All Minnesota high school football state tournament semifinal games are played at U.S. Bank Stadium and can be streamed online at nspn.tv/MSHSL

CLASS 4A

Marshall (10-1) vs. Becker (11-0), 10:30 a.m.

Marshall sports a high-octane offense and a shutdown defense, a combination that suggests it could give the Bulldogs a run for their money. But Becker continues to pummel all opponents, even the seemingly formidable ones. The Bulldogs are heavy favorites to win the Class 4A crown until proven otherwise.

OUR PICK: Becker 35, Marshall 14

9-PERSON

Hills-Beaver Creek (11-0) vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl (12-0), 1 p.m.

The 9-player division is among the most intriguing at this point in the season, because it’s usually a bunch of teams from different areas of the state that have all smoked everyone they’ve seen to this point in the season. This is no different. Both teams have played exactly one game decided by two scores or less this fall. How do you know who’s better? Frankly, you don’t until they take the field on Friday.

OUR PICK: Mountain Iron-Buhl 30, Hills-Beaver Creek 24

LeRoy-Ostrander-Lyle-Pacelli (12-0) vs. Fertile Beltrami (11-0), 4 p.m.

A rematch of the 2021 state title game, won 58-8 by LeRoy-Ostrander. This is Fertile-Beltrami’s fourth-straight season reaching U.S. Bank Stadium. In each of the previous occasions, its state tournament run ended with a loss to the Section 1 champion. Can the Falcons end the streak on Thursday? It won’t be likely, given LeRoy-Ostrander touts one of the state’s top players in quarterback/defensive back Camden Hungerholt.

OUR PICK: LeRoy-Ostrander 45, Fertile-Beltrami 20

CLASS 6A

Anoka (8-3) vs. Minnetonka (9-2), 7 p.m.

Anoka was a No. 2 seed in its quadrant, so it may not appear to be a major upset that the Tornadoes have reached U.S. Bank Stadium. But delivering back-to-back, thrilling wins over Lakeville schools to reach this point is a major feat for any program, let alone one that struggled so mightily for so long. Credit to Tornadoes coach Bo Wasurick, quarterback Peyton Podany and the rest of the players and staff for officially putting Anoka back on the map. But it will be a challenge for the Tornadoes to fare any better than north metro rival Blaine did a week ago, when it was shut out 28-0 by the Skippers. (Though it is worth noting this paper picked against Anoka in each of the past two weeks, as well.)

OUR PICK: Minnetonka 35, Anoka 17