Minnesota high school football rankings: Lakeville South takes top spot in preseason MaxPreps Top 25

Cougars, Mankato West and Hutchinson all seeking consecutive state crowns.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
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Aug 15, 2022, 1:30pm
The high school football season in Minnesota kicks off with 142 games scheduled for Sept. 1-2. After going 13-0 and winning the Class 6A state championship game last season, Lakeville South (Lakeville) headlines our look at this year's contenders in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.

Lakeville South is headlined by Iowa State commit Carson Hansen, who averaged 12 yards per carry and scored 27 touchdowns a season ago. His efforts helped the Cougars end the season on top with a 13-7 win over preseason No. 6 Maple Grove at U.S. Bank Stadium in the state championship.

The Scarlets of Mankato West (Mankato) come in at No. 2 after taking down preseason No. 7 Mahtomedi in the Class 5A state championship last season under head coach J.J. Helget.

Hutchinson rolls in at No. 3 after winning the Class 4A championship over preseason No. 25 Kasson-Mantorville (Kasson) in 2021. The Tigers are led by linebacker Alex Elliot, who is committed to Minnesota.

The state's top recruit according to 247Sports is 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end Jaxon Howard, who is rated just outside the top 100 (No. 102) for preseason No. 24 Robbinsdale Cooper (New Hope). The 2020 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American is committed to LSU and his father Willie Howard was a 2002 second round pick by the Minnesota Vikings.

Read on for a complete look at the Minnesota MaxPreps Top 25 heading into the 2022 season.
Lakeville South starts the season atop the Minnesota MaxPreps Preseason Top 25 after winning the 2021 Class 6A state championship.
Lakeville South starts the season atop the Minnesota MaxPreps Preseason Top 25 after winning the 2021 Class 6A state championship.
Photo: Sara Henderson
Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Lakeville South (Lakeville), 13-0 record in 2021, 6A state champions
2. Mankato West (Mankato), 13-0, 5A state champions
3. Hutchinson, 12-1, 4A state champions
4. Chatfield, 13-1, AA state champions
5. St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights), 10-1
6. Maple Grove, 11-2
7. Mahtomedi, 10-3
8. Becker, 11-1
9. Dassel-Cokato (Cokato), 14-0, 3A state champions
10. Rogers, 10-2
11. Cannon Falls, 8-2
12. Chaska, 9-1
13. Elk River, 7-3
14. Andover, 10-1
15. Eden Prairie, 10-2
16. Shakopee, 8-3
17. Wayzata (Plymouth) 8-3
18. Lakeville North (Lakeville), 4-6
19. Spring Lake Park, 7-3
20. Chanhassen, 6-3
21. Annandale, 9-3
22. Minneota, 13-1
23. Eden Valley-Watkins (Eden Valley), 9-2
24. Robbinsdale Cooper (New Hope), 9-3
25. Kasson-Mantorville (Kasson), 9-4

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