2016 Minnesota Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Junior year highlights
See Totino-Grace's Kyle Halverson in action last season


1. Totino-Grace (Fridley)
Head coach: Jeffrey Ferguson
2015 record: 9-3
Team preview

The Eagles will find out just where they stand when they play at No. 3 Eden Prairie to open the season. Last year Totino-Grace opened with a 38-20 loss to Eden Prairie, but then won five straight before losing to Osseo 22-21 in the state AAAAAA semifinals.

Totino-Grace returns starting quarterback Kyle Halverson (995 yards, 11 touchdowns) and 1,000-yard rushers Gayflor Flomo and Ivan Burlak, who combined for 28 touchdowns. They also return their top receiver Brady Bertram and tackler Charlie Waters.



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2. St. Michael-Albertville (Albertville)
Head coach: Jared Essler
2015 record: 12-1
Team preview The Knights dropped a season opener to Moorhead last year, then rattled off 12 straight wins en route to a AAAAA state crown. They did that with a 28-21 win over St. Thomas Academy. The outscored foes 404-205 and completed their third-straight double-digit win season.

St. Michael-Albertville returns second-leading rusher Mitchell Kartes (891 regular-season yards, eight touchdowns), and leading sacker Isaiah Nolan. Griffen Marquette should take over quarterback duties.

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3. Eden Prairie
Head coach: Mike Grant
2015 record: 11-1
Team preview

The Eagles opened the season with 11 straight impressive wins and finished with a 495-186 point differential. But a 27-13 loss in the AAAAA Quadrant 2 finals left Grant and his team hungry heading into 2016.

Eden Prairie lost many top seniors, but returns running back Hunter O'Bert, who averaged better than seven yards per carry last season. Top receiver Kyle Connelly should help carry the load as well.



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4. Caledonia
Head coach: Carl Fruechte
2015 record: 16-0
Team preview

The perennial small-school power completed its first 16-0 season last year to take its seventh state title with a 40-0 win over Pipestone. The Warriors outscored their opponents by a 780-75 count and they figure to roll again with quarterback Owen King returning to lead the charge. In the state title game King completed 13 of 20 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns.

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5. East Ridge (Woodbury)
Head coach: Dan Fritze
2015 record: 13-2
Team preview

The Raptors lost their season opener last season, then ran off 13 straight wins before losing in the state AAAAAA finals to Osseo by one point. It was a bitter way to end but should prove as motivation heading into 2016. East Ridge has gone 30-6 over the last three seasons and returns leading rusher Dominik London and three top defenders off last year's team.