Ericson Saye, Fridley
Photo by Greg Smith
Here is a look at some storylines and newsmakers through five weeks of the Minnesota high school football season:
The fab five
1. Fridley on fire: The North Suburban Conference is home to many talented teams, and the battle for the conference title is fierce. One team making a bid for that title – and moving up the rankings in 4A – is the Fridley Tigers. After Friday’s 42-20 win over Irondale – a 5A team – Fridley is now 5-0. In the win, Ericson Saye ran 20 times for 234 yards and four touchdowns, and also threw a touchdown pass, a 62-yard strike to Jimmy Mirei, who also scored on a 37-yard run. Fridley has outscored opponents 152-51, and its defense has held teams under 10 points in three of five games, with one shutout (12-0 vs. Spring Lake Park).
2. Andover on attack: At 5-0, Andover is on top of the powerful Northwest Suburban Conference and ranked fifth in the state in 5A. Leading the way is quarterback Tyler Finnes, who has completed 101-of-150 passes (67.3 percent) for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns. Finnes has also rushed for 374 yards and five touchdowns and is the second-leading rusher on the team behind Brad Beeksow (403 yards, three touchdowns). Jason Schneider has 38 receptions for 565 yards and nine touchdowns, while Zach Nelson (17 catches, 265 yards, three touchdowns) and Chase Vasquez (26/222/4) are also reliable targets for a Huskies team that is averaging 38.4 points per game heading into Friday’s game against Anoka.
3. Speaking of offense: Andover isn’t the only team in the NW Suburban putting up some awesome offensive numbers. Three of the teams average over 30 points per game, and five others average over 20. The teams include Andover (38.4), Centennial (36.8), Blaine (35.4), Osseo (29.4), Champlin Park (29), Maple Grove (26), Coon Rapids (21.2) and Elk River (20.4).
4. Milestone for Murphy? Nicollet head coach Tom Murphy will go for his 100th career win Friday when his Raiders (4-1) host Alden-Conger (3-2) in 9-man football action. Murphy has led Nicollet to the Prep Bowl twice, and again has his team in contention for the Southern Confederacy Conference title this season. Wayzata head coach Brad Anderson went over 100 wins earlier this season, while Terry Ogorek of Kittson Count Central went over 200 wins. Wayzata is the top-ranked team in 5A and KCC the top-ranked team in 9-man.
5. Mahtomedi/St.Thomas Academy on collision course – sort of: Mahtomedi is 5-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class 4A. St. Thomas Academy is 5-0 and ranked No. 4 in 4A. Both teams are members of the Classic Suburban Conference, and battling for the conference title. The only problem is, the two won’t be able to decide it on the field, as the two schools don’t play each other this year.
Three to watch
1. Haini MoiMoi, Mahtomedi: Speaking of Mahtomedi, one key to its success has been the running of MoiMoi. He has run 56 times for 419 yards and four touchdowns this season. Last Friday in a 31-0 drubbing of Simley, MoiMoi scored on touchdown runs of 49 and 66 yards.
2. Kasson-Mantorville: Ranked No. 5 in the state in 3A, KM is averaging 47 points a game. In a 56-14 win over Lake City on Friday, the KoMets ran for 410 total yards. Leading the way was Cameron Ruehmann, who ran for 149 yards – on eight carries – and scored on runs of 10, 31 and 27 yards – all in the first quarter. KM plays Cannon Falls (4-1) in a Hiawatha Valley League game Friday.
3. Wayzata: The Trojans are arguably the best team in the state, and if you have a chance to check out a game involving Brad Anderson’s team, you will see a team that can do it all. Wayzata, ranked No. 1 in the state, pounded Hopkins, the state’s No. 4-ranked team last week, 35-14. Five different players scored touchdowns in that win, and with quarterback Sasha Doran leading the offense and linebacker A.J. Tarpley the defense, the Trojans are looking to make another serious run at a trip to the Metrodome for the Prep Bowl.
Two hot to handle
1. Antonio Ford, Coon Rapids: Ford set a Coon Rapids record with 368 yards rushing in a 41-12 win over Elk River. Ford ran the ball 40 times and scored five touchdowns in the win. He has plenty of time to try to break the career record, as well – as Ford is only a sophomore.
2. Mark Alt, Cretin-Derham Hall: One of the top quarterbacks – if not the top – in the state, Alt was clicking on all cylinders in a 42-0 win over Park Cottage Grove last week. Alt ran for a 5-yard score and tossed three touchdown passes (of 27, 4 and 11 yards) in the win. Alt has thrown for 979 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He leads the Raiders, ranked No. 3 in the state, against Stillwater, ranked No. 4, in a key Suburban East Conference game Friday night.
Inside the numbers
815 - The number of yards Marquise Hinton of Concordia Academy has rushed for this season.
94 – The longest touchdown run of the year for Hinton, who has eight touchdowns this year.
88 – The number of tackles by Sonny Eisenhuth of Houston – tops in the state through five weeks.
3 – The number of Suburban East Conference teams ranked in the top 10 in 5A, Minnesota’s large-school class. In addition to Cretin and Stillwater, Mounds View is ranked No. 9. Cretin faces Stillwater on Friday and Mounds View the next week.
1 – The number of games Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson served as honorary head coach of the Eagan football team. Peterson attended the Lake Conference game between Eagan and Eden Prairie as the honorary head coach of the Wildcats. It wasn’t enough, though, as Eden Prairie won 17-7.
