Prep Bowl Preview: Caledonia Warriors

Friday, Nov. 25

Class AA: Caledonia (13-0) vs. Eden Valley-Watkins (11-1) @ 1 p.m.

                The top-ranked Warriors of Caledonia return to defend their 2015 title. This is their third consecutive appearance and their 12th overall. In addition to last year, the Warriors also won titles in 1976, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Eden Valley-Watkins returns for its ninth appearance, but first since 2010. The Eagles were ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll and are in the hunt for their second title. They won their first in 2005.

                Caledonia splits its time between its air and ground games. The Warriors passed for 2,242 yards and year and rushed for another 2,248. Senior Ben McCabe led the ground game for Caledonia. He gained 1,259 yards on 170 carries and scored 17 touchdowns. The Warriors’ junior quarterback, Owen King, completed 133 of his 217 pass attempts for 2,084 yards and 34 touchdowns. King’s favorite target was senior Andrew Goergen. Goergen tallied 73 receptions this year for 1,109 yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior Brandon Robley led Caledonia’s defense with 50 tackles and one fumble recovery. The Warriors averaged 43.9 points per game this season and their opponents averaged 9.6 against them.

      Eden Valley-Watkins also splits its time between the passing and rushing games. The Eagles rushed for 2,419 yards and completed 160 of 238 passing attempts for an additional 2,544 yards. Senior Markell York-Ramirez had 11 rushing touchdowns for the Eagles and totaled 802 yards on 143 attempts. Senior quarterback Reese Jansen added an additional five rushing touchdowns with 323 yards on 52 carries. Jansen also completed 159 of 237 pass attempts for 2,534 yards and 31 touchdowns. Greg Lux, another senior, paced Eden Valley-Watkins’ defense with 79 tackles and one fumble recovery. The Eagles did not provide team scoring averages.

(MSHSL Release)