The Chanhassen Storm football team’s 2025 season came to an end Saturday night at US Bank Stadium as Spring Lake Park captured the Class 5A Prep Bowl with a 24-21 victory.
For a senior class that won a state championship in 2023, reached the state tournament three consecutive years, and played in nearly 40 games together over three seasons, it was a heartbreaking finish to an extraordinary journey.
Another Classic
Saturday’s Class 5A Prep Bowl was everything you’d expect from a championship game.
The Panthers’ explosive offense struck quickly, breaking off first half touchdown runs of 38 and 47 yards.
The Storm battled back behind Nathan Ramler, who hit Loghan Gustad with a long pass before scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. In the second quarter, Ramler connected with West Virginia-commit Kade Bush on a 16-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 14-14.
The Panthers then scored on a 38-yard scoring pass to give them a 21-14 halftime lead. A 25-yard field goal extended the advantage to 24-14 entering the fourth quarter.
But Chanhassen, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A earlier in the season and battle-tested throughout their playoff run, refused to go quietly.
Ramler, who threw for 240 yards on the day, orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback attempt, and the Storm’s receiving corps, despite missing senior standout James Kopfmann, kept them in the fight all day.
Logan DeAlwis led all Chanhassen receivers with 9 catches for 90 yards, while Gustad added 8 receptions for 81 yards, including a highlight-reel one-handed grab in the second half.
In the fourth quarter, junior Peyton Ramsay punched in a 10-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 24-21.
The Chanhassen defense, led by linebacker Jack Carlson’s 10 tackles, stiffened in the second half, holding Spring Lake Park to just a field goal after halftime.
Gavin Anderson and Justin Barnes each recorded multiple tackles, and Logan Smith forced a fumble as the Storm defense fought to give their offense one more chance.
Ramler converted a crucial third-down scramble and hit DeAlwis on a pass play for 19 yards to push the Storm into Panthers territory. However, Spring Lake Park made the big plays at the end and thwarted the Storm’s comeback.
“It was a very competitive game with two really good teams,” Head Coach Cullen Nelson said. “Credit to them for generating three explosive play TDs and capitalizing on two turnovers. We just couldn’t find a way to make more plays and just ran out of time at the end. Proud of how our players kept belief and played hard until the end.”
Season to Remember
While the final result stung, Chan’s 11-2 season was nothing short of remarkable. This was a team that played one of the toughest schedules in Minnesota — 12 of their 13 games came against top-15 ranked opponents.
Carlson, the senior linebacker who epitomized this team’s toughness and leadership, reflected on what made that semifinal victory so special.
“My favorite memory from this year was beating Elk River in the state semifinals,” he said. “The amount of preparation and determination for that game was special. It was a dogfight and I was so proud of the boys fighting to the end.”
For the seniors who anchored this team, this season represented the culmination of years of work together.
“The guys were so fun to coach, and they showed up to practice ready to work every day,” Coach Nelson said. “‘Team 17’ (representing Chanhassen’s 17th season of football) did a great job controlling what they could and that made it a rewarding season even though the final result wasn’t what we had worked for.”
Three Years of Excellence
This senior class leaves behind a legacy that few programs can match. Over three varsity seasons, they compiled a remarkable record, played in 38 of 39 possible games, reached the state tournament three consecutive years, and captured a state championship as sophomores in 2023.
That 2023 title game remains one of the most dramatic finishes in Prep Bowl history — Kade Bush’s walk-off touchdown on the final play to defeat St. Thomas Academy 34-31. Two years later, Bush was one of the standouts in yet another run to the Prep Bowl.
Carlson reflected on what it meant to play for Chanhassen and Coach Nelson.
“Playing for Chanhassen football was an honor and privilege,” he said. “The coaching staff worked so hard to put us players in the best positions to be successful, and I am so thankful for them. There is not another group of selfless and hardworking people I know than our senior class. Coach Nelson made us believe that with hard work and playing for the guy beside you, you can accomplish a lot of things.”
For Owen Linder, a Mr. Football finalist who will continue his football career at Iowa, the experience of playing with his childhood friends meant everything.
“I think the best memories from the season were just hanging out with the guys,” he said. “It was all the people I grew up with, so just getting to play with them and hang out with them every day was just so fun. Having a brotherhood for life with these guys just is awesome. The coaches are fantastic — they just make you a better football player and a person and they are amazing role models for all of us.”
Coach Nelson echoed that sentiment when reflecting on what made this group special.
“What I’ll remember most about Team 17 is how much they cared for each other and how selfless the group was, led by our seniors,” he said. “It was always team focused. We had lots of really big wins and a couple really tough losses. What will last with me is watching this group grow up and grow together. Watching kids work for years to become better football players and people is what it’s about. I couldn’t be more proud to coach this group of young men.”
The Final Whistle
Saturday’s loss was heartbreaking. There’s no way around that. But as the disappointment fades, what will remain is the story of a special group of young men who represented their school and community with class, played for each other every single week, and left everything on the field.
This year’s seniors helped win the 2023 state championship. They beat the defending champions this year. They competed against the best teams in Minnesota and never backed down. They dyed their hair blonde together, believed in each other when things got tough, and showed an entire community what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself.
The final score won’t define this season. The brotherhood will.
All images courtesy of Bennett Cloeter and Grayden Greenberg
