By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
The 2008 Minnesota high school football season kicked off last week. Here is a look at the headlines and highlights, and a look ahead and what we can expect in coming weeks:
THE FAB FIVE
1. Receiving Record Broken: It only took one game this season for DeLaSalle wide receiver A.J. Barker to become the state’s all-time leading receiver. But it was the success of the previous three years that allowed Barker to break the previous state record of 3,362 career receiving yards, set by Blooming Prairie’s Elliott Hrdina last season.
Friday, Barker had five catches for 122 yards in a 55-18 Islanders win over Brooklyn Center. That gave Barker 3,374 career receiving yards. Barker spent his first two years playing wide receiver for St. Paul Academy/Mounds Park Academy before transferring to DeLaSalle, a private Catholic school in Minneapolis, last year. Barker helped the Islanders finish as Class 2A state runner-up last season and has many more opportunities to add to his record this season.
2. Coaching Record in Sight: Speaking of records, two Minnesota head coaches are on the verge of breaking the current all-time record for career wins. That record is 307, held by longtime and now retired Cambridge-Isanti coach George Larson. Entering the season Verndale coach Mike Mahlen and Brainerd coach Ron Stolski each had 304 wins. After week one, the edge now goes to Mahlen, who saw his team defeat Brandon-Evansville 47-0 and now has 305 career wins. Stolski, meanwhile, stayed at 304 as Brainerd lost to St. Cloud Tech 47-14. Stay tuned.
3. 68 Straight: No, it’s not an elaborate play from a high school playbook. It is the number of consecutive wins Stephen-Argyle Central now has after defeating Ada-Borup 41-8 in the season opener. The nine-man power has won five-straight state titles and will look to add to the winning streak Friday against Climax/Fisher.
4. East Meets West. Or is it West meets East?: Either way, one of the biggest rivalry games of the week takes place Friday when Mankato East hosts Mankato West. East opened the season with a 28-14 win over Detroit Lakes, powered by Kenneth King, who ran 35 times for a school record 301 yards and two touchdowns. West opened with a 35-13 win over Northfield. Wide receiver Mike Richter led West with 10 receptions in the win, and will be featured again against the Cougars. West enters the game ranked No. 4 in the state in the Coaches’ 4A rankings, while East is ranked No. 9.
5. Rankings: Heading into Week 2, here are the top-ranked teams in the state in the latest coaches’ poll: Eden Prairie (5A); Totino Grace (4A); Glencoe-Silver Lake (3A); Luverne (2A); Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (1A), Stephen-Argyle Central (9-man)
THREE TO WATCH
Muresuk Mena, Simley: This quarterback led Simley to the 2007 Classic Suburban Conference title and was at it again Friday, leading the Spartans to a 45-21 win over Richfield. Mena ran seven times for 110 yards and a touchdown (40 yards), and completed 9 of 12 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown (34 yards). Simley running back Dustin McIntyre added 93 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Simley gets a test Friday when it plays at Saint Thomas Academy, ranked No. 5 in the state in 4A.
Woodbury: The Royals pulled off one of the bigger surprises of the opening night, defeating preseason Suburban East Conference title contender Mounds View 21-20. Woodbury trailed the Mustangs 20-13 in the fourth quarter before Bo Schiffler threw a 16-yard touchdown pass and converted a two-point conversion run to give the Royals the win. Tyler Wakasugi added 102 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the win.
Wayzata vs. Minnetonka: No. 3 Wayzata travels to Minnetonka to face the No. 5 Skippers in a key early season game. Both teams won their season opener and are 1-0 on the year.
TWO HOT TOO HANDLE
Averey Duncan, St. Bernard’s: Duncan was a force on both sides of the ball in a 26-13 win over Minnehaha Academy Friday. He totaled 341 all-purpose yards as he ran 21 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns (85, 3), returned a punt 80 yards for a score, made five tackles and intercepted a pass.
Greg Hynes, St. Louis Park: Hynes was a one-man wrecking crew in a 35-22 win over St. Francis last week. The junior completed 7 of 13 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and ran 23 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
472 – Rushing yards St. Croix Lutheran totaled Friday in its game against St. Paul Academy. Tyler Koseter ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns and Jeff Dubose ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
151 – Receiving yards for Minneapolis Southwest RB/WR Reggie Gandy in a 48-0 win over Minneapolis Roosevelt. Gandy also ran for 113 yards and totaled three touchdowns in the win.
95 – Yards on a kickoff return for a touchdown by Cretin-Derham Hall’s Tom Crosby that sparked the Raiders 35-19 win over Forset Lake. The score was 21-19 when Crosby took it to the house and gave Cretin the lead for good.
70 – Points scored by St. Croix Lutheran in that game against St. Paul Academy – they won 70-21.
37 – Yards on a field goal made by Simley kicker Nick Tinucci Friday in the Spartans’ win over Richfield.
4 – Lake Conference teams ranked in the top 10 in the state in the recent 5A poll. In addition to top-ranked Eden Prairie, the other ranked teams include Eastivew (No. 4), Lakeville North (No. 7) and Apple Valley (No. 10).
2 – Points given up by Saint Thomas Academy in a 42-2 win over South Saint Paul.
