A high-level Thursday high school football schedule, a rivalry game and a Greater Minnesota clash draw prognosticators’ attention

The high school football weekend arrives early for only a few teams this week, but it’s a prominent group.

Three of the Thursday night games pit Class 6A teams, and four of the 6A teams playing are ranked in the state’s top eight in the class-by-class rankings released Tuesday. The 6A games on the Thursday schedule: No. 1 Edina at No. 5 Minnetonka, Prior Lake at No. 7 Eden Prairie, No. 6 Shakopee at Wayzata.

This all means the prognosticators’ week starts early, too. Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque have included a Thursday game among the ones they’ll analyze this week as part of their annual competition of picking high school football winners.

Each of them has missed only once in nine tries this season. Jim didn’t anticipate Edina’s victory over Eden Prairie last week, and David didn’t see Holy Angels defeating Minneapolis North the week before.

Their picks and analysis for three Week 3 games:

David says: Shakopee’s spread triple-option offense has already hit its stride. TJ Clark (269 rushing yards and four touchdowns), Carson Turner (117 yards) and explosive Christian Peris (107 yards at 26.8 average yards per carry) will control the game and give Wayzata fits. The pick: Shakopee 21, Wayzata 10

Jim says: Which Wayzata team shows up? The one that shut down Lakeville South in Week 1 or the group that let Minnetonka’s Caleb Francois and Chase Conrad run for more than 200 combined yards and three scores last week? Either way, the Trojans will have to show more offensive consistency to convince me they’re back for keeps. The pick: Shakopee 24, Wayzata 14