Despite changes, the games go on in Minnesota football

Conference realignment has changed the Twin Cities football landscape, but it hasn't changed the game on the field.

By
Sep 2, 2010, 10:18am
Those reading schedules, previews and headlines related to the 2010 Minnesota high school football season are finding the usual stuff this time of year. Player and team profiles, news and notes on rising stars, teams to watch and games that matter most.

With the season kicking off Thursday and the rest of the state opening Friday, anticipation and excitement is high — even if some people are still confused about all the changes taking place.

Because of realignment, 18 teams are now in new conferences. The biggest change comes in the South and West metro. The once mighty Lake Conference has been disbanded and the longtime power that has dominated that conference in football — Eden Prairie — now finds itself in a conference with former classic Lake powers Wayzata (Plymouth), Minnetonka, Hopkins (Minnetonka) and Edina, in what is a small but powerful group of the big school football elite.

As for the old Lake Conference members? They now play in what is called the South Suburban Conference. Teams in that conference include Apple Valley, Lakeville South, Lakeville North, Rosemount, Eastview (Apple Valley), Burnsville, Eagan, Kennedy (Bloomington), Jefferson (Bloomington) and Prior Lake. Prior Lake is the newcomer in this group, moving over from the Missota Conference.

Other moves include these: Chanhassen and Chaska are now in the Missota Conference, Hutchinson is in the Wright County Conference and Robbinsdale Armstrong (Plymouth) is now in the Northwest Suburban Conference.

Also adding intrigue to the new alignment is the developments at Concordia Academy (Roseville). St. Bernard's High School closed last spring and 15 players from a talented St. Bernard's team have now joined forces at Concordia, providing another team with high hopes in the tough Tri-Metro Conference. In the North Suburban Conference, the title race is wide open, especially since longtime power and 2009 4A state champ Totino-Grace (Fridley) won't be playing enough conference games to qualify for the conference title. There is no doubt, this is a season of change.

Through it all, players and coaches have been going about their business as usual, leaving the changes to the administrators and athletic directors. What they care about most is the chance to get on the field and play some football. That being said, here is a look at some of those teams, names and games to watch opening week 2010:

Glencoe-Silver Lake (Glencoe): Panthers on the Prowl
While Eden Prairie gets the headlines when it comes to big school powers, there may not be another program that is as perennially powerful as 3A GSL. The Panthers went 13-1 last season, losing to New London-Spicer (New London) in the 2009 Prep Bowl. One reason for optimism is quarterback Kyler Anderson, a team leader who passed for 10 touchdowns and ran for four last year. Another reason is Trevor Lueders, an anchor to a Panthers defense that is always among the best in the state. Another reason for optimism? The Panthers have been to the Prep Bowl seven times since 2000. GSL opens the season Sept. 3 at Orono (Long Lake).

Highland Park (St. Paul) Pride
Highland Park was in a three-way tie for the St. Paul City Conference title last year, and all signs point to the Scots being in contention in the City Conference this year. They return the 2009 Conference Player of the Year in quarterback Max Elliott and a running back who can't be caught in the open field in Myint Maung, who was third in the state in the 100-meter dash last spring and romped for more than 1,400 yards of total offense in 2009. The Scots return 12 starters, but are unproven up front and that will determine just how successful coach Dave Zeitchick's team can be. The Scots open the season Sept. 2 at Winona.

New coach at Academy of Holy Angels (Richfield)
Ray Betton is home. The former Holy Angels assistant is back to lead the Stars, one year after coaching at East Ridge (Woodbury), a 5A school playing in its first year as a new school. Betton left Holy Angels to coach at Simley (Inver Grove Heights) prior to heading to East Ridge and quickly turned the Spartans into a winner, claiming two Classic Suburban Conference titles in the process. Betton takes over a Holy Angels team led by quarterback Matt Workman and running back Will Pagel on offense, and linebackers Dylan Boerboom and Charlie Haben on defense. When Betton took over Simley, the Spartans were a bottom-rung team in a tough conference. Now Betton takes over a Holy Angels team that appears to be in the middle of the pack. The Missota Conference is tough, but Betton's boys should be ready for the task - if not now, by season's end.

South Side Story: Who Will Step Up?
Eden Prairie's move is Rosemount's gain. Or maybe Eagan's. Or is Lakeville North or South? Or perhaps Eastview or Burnsville? The bottom line is this: With Eden Prairie on to a new conference, the race for the South Suburban Conference title is wide open. One team to watch: Eagan. The Wildcats return one of the top quarterbacks in the Metro in James Parsons, loads of talent on defense, and a bitter taste in their mouth from last year's last-second playoff loss to eventual big school state champion Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul). Can that all be enough to fuel the fire? Eagan opens the season with a big test - at home against Lakeville South Sept. 3. Then again, when it comes to the South Suburban, every game is a big test in this new – but still tough – conference.

Who Will Surprise?
Every year teams exceed expectations. For some that means emerging as a conference champion or title contender. For some, that means a winning record, or finishing .500. Who are some of those teams who could be in the mix for some big things this season? There are many, including:

South St. Paul: The Packers quietly went 7-4 last season and have an offensive line with more than 820 pounds of mass (Ryan Boelter, Nick Parker, Sam Smith). Translation: Run to win.

Chisago Lakes Area (Lindstrom): The Wildcats were 4-6 last season, but with 13 starters back head coach Bill Weiss and crew are looking for big things in the North Suburban.

Becker: The Bulldogs were an uncharacteristic 4-6 last season. With the electrifying Johnny Benson back at quarterback and Dwight Lundeen still coaching, don't expect it to happen again this year.

Andover, Anoka, Armstrong, Blaine, Centennial (Circle Pines): This list includes nothing but talented Northwest Suburban Conference teams, but the fun part will be watching which team emerges in this powerhouse conference that has two of the state's top quarterbacks - Andover's Tyler Finnes and Blaine's Eric Kline.

That list doesn't even include Osseo, which could have one of the best offenses in the state, led by all-everything wide receiver Jameer Jackson, the best receiver in the Metro.

5 Games to Watch Opening Week
Centennial at Andover, Sept. 2
Irondale (New Brighton) at Spring Lake Park, Sept. 2
Minnetonka at Totino Grace, Sept. 2
Cambridge-Isanti (Cambridge) at Buffalo, Sept. 3
Forest Lake at Cretin-Derham Hall, Sept. 3

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