With Blake moving up to Class 2A and Breck continuing to struggle after its top preseason ranking in the Class 1A coaches' poll, outstate teams have taken over the Class 1A rankings.
The list of top teams includes Warroad and Thief River Falls, who took over as No. 1 and No. 2 in Class 1A, respectively.
This matchup, aside from deciding the poll's top spot, has section and conference implications. Both teams are in the Greater Minnesota Conference and compete alongside No. 4-1A East Grand Forks in Section 8, setting the table for our Top Game of the Week.
Warroad has made the state tournament each of the past two seasons, including a third-place finish in last year's tourney.
Thus far, the Warriors (7-1-2, 3-0-1) are having another state tournament-worthy season. Warroad's lone loss of the season came to Lakeville North (4-3) back on Nov. 17.
For the Warriors, it's all about offense. Warroad is averaging more than seven goals per game this season, thanks in part to freshman forward Genevieve Henrickson, who has five goals and 26 assists this season.
The Prowlers (9-0-1, 5-0) also look the part of the state's top team in Class 1A. Thief River Falls is off to an undefeated start. Its lone tie of the season came to West Fargo (2-2) on Nov. 25.
The Prowlers will have had a week to prepare for this big-time matchup. Thief River Falls is coming off a 3-0 win against the Green Wave on Dec. 12 in which junior Hannah Magnusson scored two goals and an assist.