Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 11.24.25
Monday and Wednesday Takeouts this week. Turkey is overrated.
The Maui Invitational was way more fun back when my bedtime wasn’t 9 p.m….
The Loons’ first trip to the conference final is on the line tonight when they visit San Diego at 9 p.m. I understand MLS wanting to play the game at a typical timeslot for the home team but…this is the lone game of the night. Playing at 10 a.m. eastern is a disservice to everyone BUT San Diego fans. Play the game at 6 local time, 8 central, 9 eastern, at least. The winner gets Vancouver in the one-game conference final.
One (or more) private school coaches in Mississippi should soon be without a job after one “shoved” an opposing player on the sideline of a championship game.
The Takeout loves multi-sport athletes - focusing on one sport just limits a young athlete. So it’s why we loved Edina’s win in the Class 6A Prep Bowl (did I just say I loved Edina winning?) Mason West, first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, is the Hornets’ quarterback. Running back Chase Bjorgaard, who matched a Prep Bowl record with six touchdowns in the championship game, is also the goalie on the hockey team.
Packers Overwhelm McCarthy, Vikings
If you’d seen enough at halftime and went outside to rake leaves like most of the rest of Minnesota, you didn’t miss much. Or maybe you missed a lot (of aggravation).
The Vikings weren’t very good in the first half, but they were absolutely woeful in the second half of a 23-6 loss to the Packers at Lambeau that ended any faint hope of a playoff berth.
Minnesota went around 75 minutes of real time without as much of a first down.
The Vikings’ five possessions of a second half that started with just a 10-6 deficit went as follows.
Three plays, -2 yards
Three plays, -12 yards
Three plays, -17 yards
One play, interception
Five plays, 26 yards, interception
And the worst play may have been on special teams, where Myles Price inexplicably let a punt go over his head and then raced back to grab it. The fumble left the Packers with an easy touchdown. It marked the second special teams gaffe in as many weeks, and you have to wonder if changes are coming to at least that portion of the Vikings’ leadership structure.
McCarthy went 12-for-19 for just 89 yards - he lost 25 yards on five sacks. I understand the desire to give young QB’s time to mature, but he is taking a step back each game of this season. But with an oft-injured offensive line, can you really throw Max Brosmer in there and expect much different?
Minnesota had just 10 first downs and had the ball for less than 23 minutes. This Vikings’ defense is trying so hard early in the game, but they just wear out playing 35 or more minutes each game.
The Vikings carry a three-game losing streak into Seattle this weekend. They’ll get an up close look at Sam Darnold, who will absolutely be playing with a chip on his shoulder against the Vikings.
Wild Gets Second Straight Shutout in Rare Win over Jets
The WIld’s defense is just like the early days of the franchise, only they’re scoring some more goals.
Jesper Wallstedt made 32 saves for the Wild’s second straight shutout, a 3-0 win over the Jets in Winnipeg yesterday afternoon. Wallstedt has three shutouts - he’s the second rookie goaltender since the NHL expansion in 1967 to record three shutouts in the first eight games of the season.
Minnesota beat the Jets for the first time in 10 games dating back to March 2023.
Filip Gustavsson had needed just 19 saves in an easy 5-0 win over the Penguins on Friday. The Wild is playing so well defensively, too, it’s just not solid goaltending. Minnesota has four shutouts in its last seven outings.
The surging Wild is up to third in the Central Division. Minnesota visits Chicago on Wednesday before hosting its traditional Black Friday matinee game against Winnipeg.
Wolves Cough Up Eight-Point Lead in Final Minute
The Wolves are 10-0 against teams with losing records, and 0-6 against teams with winning records. It certainly appeared they’d beaten their first opponent with a winning record on Saturday, until a stunning collapse late.
The Wolves led by eight with 69 seconds left yet somehow didn’t even get to overtime, with Phoenix winning 114-113 in an NBA Cup game in Arizon.
It was a wild game in which the Wolves actually trailed by 15 at halftime, only to take the seemingly insurmountable lead late. Anthony Edwards scored 41 points but missed two free throws to set up Collin Gillespie’s game-winner.
The good news it that the Wolves get the Kings on the road tonight. Minnesota is already 2-0 against Sacramento this season.
Gopher FB Wastes Lindsey’s Effort
For the first time in the P.J. Fleck era, the Gophers have an “elite” playmaker. But unfortunately, the defense isn’t up to snuff and it’s going to waste some great performances by Drake Lindsey.
Lindsey threw for 264 yards and four touchdowns, but the defense was torched for 525 yards in a thrilling 38-35 Northwestern win at Wrigley Field on Saturday.
The Wildcats led 10-0 early, but the Gophers got rolling and took a 28-13 lead early in the third. But Northwestern scored three straight touchdowns - the Gophers missing tackles all over the field - and eventually kicked the game-winning field goal with 53 seconds left to cap off a 7:27 drive.
Lindsey’s effort was even more remarkable when you realize the Gophers had the ball for less than a third of the game (19:12). Northwestern ran for 220 yards and threw for 305.
Minnesota can’t possibly lose to Wisconsin on Saturday (2:30 p.m. at home), can they? A win clinches a winning season. A loss, and the Gophers could still finish 6-7 by losing a bowl game. Minnesota will not win a road game this season.
Gopher Hockey
A step in the right direction for the Gopher men’s hockey team over the weekend, splitting with No. 5 Penn State at home. They won 3-2 on Friday, falling down by two goals and scoring three times in 6 minutes, 30 seconds in the second period. Mason Moe scored the game-winner.
It was a shocking weekend for Brad Frost’s Gopher women. Minnesota State, ranked despite going 0-6 againwst ranked teams and losing by a combined 32-6 score, beat the Gophers twice. Minnesota, which was second in the country entering the weekend, is for sure to drop at least one spot. They’ve got two weeks to think about this one before facing St. Thomas the firstw weekend of December.
Gopher Hoops
The Gopher men fell to 4-2 with a 77-65 loss to San Francisco in Sioux Falls on Saturday. They play at a tournament in Palm Desert, Calif., playing Stanford on Thanksgiving night and then either Santa Clara or St. Louis on Friday.
The Gopher women play South Florida in the Bahamas tonight, and either Harvard of Alabama on Wednesday.
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