Chanhassen (8-1) hosts Chaska (7-2) on Friday night at 6 p.m. in a battle for the Section 2AAAAA football championship. The winner advances to the Minnesota State Class 5A Football Tournament.
Sorry, Carver County trick-or-treaters, you might find fewer porch lights on and lighter candy hauls this Halloween. That’s because many families will instead be at the biggest football game the Chanhassen-Chaska rivalry has ever seen.
At stake is the Section 2AAAAA Championship — and a trip to the Minnesota state tournament. The two schools share a district, but only one season will survive Halloween night. Kickoff is at 6 p.m., with a sold-out crowd expected to pack the stands.
Familiar Foes
Chanhassen (8-1) enters as the two-time defending section champion and 2023 Class 5A state champion. Chaska (7-2) won it all in 2019 and is seeking its first return trip to State since.
Friday’s game is a rematch of their Oct. 3 meeting, which the Storm won 28-14. That night, Chaska played without senior quarterback Matthew Welter, who returned last week to lead a 36-22 playoff win over Mankato East.
That same day, Chanhassen rolled past Mankato West 46-22 behind senior quarterback Nathan Ramler, who threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns. The Storm offense features Power Five recruits Kade Bush (West Virginia) and Owen Linder (Iowa), with standout seniors James Kopfmann, a wideout, and Jack Carlson, a linebacker, providing leadership on each side of the ball.
Chaska’s calling card is its defense — a senior-heavy group led by captain Sammy Summer, who also filled in at quarterback mid-season before Welter’s return. Seniors Mason Davis, Michael Gillette, Colton Wacker, Smith Meiller, Brody Lage, Cullen Dauwalter and Nick Robinson anchor a physical group that have helped the Hawks rediscover their rhythm.
“This is a big game for sure and we all know that,” Summer said. “But we can’t change our mindset — we have to continue to play for each other, even if it’s our rival.”
Head coach Bryan Dahl said his group’s toughness has defined their season.
“It’s been nice to get some of our guys healthy toward the end of the year,” Dahl said. “We’ve been hit hard with injuries, but I’ve been impressed with how guys have stepped up in different roles.”
Winner Take All
Davis, a senior linebacker and captain, said the Hawks’ focus has been simple: “Our mindset going into this week is do or die,” he said. “We know this is the biggest game of the year — win or go home.”
“We’ve been waiting for another shot at them since that last game,” Robinson agreed. “They got us before, but we’ve regained some players from injuries and we’re ready to show what we can do.”
Across the field, Chanhassen head coach Cullen Nelson is keeping his team grounded. “We talk about playing with passion and poise,” Nelson said. “The experience of preparing for a section championship can help, but we don’t get any free points or extra downs. The game will be decided on a handful of plays.”
Ramler, the senior quarterback, said the offense is in sync at the right time. “The offense is definitely in a rhythm right now,” he said. “That starts with our focus on the first drives to find our footing. Our coaches put together a plan that we all believe in.”
“As the home team and No. 1 seed, that’s exactly where we want to be,” Ramler added. “It’s a game to go to state — and it’s against guys we’ve grown up with.”
“We don’t have to do anything fancy — we just have to play our game. It doesn’t make it tougher being the favorite; we like having a target on our back,” Linder said.
The biggest Storm Vs. Hawks Game of Them All
For Dahl and the Hawks, the atmosphere speaks for itself.
“It’s always a fun game against Chan. Our kids and community get excited, and it makes for a great atmosphere. We don’t really need to say much to get our guys going,” he said.
For many seniors, though, Friday could be the last time they suit up for their school. “Once you walk into the locker room and start putting your pads on, it hits you, this could be the last time,” Davis said. “You just have to play like you’ll be strapping up again next week.”
Linder agreed with that sentiment. “Our last game is gonna happen eventually, why not make it at the state championship game with us winning? I’m just giving everything I’ve got to make that happen.”
Both teams enter confident, healthy and hungry. The Storm bring experience, firepower and a championship resume; the underdog Hawks counter with grit and belief. Chan may be favored, but rivalry games rarely follow the script.
For Chanhassen, it’s a chance to defend a crown.
For Chaska, it’s a chance to reclaim one.
And for Eastern Carver County, it’s shaping up to be a Halloween night no one will forget.
