Charles Adams and Willie Howard, two of the state’s top prep football coaches, have their teams within striking distance of appearances in the state football playoffs.
Adams, who coaches at Minneapolis North, led the Polars to a 16-6 victory over St. Agnes while Howard duplicated his counterpart, leading Robbinsdale Cooper to a 23-0 victory over arch rival Spring Lake Park.
Quarterback Armon Dalton connected with Omar Brown for a 65-yard touchdown and running back Kehyan Porter scored from one yard out to lead North. Dalton and running back Kiareion Bellfield each provided a two-point conversion for the victorious Polars.
Cooper, led all season by quarterback Cameron King; running backs Nascier Borden, Nate Hill and Victor Henderson; and receivers Pedro Amoussou and Phoenix Sproles scored all of their points in the first three quarters.
North, who won the 2016 Class 1A state championship before moving up to 2A this season, will play Maple Lake Friday at Monticello in hopes of earning their fourth straight trip to the state playoffs. The Polars also made appearances in 2000, 2003 and 2009 before a run of three consecutive appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Cooper made their only state playoff appearance in 1996. They play St. Louis Park for the Class 5A Section 5 championship Friday at home.
Both teams sport undefeated 8-0 records.
Simley upsets St. Paul Johnson
In Class 4A section Section 3 action, junior cornerback Antonio Everett’s 46-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter capped a 28-point consecutive run in Simley’s 28-6 victory over second-seeded St. Paul Johnson.
Sophomore receiver Hope Adabayo scored on a 20-yard touchdown run before Everett’s interception return. He added a two-point conversion. They will play South St. Paul for the section championship.
St. Paul Como Park upset by DeLaSalle
DeLaSalle, led by head coach and former DeLaSalle football great CJ Hallman, defeated top-seeded Como Park 27-12 last weekend and are headed for the Class 4A, Section 4 championship game this weekend.
Running back Jevon Burekke rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Xavier Roberts scored on a six-yard run to put the Islanders up 7-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Robert Adams had a one-yard touchdown run for Como Park, who was playing in their new stadium for the first time.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
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