Minnesota State High School Football Tournament Begins

The first two games of the Minnesota State High School League football tournament were held Thursday. All the winners advance to U.S. Bank Stadium for the semifinals.

Totino-Grace rolled by Lakeville North 42-14 in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Blaine pulled away from Minnetonka 39-14. Friday's quarterfinals feature Eden Prairie against Maple Grove and Rosemount versus Champlin Park.

The 5A quarterfinals begin Friday with Andover playing Spring Lake Park at 7PM at Centennial High School. The other games are Saturday, including Owatonna against Apple Valley at 6PM at Lakeville North High School with coverage on Kat Kountry 105FM and RadioPup. Mankato West duels Mahtomedi at 6PM in Farmington and top-ranked Elk River faces Alexandria at 8PM at St. Cloud State.

The Class 4A tournament quarterfinals are all on Friday. Winona plays top-ranked South St. Paul at 7PM at East Ridge High School. The Packers were state runner-up in 2015. Rocori faces Orono, Fridley meets Marshall and Cloquet plays Benilde-St. Margaret's.

Class 3A quarterfinals begin with Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton against Morris Area on Friday. Saturday's games include Rochester Lourdes against Jackson County Central at 2PM at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Top-rated St. Croix Lutheran plays Belle Plaine and Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin battles defending champ Pierz.

Three of the Class AA quarterfinals are Friday. Barnesville plays Pillager, Norwood Young America challenges Maple River and Royalton plays Eden Valley-Watkins. Saturday defending state champion Caledonia plays Lakeview at Gustavus Adolphus at 11AM.

Rushford-Peterson begins pursuit of a state title Friday at 7PM at RCTC in Rochester against Murray County Central in the Class A quarterfinals. Also on Friday, Minneapolis North faces JWP. Saturday Mahnomen plays Browerville-Eagle Valley and Wabasso meets Braham.

The nine-man tournament quarterfinals are all Friday. Defending state champ Grand Meadow has a 7PM kickoff against Edgerton-Ellsworth at RCTC, Stephen-Argyle plays Waubun, Hillcrest Lutheran battles Cleveland and Ely opens with Cromwell-Wright.