Prep Blog: Week 1, Previewing 'The Big 4'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – High school football players generally have a tough time sleeping the night before a season opener. This week, everybody takes the field as there are nearly 200 games between Thursday and Friday night.
Last week in "Zero Week," there were about 20 games including teams from Minnesota and Wisconsin. But this week, everybody is under the lights, and it's taking the field for that first game that makes summer workouts and the fall camp worth it. For teams that struggled last year, it's a new opportunity. For the traditional powers, it's the start of keeping that consistency of contending for a state championship.
There's nothing quite like the first week of high school football, and there's plenty of big match-ups across the state. We can only pick four to highlight.
Featured Game: Becker at Minnetonka (0-1)
There's a heck of a match-up Friday night in the west Twin Cities metro with a non-conference match-up featuring a pair of strong programs in their respective conferences. Minnetonka will be looking for its first win as it hosts Becker after losing to Hudson, Wis., 27-24 last week. It's our featured game for WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally.
The Skippers are coming off, by their standards, a disappointing 2013 season where they finished 6-4 overall and lost to Maple Grove in the Class 6A Playoffs. They lost three of their last four games to end last season. In last week's opening loss, quarterback Braden Sikes passed for 105 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Vance Barnes ran for 150 yards and a touchdown.
Becker is coming off an 8-2 season which included a 7-0 record in the Granite Ridge Conference. The Bulldogs will be led by senior quarterback Michael Veldman and a host of weapons. They're also led by legendary coach Dwight Lundeen, who always gets the most out of his players.
Minnetonka, being the bigger program playing at home, should have the edge in this one. It would be a big upset for Becker, but I'll take the Skippers.
St. Thomas Academy at South St. Paul (0-1)
South St. Paul will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start as it hosts St. Thomas Academy Friday night in a match-up of old rivals in the newly-formed Metro East Conference. The Packers are coming off a 27-13 loss to Chanhassen last week. They're led by quarterback Dan Pietruszewski, a dual threat to run and pass. The Cadets are coming off an 8-3 season in 2013 and a run to the Section 5AAAAA title game, where they were upset by Henry Sibley. They'll be led by senior quarterback Ryan Barnes.
Maple Grove at Edina
Edina hosts Maple Grove in non-conference action Friday night in a game between two teams that seem to compete for their conference title every year. Edina is coming off a disappointing 4-5 season last year where winning consistently was tough in a league of juggernauts. Maple Grove was one of the best teams in the state for most of 2013, finishing 10-1 and winning the Northwest Suburban Conference. The Crimson suffered a heartbreaking 24-21 loss to Roseville in the Class 6A state quarterfinals. They dominated most of their competition lead up to that game. I look for Maple Grove to come away with the road win.
Lakeville South at Prior Lake
The South Suburban Conference kicks off Friday night with a great match-up as a pair of Division I recruits will square off when Prior Lake hosts Lakeville South. The Lakers finished 7-3 last season and won five straight before losing to Osseo in the Class 6A state playoffs. Prior Lake will be led by senior linebacker Alex Hart, who holds several Division I football offers. The Cougars finished 6-4 last year and lost to Roseville in the Class 6A playoffs. Lakeviile South will be led by senior linebacker Josh Corcoran, who is committed to play football at Northern Illinois last year. It should be a great match-up between two conference rivals.
Tune into WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally at about 10:20 p.m. Friday as Mike Max and David McCoy will have all the action covered.