Football finals matchups are set

Twelve teams will vie for one of six state titles in two weeks as the finals participants for the 2008 Prep Bowl were determined over two days of games at the Metrodome Nov. 14-15. What had been a 24-team field was pared to a dozen squads in brackets from 9-Man to Class AAAAA, with victors in all six groupings to be determined Nov. 28-29. In 9-Man, a pair of 13-0 clubs will face off as Houston takes on Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley in a 10 a.m. matchup on Nov. 28. Houston defeated Ada-Borup, 56-14, in its semifinal, while C-G-B downed Kittson County Central, 8-7. The Class A final will feature Royalton (12-1) against Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (11-2) on Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. Royalton blasted Lake Park-Adubon, 42-20, in its semifinal, while K-M-S ran roughshod over Springfield, 41-7. Class AA's championship will be decided in a showdown between a pair of 12-1 clubs that each handed a first defeat to their respective semifinal competitors. Caledonia ousted Moose Lake/Willow River, 44-13, to reach the final, while Luverne dropped Hawley, 21-14 to earn its spot in the title game. Caledonia and Luverne will kick off at 4 p.m., Nov. 28. It's Metro versus Outstate in Class AAA as DeLaSalle (13-0) takes on Glencoe-Silver Lake (12-1) on Nov. 29 at noon. DeLaSalle rallied to defeat New London-Spicer, 31-14, in its semi, while G-SL shutout Holy Family Catholic, 34-0, to punch its finals ticket. Class AAAA will determine bragging rights in southern Minnesota as Northfield (10-3) faces Mankato West (12-1) on Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. Northfield had little trouble with Orono, 31-12, in the semis — Mankato West pounded St. Michael-Albertville, 38-14 in its semi. This year's big school game will not be a rematch of 2007 after all as top-ranked Eden Prairie and No. 2 Cretin-Derham Hall were both felled by Blaine in the first two respective rounds of the Class AAAAA bracket. Blaine (11-1) slotted its spot in the final by holding off Cretin, 28-27, in overtime and will face Wayzata (12-0) in the championship game on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Wayzata, the 2004 state champion, has rolled through its first two rounds of state competition — shutting out St. Cloud Tech, 38-0, in the quarterfinals and throttling Rosemount, 34-10, in the semifinals. For more information on the 2008 Prep Bowl, log on to www.mshsl.org.