ELK RIVER STAR NEWS SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 | 31

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Elk River, MN 55330.

ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter

Fall Sports Preview 2026

The Elks, who won the Class 5A state title two years ago, lost to Chanhassen in the Class 5A state semifinal last fall

The Elks enter the 2026 season with another experienced coach at the helm, but a number of new faces will have to develop quickly if Elk River is to make another postseason run.

The Elks’ bid to defend their 2024 state championship ended with a 22-19 loss to Chanhassen in the Class 5A semifinal Nov. 15, 2025, at U. S. Bank Stadium.

Head Coach: Steve Hamilton enters his 16th season leading the Elks. He began coaching Elk River in 2011 and has guided the Elks to Class 5A state titles in 2016, 2022 and 2024, as well as a Class 5A state semifinal appearance last year.

2025 record: 9-3, 2-1 in the Northstar-West-Gold district Key returning players: Senior running backs Braedon Becker and Carsyn Kleffman will lead Team 135’ s offense. Becker and Kleffman each scored 14 touchdowns last season.

Becker led the team with 1,321 rushing yards, an average of 120.1 yards per game. Kleffman rushed for 798 yards, averaging 66.5 yards per game. Kleffman also will lead the Elks defensively after recording a team-high four sacks. Key departures: Quarterback Levi Harris, defensive lineman Simon Bicek, defensive back Brody Thompson, running backs Jackson Freeman and Lars Nelson, and offensive lineman Will Brock are among the key seniors who graduated in June. Important games: The Elks open their 135th season Thursday, Sept. 3, against Brainerd at 6 p. m. at Jerry Schempf Field.

Hamilton said the Sept. 11 game against the Storm will be like any other game, but he wants to remind his players that life is sometimes bigger than football while keeping their focus on beating Sauk Rapids-Rice.

Commercial air travel in the United States was grounded until Sept. 13, 2001, in the aftermath of the attacks in New York, Washington, D. C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The Elks then travel to St. Francis for a showdown with the Saints Friday, Sept. 18, at 6 p. m. at St. Francis High School.

Elk River returns home

FILE PHOTO

Elks running back Braedon Becker fights off Chanhassen defender Logan Smith on a 37-yard touchdown run that gave the Elks a 19-15 lead in the third quarter of the Class 5A semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at U. S. Bank Stadium. Becker will lead Elk River’ s offense once again in 2026.

for its annual homecoming game Friday, Sept. 25, against Alexandria at 6 p. m. at Jerry Schempf Field. The game is a rematch of the 2024 Class 5A Prep Bowl. Alexandria defeated Elk River 52-16 on Sept. 19, 2025, in Alexandria. Elk River begins October with a road game against Cambridge-Isanti Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p. m. at Larson Field.

The Elks conclude the home portion of their regular-season schedule

FILE PHOTO

Elk River Carsyn Kleffman scores on a 60-yard touchdown, breaking tackles down the sideline versus Minneapolis Washburn during the Class 5A quarterfinal on Nov. 8, 2025, at Forest Lake High School football stadium. Kleffman is one of a few key seniors returning to the Elks for the upcoming 2026 season.