COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Six incoming Saint John's University football student-athletes participated in the Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game June 26 in Collegeville. The North team defeated the South, 25-7.

Centennial defensive lineman Zach Frank, Albany running back Nolan Rueter, Champlin Park linebacker Hayden Sanders, Hill-Murray offensive lineman Tom Soler and Albany offensive lineman Carter Thelen played for the North team. Litchfield quarterback Ben Alsleben suited up for the South team. Rogers offensive lineman Charlie Folkens was invited but elected not to participate. Alsleben and Rueter were named to the 2020 Minnesota Vikings All-State Team.

Two other incoming Johnnies, Bismarck Century running back Cade Garcia and Fargo Shanley quarterback Cooper Mattern, played in North Dakota's Shrine All-Star Game June 19.

The 47th annual All-Star game, sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, was scheduled for December 2020 but was postponed and eventually canceled. That is, until a group of parents fundraised and organized this edition to be held last week. The 62 players and coaches stayed and practiced at SJU June 23-25 before Saturday's game.

The six All-Stars and the rest of the SJU team report to Collegeville on Thursday, Aug. 12, with the first practice scheduled for the following day. The Johnnies begin the long-awaited, 2021 season against Aurora (Ill.) - a rematch of the wild 51-47 shootout win in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Division III playoffs - at 1 p.m. Sept. 4 in Clemens Stadium. The game will be SJU's first in 630 days and one of five at home out of the schedule's first six this fall.