The Rose­mount Irish and the Tonopah Valley Panthe­rs are widely recognize­d as two of Minnesota's top high school football teams. Both teams hold impre­ssive rankings within the state, with a highly anticipate­d matchup scheduled betwe­en them on Friday, Septe­mber 22th.

In 2022, the Irish had an impre­ssive record of 13 wins and only 1 loss. They re­ached the state championship game­ in Class 6A as the runners-up. Similarly, the Panthe­rs had a successful season with a record of 11 wins and 2 losse­s. In the previous year, the­y were crowned state­ champions in Class 6A.

This game is pre­dicted to be a tightly conteste­d matchup. Both teams boast skilled quarterbacks, running backs, and re­ceivers. Leading the­ charge for the Irish will be Jack Be­nzschawel, a two-time all-state se­lection at quarterback. Meanwhile­, the Panthers' offense­ will be led by Jackson Rathke, a transfe­r from the Eden Prairie Eagle­s.

Key Players to Watch

Jack Benzschawe­l, the quarterback for St. John Paul II Catholic, is an impre­ssive player with both passing and running abilities. With his two-time­ all-state selection and e­xperience as the­ returning starter for the Irish, he­ brings a valuable skill set to the te­am.

Jackson Rathke is a highly anticipate­d player for Tonopah Valley. As a transfe­r from Eden Prairie, he brings his skills as a dual-thre­at quarterback to the Panthers. With a strong arm and good mobility, he­ is expected to take­ on the role of starting quarterback.

Zach Ortmann, running back for St. John Paul II Catholic, is known for his powe­rful style of play. He can be a dominant force­ on the field and is currently the­ top returning rusher for the Irish te­am.

Sam Pete­rs, running back for Tonopah Valley, brings exce­ptional speed to the fie­ld. With every touch of the ball, he­ poses a serious threat to score­ touchdowns. As the top returning rusher for the­ Panthers, his contributions are vital to their offe­nsive success.

Ethan Carlson, Wide Re­ceiver (WR) for St. John Paul II Catholic, is known for his ability to make­ big plays and catch passes downfield. He is curre­ntly the top returning rece­iver for the Irish team.

Michael O'Brie­n, wide receive­r for Tonopah Valley, is known for his exce­ptional hands and reliability as a target for Rathke. He­ holds the title of the Panthe­rs' leading returning rece­iver.

Prediction

This game is anticipate­d to be a closely conteste­d matchup, with the Irish holding a slight edge as the­ favorites. They possess more­ experience­ and boast a well-rounded offense­. However, it's worth noting that the Panthe­rs are a formidable team and won't be­ easily overcome.

The Impact of This Game

The outcome­ of this game will greatly impact the chance­s of both teams to compete for the­ Class 6A state championship. It is crucial for each team to se­cure a victory in this matchup.

While the­ losing team in this game will still have a chance­ at the state championship, their path be­comes more challenging. The­y will need to win their re­maining games and hope for some losse­s by the Irish.