Football Playoff Preview: Minneapolis South vs. Eagan

Minneapolis South (3-5, 3-3 Minneapolis City Conference) vs. Eagan (4-4, 4-3 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

-- Matthew Scott (Minneapolis South – running back)

Matthew was averaging 113.7 yards per game heading into last week’s game against Cooper, for which no stats are available. He had 172 yards two weeks ago against Minneapolis Edison.

-- Jaylin Bynum (Minneapolis South – quarterback)

Heading into last week’s game, the sophomore was 18-of-64 for 211 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions.

-- Mack Nelson (Eagan – running back)

Mack had just two catches for 27 yards, but both were first-quarter touchdowns that gave the Wildcats a 14-0 lead last week at Rosemount. The sure-handed Mack has just 10 catches on the year for a 20.2-yard average, but five are for touchdowns. He also does a nice job of blocking downfield.

-- Alex Mangan (Eagan – linebacker)

Alex had six solo tackles and two assists in last week’s win. He had 5.5 of the team’s 18 tackles in the opening half when the Eagan defense held the Irish to five three-and-outs. Rosemount then got a first down late in the half, but Grant Matthews recorded an interception on the third play of that drive.

TIGERS WIN IF...

They play perfect football in all three areas for four quarters. The Tigers, who have just 42 players listed on the varsity roster, have been outscored 163-40 in losing four straight, including a 57-6 home loss to 4-4 Robbinsdale Cooper last week. South’s three wins this season came against winless Minneapolis North (twice) and 2-5 Minneapolis Patrick Henry. South will likely have to keep extra defenders in the box to control the Eagan run game, and hope its secondary can successfully go one-on-one with the Wildcat receivers.

WILDCATS WIN IF...

They come out and continue to show the dominance that has been present the last two games; a and a . The Wildcat defense should have no trouble stopping the South run, after allowing less than 100 yards rushing to the Irish. The Drew Bauer-led Eagan offense is undoubtedly playing its best football of the reason, effectively mixing the run and pass to move down the field almost at will the past couple of games. As long as Eagan does not turn the ball over, this should be an easy win. Realistically, and maybe sadly, the main concern for Eagan should be nobody getting hurt.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE:

TIME: 7 p.m. Tuesday

WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, 49 degrees

LAST MEETING: N/A 

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 @ Mpls. North                  W 30-0

Fri. Sept. 9     vs. Mpls. Washburn         L 45-6

Sat. Sept. 17 @ Mpls. North                  W 24-18

Fri. Sept. 23   vs. Mpls. Patrick Henry     W 14-6

Fri. Sept. 30   @ Eden Prairie                L 62-20

Fri. Oct. 7       vs. Mpls. Southwest        L 28-0

Fri. Oct. 14     @ Mpls. Edison               L 16-14

Wed. Oct. 19 vs. Robbinsdale Cooper     L 57-6

Tues. Oct. 25 @ Eagan

EAGAN SCHEDULE

Fri. Sept. 2     @ Lakeville South    L 35-21

Fri. Sept. 9     vs. Wayzata           

Fri. Sept. 16   vs. Eastview           

Fri. Sept. 23   @ Apple Valley       

Fri. Sept. 30   vs. Bloomington Jefferson

Fri. Oct. 7       @ Prior Lake           

Fri. Oct. 14     vs. Burnsville          

Wed. Oct. 19 @ Rosemount          

Tues. Oct. 25 vs. Mpls. South