Moorhead’s march toward a Class 6A title may now come with a major question hanging over it: how much can the top-ranked Spuds do without David Mack?
The senior wide receiver suffered a potentially season-ending injury in Friday’s 64-29 first-round playoff win over Coon Rapids, according to the Star Tribune. The severity of the injury has not been disclosed.
Mack left in the first half with what appeared to be an upper-body injury and never returned. The Star Tribune reported that he remained in the game for a stretch before asking to come out.
Even in limited action, Mack still made his mark. He hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jett Feeney, a score that broke Joe Mauer’s top-classification record for touchdown passes in a season.
Mack later added a 15-yard touchdown catch to help push Moorhead to a 14-0 lead. He finished with five receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
The numbers behind Mack’s season are eye-popping. He leads Minnesota with 24 receiving touchdowns and has 69 catches for 1,230 yards through nine games, according to the Star Tribune.
Last year, he set a state record with 121 receptions and piled up 1,607 yards and 26 touchdowns as Moorhead reached the Class 6A championship game. The Spuds lost to Edina 42-35 in a record-breaking Prep Bowl.
Mack’s production has made him one of the most coveted players in the state. He is the top-rated wide receiver prospect in Minnesota by 247sports.com, a three-star recruit, and the sixth-best player in the state in the Class of 2027.
He committed to the Gophers in March and is one of four Moorhead players in Minnesota’s 2027 recruiting class. He is also one of eight in-state commits in Minnesota’s 2027 class overall.
Moorhead, now 9-0, remains one of the top overall seeds in Class 6A and will host No. 4 Prior Lake in a second-round game at 6 p.m. Friday at Jim Gotta Stadium.
The Spuds should get another key piece back for that one. Leading rusher Taye Reich missed the Coon Rapids game, but coach Kevin Feeney told The Forum that Reich will play against Prior Lake. Reich, also a threat in the passing game, has 36 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns.
Moorhead will need others to fill the void if Mack is sidelined. Fellow Gophers commit Zak Walker, who also lines up at cornerback, has contributed as a receiver with 50 catches for 931 yards and 13 touchdowns. Drew Kessel, a three-star tight end committed to North Dakota State, has added 20 receptions for 277 yards and five touchdowns.
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