Saturday’s state semifinal predictions

All Minnesota state tournament semifinal football games are played at U.S. Bank Stadium.

CLASS A

Springfield (11-0) vs. Mahnomen/Waubun (11-0), 9 a.m.

A contrast in styles as Mahnomen/Waubun sticks to a punishing running game, while Springfield features quarterback Parker Kuehn, who has thrown for 1,948 yards and 28 touchdowns this fall. Playing the semifinals indoors is often a major advantage for pass-heavy offenses.

OUR PICK: Springfield 28, Mahnomen/Waubun 20

Parkers Prairie (9-3) vs. Minneota (11-0), 11:30 a.m.

A quick scan of the records suggest Minneota will roll Saturday, and perhaps it will play out that way. But the truth is Parkers Prairie’s regular-season schedule is flush with some of the top Class 2A competitors in the state. That should prep the Panthers for Ryan Meagher, who has run for 1,537 yards and 32 scores for the Vikings.

OUR PICK: Minneota 22, Parkers Prairie 21

CLASS 3A

Dassel-Cokato (10-1) vs. Pequot Lakes (11-0), 2 p.m.

Both teams won thrillers in their state quarterfinal games, with Pequot scoring 14 unanswered in the fourth quarter to top Annandale by seven, and Dassel-Cokato edging Fairmont 29-28 on Caleb Smock’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game with 25 seconds to play, and the team’s subsequent successful two-point conversion to get in front. Saturday could deliver equally sensational drama.

OUR PICK: Dassel-Cokato 24, Pequot Lakes 20

Albany (11-0) vs. Stewartville (12-0), 4:30 p.m.

All signs point toward Stewartville being the class of Class 3A football, and maybe beyond. The Tigers’ 40-14 state quarterfinal win over Holy Family was the second-closest game they’ve played thus far this season.

OUR PICK: Stewartville 35, Albany 13

CLASS 5A

Alexandria (9-2) vs. Owatonna (11-0), 7 p.m.

Cretin-Derham Hall likely unveiled a few cracks for the Huskies in last week’s quarterfinal, which Owatonna escaped from via a two-point conversion in overtime. Owatonna will need to establish a certain level of physicality in the game in order to tame Alexandria’s high-octane passing attack. Cardinals quarterback Chase Thompson has thrown for 2,891 yards and 30 scores this season.

OUR PICK: Alexandria 35, Owatonna 20

— Jace Frederick