By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
The 2008 Minnesota high school football season has come to a conclusion. Here is a look at some season-ending news, notes and statistics:
The First Five
1. Mr. Football Finalists Announced: The 10 finalists for the 2008 Mr. Football Minnesota award have been announced. They are: James Peterson, QB, Blaine; Tydan Storrusten, QB, Pelican Rapids; Jake Gibbons, RB, Becker; Kurtis Huisman, RB, ACGC; Casey Dehn, OT, Owatonna; Cole Jirik, LB, Northfield; Brett Skoog, LB, Orono; Colby Ring, RB, Brainerd; Varmah Sonie, DB, Apple Valley; Anders Lee, QB, Edina.
2. Anders Lee Simply Awesome: Edina’s Anders Lee had a season he – and Edina footall fans – will cherish for a lifetime. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior, who was already a Division I recruit in hockey and is considering, among other schools, Denver, Harvard, Notre Dame and Minnesota, caught the attention of Division I football coaches with his 2008 performance. Lee passed for 2,007 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 1,100 yards and a whopping 32 touchdowns for the Hornets.
3. Garin Gets it Done: You could say Eastview High’s Matt Garin was the Anders Lee of defense. He filled the stat sheets in every category, and it’s no surprise the 6-4, 230-pond Garin will play for Tim Brewster and the Minnesota Gophers next season. Garin is third all-time in the state with 47 career tackles for losses, including 13 this season. This season he had 62 tackles, 11 quarterback pressures, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, three pass deflections and a safety.
4. Barker’s Big Numbers: DeLaSalle’s A.J. Barker finished his career as Minnesota’s all-time leader in receptions with 194. In addition, he ended his career with a state record total of 3,986 receiving yards and a state record total of 51 touchdowns for his prep career. This season Barker helped the Islanders to the Class 3A Prep Bowl and had 44 catches for 734 yards and 12 touchdowns on a team loaded with offensive standouts.
5. Johnson “The Man” at Mahtomedi: Stephen Johnson ran for more than 4,300 yards in his final two years at Mahtomedi, including 2,231 yards this season. He added 29 touchdowns this season as well for the Zephyrs
Three to Watch
1. Taylor Grant, Eden Prairie: The son of Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant, Taylor has another season remaining to help get the Eagles back to the Prep Bowl. Eden Prairie tied for the Lake Conference title this year and Grant played a key role in that. At 6-4, 230 pounds Grant did a little bit of everything, including pay quarterback and tight end, as well as work as the team’s long snapper. He caught eight touchdown passes this year and should continue to be a force heading into his senior year in 2009.
2. Jimmy Gjere, Irondale: Chichi Ojika of Irondale was one of the best football players in the state in 2008, and was a versatile running back and return man who scored 22 touchdowns. Playing a key role in breaking Ojika free many times was Gjere, a junior who was named the North Suburban Conference Offensive Lineman of the year. He has received interest from DI schools and could turn into a major recruit heading into his senior season.
3. Collin Wencl, Owatonna: Only a sophomore this year, Wencl ran 140 times for 1,081 yards and a Big 9 Conference leading 18 touchdowns (one shy of tying the school single-season record of 19). His 7.7 yards per carry tied the school record.
Two Hot Too Handle
1. Varmah Sonie, Apple Valley: If there was an award for Mr. Versatility, it could be Sonie. The senior was regarded as the top defensive back/return man in the state and had six interceptions this season. He had nine total touchdowns this season – more than many full-time offensive players. Those TDs came like this: Three on punt returns, three receiving two in interceptions, and one rushing. He had 18 interceptions in his high school career and an amazing 10 punt/kick returns for touchdowns.
2. Kevin Potas, Wayzata: The big-school state champions were led by many defensive standouts, including Potas, a top defensive end. The senior had 25 tackles for losses and an amazing 20 sacks on the season. He also forced four fumbles.
Inside the Numbers
1,809 – Rushing yards for Jared Van Dorpe LeSueur-Henderson: He totaled 2,108 yards of offense and scored 24 touchdowns. All were school records.
1,021 – Receiving yards for Hopkins speedster Marcus Williams. He totaled these numbers on 42 catches and averaged over 24 yards per reception.
263 – Career tackles for Ryan Wiener of Royalton. He also rushed for over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and ran for over 3,000 yards in his career for Class A power.
76 – Receptions for Mankato West wide receiver Aaron Richter. He totaled 1,226 yards and had 20 touchdowns for the 4A state champ Scarlets.
37 – Touchdowns Blaine’s James Peterson was in on this season. He ran for 19, passed for 18 and combined for 3,578 yards of total offense for the 2008 5A runner-up Bengals.
24 – Total touchdowns on the season for Matt Mithaugen of Fergus Falls. Mithaugen ran 195 times for 1,347 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 531 yards and seven touchdowns. Helped Fergus Falls to 10-1 record.
23 – Touchdowns for Nic Johnson of Litchfield, a new school record.
