Chanhassen defeats Elk River in Minnesota high school football Class 5A semifinal: Live score recap

The Storm outlasted the Elks with multiple goal-line stands

Elk River plays Chanhassen in the 2025 Class 5A semifinals / Jeff Lawler

MINNEAPOLIS — How much can change in a year? Only a little, if you're Chanhassen and Elk River football. 

Last season, in the semifinals, Elk River defeated the Storm 21-19. Elk River blocked Chanhassen’s first PAT, which changed the math of the game in the Elks favor. 

This season, Elk River scored first, and Chanhassen stopped the Elks 2-point conversion attempt. Later, when Elk River took a 12-0 lead, the Storm blocked the Elks’ kick. 

“We knew it would be a really tight game, and we didn’t know which game was going to make the difference, and it turns out a blocked extra point did again,” Chanhassen head coach Cullen Nelson said. 

It was another physical, close game between the Elks and the Storm. This time, the results flipped, and the Chanhassen Storm (11-1) defeated the Elk River Elks (9-3) 22-19 in the 2025 MSHSL Class 5A semifinals on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Storm made two critical goal-line stands.

In the first half, Elk River quarterback Levi Harris ran to his right on 4th-and-goal at the 7-yard line, but he lost three yards. In the fourth quarter, the Elks trailed 22-19, and they were in the midst of a 20-play drive that took 10 minutes off the clock when Harris fumbled the snap for a loss of yardage. 

That forced the Elks into a 4th-and-goal at the Chanhassen 11-yard line. Trailing by three points instead of a tie game because of the missed 2-point attempt and blocked PAT, the Elks decided to throw. Unfortunately for Elk River, Harris threw it to Chanhassen defensive back Pete Vidmar in the end zone. 

“Championship teams make goal line stands,” Nelson said. “We’ve made a bunch of them this year, and it comes down to preparation and the investment of our players.”

Chanhassen scored a critical touchdown on the final play of the first half. With only seconds remaining, quarterback Nathan Ramler found Loghan Gustad for a 22-yard touchdown to cut Elk River’s lead to 12-7. Despite the clear passing situation, Gustad was wide open at the goal line. 

“We had some self-inflicted things,” Elk River head coach Steve Hamilton said. “When you’re in the state semifinals against a really good team, that’s hard to overcome.”

 The Elks were also nursing injuries in a season where many players missed games. Harris, who scored a 98-yard rushing touchdown in the first half, was limited in the second half.

“We didn’t have one game this year where we had everybody,” Hamilton said. “It felt like we were running out of Cowboys here. To get us to U.S. Bank, it shows how awesome these seniors are.”

Chanhassen will play Spring Lake Park (12-0) on Saturday, November 22 at 4 p.m. in the Class 5A Prep Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium. 

It will be the second state championship in three years if the Storm win. After battles with Elk River, they know how to execute in close games.

“I think that’s the biggest thing, being one unit instead of trying to be one player and make one special play,” senior offensive lineman Owen Linder said. 

• Minnesota High School Football 2025 State Tournament Brackets, Schedule (MSHSL) — November 10

Chanhassen defeats Elk River in Minnesota high school football Class 5A semifinal: Live score recap

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Elk River wins the coin toss and chooses to differ to the second half.

First Quarter Updates

Chanhassen receives the opening kickoff and will begin its drive at the 23-yard line.

FUMBLE BY ELK RIVER! Chanhassen punted after three plays, but Elk River return man Levi Harris muffed the punt, and Chanhassen's Alexander Bowe recovered it. The Storm will start a drive at the Elk River 38-yard line — 10:15 1Q

Elk River's defense holds. Chanhassen tried a screen play on 4th-and-11, but the Elks stopped it. They will take over at their own 25-yard line — 7:25 1Q

Chanhassen's defense stops an Elk River 13-play drive at the Storm's 11-yard line. Harris ran to his right, but he was met by multiple Storm defenders on fourth down in the red zone. The game remains scoreless — 0:23 1Q

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Elk River 0, Chanhassen 0

Second Quarter Updates

And now Elk River stuffs Chanhassen in the red zone on fourth down. After an 89-yard drive, the Elks stop Chanhassen's Kade Bush on a direct snap and run up the middle at the 1-yard line — 5:30 2Q

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! Harris gets to the edge and outruns two Chanhassen defenders for a 98-yard touchdown. The Elks try to run Harris again for a 2-point conversion, but it is no good — Elk River 6, Chanhassen 0 — 4:17 2Q

INTERCEPTION BY ELK RIVER! Elk River's David Balisidya jumps a route and intercepts a pass from Chanhassen quarterback Nathan Ramler. He returns it to the Chanhassen 49-yard line, where the Elks will start another drive — 3:14 2Q

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! Braedon Becker runs up the middle and breaks a tackle for a 37-yard touchdown. The Elks were called for a false start during a 2-point attempt, so they decided to kick a PAT, but Chanhassen blocked it — Elk River 12, Chanhassen 0 — 0:25 2Q

TOUCHDOWN CHANHASSEN! On the final play of the first half, Ramler finds Loghan Gustad for a 22-yard touchdown. The Storm drove 59 yards on five plays in 25 seconds — Elk River 12, Chanhassen 7

HALFTIME: Elk River 12, Chanhassen 7

Team Stats

Elk River
Rushing yards: 217
Passing yards: 0

Chanhassen
Rushing yards: 23
Passing yards: 114

Third Quarter Updates

The Elks receive the kickoff and will start their drive at the 35-yard line.

The Storm sack Harris on 4th-and-6 at the Chanhassen 38-yard line. They will start their drive at their own 45-yard line — 6:20 3Q

TOUCHDOWN CHANHASSEN! Graham Delger runs for an 18-yard touchdown. He burst through the line of scrimmage and met little resistance on his way to the end zone. Ramler then threw to Barrett Nelson for a 2-point conversion — Chanhassen 15, Elk River 12 — 3:54 3Q

TOUCHDOWN ELK RIVER! The Elks answer with an efficient drive. Becker runs for a 37-yard touchdown to finish a five play, 80-yard drive — Elk River 19, Chanhassen 15 — 1:30 3Q

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Elk River 19, Chanhassen 15

Fourth Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN CHANHASSEN! Bush takes the direct snap on 4th-and-1, and he runs up the middle for a 42-yard score — Chanhassen 22, Elk River 19 — 11:52 4Q

Elk River is in the midst of an 18-play drive, and the Elks have the ball at the 4-yard line. This drive has taken nine minutes off the clock.

INTERCEPTION BY CHANHASSEN! After Harris fumbled a snap on third down that moved the Elks back for 4th-and-goal, Elk River chose to pass it, and it was intercepted by Chanhassen's Pete Vidmar in the end zone. Elk River's 20 play, 74-yard drive that took 10 minutes off the clock results in zero points. The Storm will have the ball with 1:37 remaining in the game.

Chanhassen's Graham Delger rushes past the first-down marker, and the Storm will kneel out the clock for the win.

FINAL: Chanhassen 22, Elk River 19

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