The 2009 Minnesota high school football season concluded with games played Tuesday and Wednesday across the state. Conference championships were won, postseason positioning was finalized and a few shockers made it another exciting night of Minnesota prep football. 
James Farrow, Minnetonka
File photo by Greg Smith
Here is at look at some developments in the past week and things to look ahead to in the coming weeks.
First and five
1. MINNETONKA SHOCKS WAYZATA: Two games ago, the Wayzata first-string defense gave up its first touchdowns of the season in a 24-21 win over Wisconsin Rapids in a nonconference tilt. On Wednesday, the Trojans defense didn’t give up a touchdown. In fact, they only gave up three points – but still lost. In what was probably the biggest upset of the regular season, Minnetonka knocked off Wayzata, the defending 5A state champs and No. 1-ranked team in the Associated Press Poll, 3-0 in overtime. The win helped Minnetonka (6-1, 6-2) earn a three-way tie for first place with Wayzata (6-1, 7-1) and Hopkins (6-1, 6-2) in the Classic Lake Conference.
Minnetonka earned the win when Zach Siemens kicked a 22-yard field goal on its first possession of overtime. That was followed by an interception in the end zone by the Skippers’ Charles Webb, ending any chance of a Wayzata win and leading the shocking upset.
2. TROJANS STILL TOP SEED: Wayzata’s loss didn’t stop coaches from giving Brad Anderson’s team the top seed in the section 5 playoffs. In fact, Wayzata, led by quarterback Sasha Doran and linebacker A.J. Tarpley, received a first-round bye. As for Minnetonka, the Skippers earned a No. 3 seed in a loaded Section 6 field. Top seed Eden Prairie (8-0, Lake Conference champions) earned a bye, while Hopkins earned the No. 2 seed and Minnetonka the No. 3 seed. Hopkins was ranked as high as No. 3 in the state this year, and its two losses came to Eden Prairie and Wayzata.
3. HIGHLAND PARK WINS TWIN CITIES GAME: Highland Park, the St. Paul City Conference champion, defeated Minneapolis City Conference champion Minneapolis Washburn, 20-12, to win the annual Twin Cities Championship game between the two league champs. Tarrell McDuffie led the Scots in the win, scoring three touchdowns – one a 3-yard run and the other two on 5- and 11-yard touchdown receptions. Washburn brothers Montrell and Mar’chea Wade combined to run for 225 yards and were involved in both touchdowns in the loss. Highland Park finished the regular season 7-1, Washburn 6-2.
4. GRACE GRACEFULLY WINS TITLE: Totino-Grace claimed the North Suburban Conference title with a 48-12 win over St. Louis Park on Wednesday. The Eagles finished 7-0 in conference play and 8-0 overall. Fridley (7-1) finished second. Fridley and Totino Grace did not play this year. TG heads into the Section 6 playoffs as the top seed and with a bye. Fridley earned the No. 2 seed and will play Mound-Westonka on Tuesday. Leading the way for Totino Grace this season were running backs John Crockett and Ashford Kromah, quarterback J.D. Pride and defensive standouts and leading tacklers Gabe Mezenga and Colin Hustad.
5. CENTENNIAL CLINCHES CROWN: Centennial didn’t get a lot of hype in the loaded Northwest Suburban Conference, but the Cougars won the conference crown with a 41-7 win over Coon Rapids on Wednesday. Centennial finished 7-1 (as did Blaine), but Centennial defeated Blaine 34-25 in Week 2. However, Blaine was the No. 1 seed and Centennial No. 2 in the 5A, Section 7 playoffs. The Cougars are led by the rushing attack of Adam LaMere, Jeff Burns, Eric Kallevig, which ran for over 1,500 total yards this season.
Three to watch
Bill Gregg, Hopkins: The quarterback leads the pass-happy Royals into the playoffs fresh off a game where he completed 15-of-20 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns (of 65, 10, 3 and 10 yards) in the win. Gregg passed for 1,946 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season.
Mankato West: The top-ranked team in Class 4A tuned up for a playoff run with a 51-0 win over its crosstown rival Mankato East. The win secured the first-ever Big Nine Conference title for the Scarlets.
Ken Ouren, Mankato West: Any team looking to make a playoff run needs a strong kicking game – and West has a good one in Ouren. Against East, Ouren made all six extra-points and made field goals of 35 and 22 yards in the win.
Two hot to handle
Evan McMillan, St. Paul Academy/Mounds Park Academy: McMillan was a one-man offensive onslaught Wednesday. He threw for four touchdowns, ran for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in a 68-40 win over Breck. Heading into the regular-season finale, McMillan had thrown for 2,220 yards and 20 touchdowns, and ran for 860 yards and six touchdowns.
Mark Dunham, Willmar: Dunham completed 11-of-13 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown (60 yards) in a 41-12 win over St. Cloud Apollo Wednesday.
Inside the numbers
343 – The number of yards Bloomington Kennedy running back Aaron Hoese ran for in a 40-20 win over rival Bloomington Jefferson on Wednesday.
123 – The number of yards Willmar’s Grant Schow ran for in the win over Apollo on Wednesday.
3 – The number of touchdowns Schow ran for in that win. He scored on runs of 20, 5 and 17 yards.
2 – The number of touchdowns caught by Rosemount receiver Zach Vraa in a 35-7 win over Edina.
