For the first time in recent memory, Minneapolis City Conference teams faced off against their St. Paul City counterparts in nonconference high school football contests to begin the season featuring the state’s top prospect, while a former top Minnesota prospect helped the University of Minnesota claim victory in their opening game.
Jones leads Washburn
Running back JEFF JONES, the top prospect in the state, left no doubt which school he would represent for his senior year. Jones, rumored to open the season for state power Eden Prairie, scored six touchdowns, including the game-winner with 16 seconds remaining, leading Minneapolis Washburn to a 56-50 victory over St. Paul Highland Park.
Quarterback PAUL MUNOZ’s 237 yards and six scoring passes to ISAIAH BROWER (3), DEEJAY SIMS (2), and NICK LANNIER (2) led Highland Park. Munoz also ran for a touchdown.
Como Park behinds Flores
Quarterback ISAIAH FLORES scored three times on the ground and twice in the air, connecting with CHRISTIAN ALLISON and MALIK BAKER, leading Como Park to a 27-26 victory over Minneapolis North.
TYLER JOHNSON led North by connecting with TREVON THOMPSON for a score and running for two more.
A two-point conversion 9and fumble return from MARCUS JACKSON and MATTHEW GOODMAN rounded out the scoring for the Polars.
A total team effort in Central victory
Quarterback FELIX TAYLOR JR. provided the leadership while running backs JAKOBI JACKSON, JAMAL GALATO, GARRETT GARDNER and KYLAN SAFFOLD, wide receiver JOHNNY SZULIM and kicker JULIAN REED each scored in St. Paul Central’s 66-18 victory over Minneapolis Southwest.
Tinkler helps Henry outlast Johnson
Quarterback HENRY TINKLER ran for one touchdown, connected with TONY YANG for another and SHUE HER scored on a 36-yard interception return, leading Minneapolis Henry to a 19-12 win over St. Paul Johnson.
JAVAUGHN ELIZAY connected with Mitchell McDonald for a score, and ANTHONY SEELEY’s 53-yard touchdown run accounted for Johnson’s points.
Harding wins behind Castille
JUDAH CASTILLE ran for one touchdown and caught a pass from quarterback CHIN NOU KHANG for another while BENJAMIN THOMPSON, JAVIER HUERTA and JOE VUE each contributed a scoring run in St. Paul Harding’s 42-20 win over Minneapolis Roosevelt.
DATAVEON HAWKINS caught two touchdown passes from MARQUAN BURTON and TERRENCE HICKS, who also had an interception return for another score to lead Roosevelt.
Hageman plays well in Gophers’ victory
Five years ago RA’SHADE HAGEMAN was one of the state’s top high school football prospects as a tight end for Minneapolis Washburn. Today the senior is a 6’-6” 311-pound defensive end, a preseason All-Big Ten fist-team pick and NFL prospect.
Hageman, who led Washburn to the Class 3A boys’ basketball title in 2009, kept the pro scouts interested by blocking a field goal attempt that led MARTEZ SHABAZZ’s 78-yard touchdown in a 51-23 win over UNLV.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.
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