Dakota), players to keep an eye on for sure.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer