East Metro High School Football Slate Features Five Key Friday Matchups

Six undefeated or one-loss teams meet Friday at 7 p.m., including Woodbury-Forest Lake at TCO Stadium and a Big Rivers clash in River Falls.

Five high school football games across the East Metro and western Wisconsin highlight Friday night's schedule, with every contest kicking off at 7 p.m. The marquee matchup sends Woodbury (2-1) against Forest Lake (2-1) at TCO Stadium in Eagan, where the two favorites in the Metro East subdistrict will meet.

Forest Lake routed Woodbury 51-0 in last year's meeting, a result Woodbury followed with a season turnaround. A similar lopsided score is not expected this time, with the outcome likely decided by which team defends the run better. The pick there is Forest Lake, 35-28.

White Bear Lake (3-0) hosts East Ridge (2-1) in a test of the Bears' first 3-0 start in more than 25 years. East Ridge is expected to challenge White Bear Lake at the line of scrimmage, and the pick is East Ridge, 21-10. In a long-standing rivalry, Simley (2-1) visits South St. Paul (3-0) in a game with major implications for the top seed in Class 4A, Section 3. Christian Urbina has directed Simley's passing game well, while South St. Paul counters with running backs Matthew Jackson and Tyler Berchtold. The pick is South St. Paul, 28-24.

Mounds View (2-1) travels to Stillwater (1-2) in a matchup of defense-first teams still seeking offensive consistency, with both relying heavily on their quarterbacks in the running game. The turnover battle should be decisive, and Mounds View is the pick, 17-14. Apple Valley (2-1) visits Hastings (3-0) in a wide-open Class 5A, Section 3 race. Apple Valley beat Two Rivers behind Jackson Cozy's 121-yard rushing performance, though Two Rivers itself averaged eight yards per carry, which raises questions about slowing Hastings standout Zach Shatek. Hastings is the pick, 24-17.

The slate closes in Wisconsin, where New Richmond (5-0) visits River Falls (3-2) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in a meeting of the two unbeaten teams in Big Rivers Conference play. River Falls has improved dramatically since a sluggish nonconference schedule and played strong defense lately, but common opponents favor New Richmond, the pick at 14-7. A New Richmond win would give the Tigers firm control of the conference race.