Chanhassen avenged its 2024 State Semifinal loss to Elk River with a hard-fought 22-19 victory this past Saturday night at US Bank Stadium. The Storm’s victory over the Elks allowed them to advance to this Saturday’s 4 p.m. Prep Bowl against 13-0 Spring Lake Park.
Twelve months ago, Elk River ended Chanhassen’s season en route to the 2024 Class 5A State Championship. This year, the Storm made sure lightning didn’t strike twice.
A year after the Elks ended Chan’s season with a 21-19 heartbreaker in the 2024 Class 5A semifinals, the Storm flipped the script with a gritty 22–19 win that sent the Storm (11–1) back to the Prep Bowl to face undefeated Spring Lake Park. Chanhassen returns to Minnesota’s biggest stage for the second time in three seasons.
Clutch Finish to the First Half
While Chan’s first-half offense took time to adjust, special teams lit the spark. Senior Alex Bowe pounced on a fumble on an Elk River return, and Logan DeAlwis ripped off a long kickoff return of his own that set up early opportunities.
DeAlwis said afterward that the early phases helped settle the team in.
“Our offense took a little bit to get going, but once we figured out what to do and got comfortable playing in the Bank, we started to roll,” he said. “Our defense played very well, only allowing 19 points to a team that averaged 44 coming in.”
The Storm nearly broke through on a long first-half drive, but it stalled at the Elk River one-yard line. Two snaps later, Elk River quarterback Levi Harris broke loose for a 98-yard touchdown, making it 6–0 after a blocked PAT.
Elk River scored again with 25 seconds left in the half, and suddenly the Storm faced a potential double-digit hole. But for the second straight week, the Storm offense, and Head Coach Cullen Nelson’s clock management, excelled under pressure.
Quarterback Nathan Ramler, who was named to Star Tribune’s Strib Varsity All-Minnesota Team, led a 5-play, 59-yard march and found senior wide receiver Loghan Gustad on a 22-yard touchdown as the horn sounded — an improvised moment that captured the resilience of this group.
“We knew we needed a score to stay in the game,” shared Gustad. “That last play was made for Peyton (Ramsey), and Nathan told me just to find space. I’m not even sure if the ball was meant for me, but I saw it, went to get it, and it worked out great.”
Instead of trailing big, the Storm entered the locker room down just 12–7, with momentum fully back on their side.
Second Half for the History Books
The Storm came out strong in the second half behind junior running back Graham Degler, who powered for 76 yards on seven carries in the game. His 18-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter gave Chanhassen its first lead at 15–12. Coach Nelson’s decision to go for two — Ramler to Bear Nelson — proved pivotal by the end.
Elk River answered on the ground, as they did all afternoon. With senior back Carsyn Kleffman limited and Harris battling a rib injury, the load fell on Braedon Becker, who hammered out 171 yards and his second long touchdown to put the Elks back ahead 19–15.
But then came the play that will go down in Chanhassen football folklore.
Senior captain Kade Bush, another member of the Strib Varsity All-Minnesota Team, lined up at quarterback in the “Wildcat Formation.” He took the snap and broke loose on a 42-yard touchdown, breaking away from a would-be tackler with a spin move that would make Chuck Foreman proud. Bush’s TD gave the Storm a 22–19 lead with under 12 minutes left.
Elk River’s run-heavy attack churned out 390 rushing yards, but Chanhassen’s defense — anchored by Coleman Zielinski’s team-high 12 tackles — made the stops when it mattered most.
And no one symbolized the team’s commitment more than Owen Linder, Chanhassen’s third member of the Strib Varsity All-Minnesota Team and a Mr. Football finalist, who played both ways extensively, filling in for injured Carter Beld and delivering impact on both sides of the ball.
Still, Elk River mounted one final, grinding, 20-play drive late in the 4th quarter. Facing fourth down in scoring range, the Elks elected to go for the win rather than attempt the tying field goal.
This time, the story ended differently.
Under pressure from Zielinski, Harris lofted a pass toward the end zone. Peter Vidmar diagnosed it, broke on it, and secured the game-clinching interception with 1:37 to go.
“I saw the tight end coming out on a route and knew we had pressure coming from Coleman,” said Vidmar. “The QB had to lob it, and I got there and took it. I knew that would seal the game, trusting our offense and Graham to finish it out.”
Degler then powered ahead for a critical first down, and the Storm kneeled out a semifinal win one year in the making.
Back to the Prep Bowl
With the victory, Chanhassen advances to the Prep Bowl for the second time in three seasons and continues a remarkable run under Coach Nelson, who has now led the Storm to three straight state tournament appearances. With thrilling victories in their first two State tournament games, “Team 17” is enjoying a run reminiscent of the 2023 State Champions.
Tomorrow, we will preview Chanhassen’s Prep Bowl opponent Spring Lake Park, who upset top-ranked St. Thomas Academy, and hear how Chanhassen’s exceptional senior class is preparing for their final high school football game.
