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Sports

South Suburban Conference Football Preview

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming SSC football season.

Rosemount is the defending undefeated section champion and 2010 Class 5A runner-up, but Lakeville South behind star quarterback Mitch Leidner may be the team to beat in a very competitive South Suburban Conference this fall. 

Teams to watch:

-Several coaches tabbed Lakeville South (8-4 last year) as the team to beat this season. The Cougars have 11 returning starters coming back from last year’s 8-4 team including University of Minnesota recruit Mitch Leidner at quarterback. The Cougars have five starters back on offense, six on defense. Help also arrives from a JV team that was 7-1 last season. Strengths should be team speed, quarterback play, running back and wide outs. The lineman have a lot of size but are relatively inexperienced.

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-Rosemount (8-0, 12-1) was the section champions and advanced to the state 5A finals last season and returns several key players. The Irish have been ranked fourth in one 2012 preseason poll. Rosemount returns two starters on offense, both linemen, and five on defense, three linebackers and two defensive backs. The Irish averaged 30.7 points per game, while allowing just 13.5 points per game, both league bests. Team strengths include good team chemistry.

-Eagan (6-5) Strong in the offensive skill positions with quarterback Drew Bauer (30 of 54 for 402 yards, four touchdowns), running back Michael Busch (37 carries for 190 yards last season) and several experienced receivers.

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-Lakeville North (7-3) returns veterans at several skill positions, including quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker. Thirteen starters returning. Team speed and experience are a strength. Team size and strength isn’t as a good as some. This team has the potential to be very good on offense and tough to score on. The Panthers have been to state twice in the last four years. “I expect to have a great year,” said coach Brian Vossen.

-Eastview (7-4) is always a tough team to play. The Lightning are 32-14 the last four seasons with two section championships and two runner-up finishes.

-Prior Lake (4-5) Several coaches are picking Prior Lake as a team which could surprise people this season.

-Burnsville (4-6) lost to Class5A runner-up Rosemount 42-14 in the Section 3 semifinals last season. The Blaze has standout lineman Chase Roullier to build around this season.

Players to watch

-Lakeville South’s Leidner, senior wide receiver Matt Heller (44 catches for 757 yards and five touchdowns in 2010), wide receiver/running back/cornerback Trent Bertamus and wide receiver Devon Bzoskie (41 receptions for 422 yards and four TDs last season).

-Burnsville senior offensive/defensive lineman Chase Roullier (6-4, 280) has been offered by Northern Iowa, Toledo, Akron and Mankato State. Roullier has been starting since he was a sophomore.

-Lakeview North quarterback Trey Heid (passed for 1,024 yards last season and rushed for 157 more) , wide receiver Charlie Hayes, linebackers Mitch Johnson (42 tackles last season, including 21 solos) and Austin Streit and center Mike Koloski.

-Rosemount senior linebacker Matt Larson (97 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, two blocked punts) and lineman Stefan Sauer (6-2, 275).

-Eagan’s senior offensive tackle Connor Randle (6-4, 260, offered by Northern Iowa) and quarterback Drew Bauer, receivers Mack Nelson, Eric Woodcock and Aaron Roundtree.

-Eastview all conference offensive lineman Zach Johnson (6-4, 290), running back Alex Suker (400 yards, including 150 yards on 10 carries in playoff game against Cretin-Derham Hall), quarterback Ryan Reger (976 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, 120 rushing yards and 5 TDs) and defensive back Aaron Wesser (35 tackles, two interceptions). Johnson has been offered by North Dakota State.

-Bloomington Jefferson running back Trey Blanchard (441 yards and six TDs last season).

-Apple Valley offensive/defensive lineman Zach Marten (6-2, 285) and defensive back Harry Sonie.

-Bloomington Kennedy running back Lexis Jones (183 carries for 1,075 yards in eight games) Pioneer Press All-State honorable mention pick.

-Prior Lake running back Jack Kaiser, defensive back/wide receiver Matt Arends (25 receptions for 396 yards and six touchdowns, 62 tackles) and offensive lineman Karmichal Dunbar.

Key losses

-Lakeville North all-star game safeties Al Erickson and Alex Frost and lineman Bret Piekarski.

-Eagan High’s all-time passing and total yards leader Jameson Parsons (267 of 444 for 3,480 passing yards, 4,661 total yards from 2008-2010) and receiver Matt Henges (13 touchdowns in 2010). Parsons was the South Offensive MVP in the 2011 high school all-star football game.

-Rosemount offensive lineman Joe Bjorklund (finalist for the 2010 Mr. Football award), quarterback Kevin Larson and standout defensive lineman Brandt Berghuis.

-Bloomington Kennedy all-star selection Josh Vaughan at running back.

-Burnsville two-year starting quarterback Cameron Jones and running back Charles Smith.

-Eastview defensive back/wide receiver Frank Veldman (also a finalist for the 2010 Mr. Football Award), all conference linebacker Matt Larson, senior linebacker Cam Cropsey and all conference defensive lineman Jacob Ulrich.

-Apple Valley place kicker Tom Obarski.

Toughest road trips

-Lakeville South at Lakeville North.

-Rosemount at Lakeville South.

-Lakeville North at Rosemount.

-Eastview at Rosemount.

-“Every one of them,” said Eagan coach Rick Sutton. “That’s just the way it is. It doesn’t matter who you play, every Friday night is going to be a battle.”

-Not road trips, but conference members Prior Lake and Eagan host defending state champion Wayzata the first two weeks of the season. The Trojans are usually tough to beat no matter where the game is played.

Preseason Conference Player of the Year

-Lakeville South senior quarterback Mitch Leidner (6-4, 220 lbs) completed 151 of 277 passes for 2,097 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Leidner was named to the all-South Suburban Conference team and Pioneer Press honorable mention all state team with a highlight of throwing six TD passes in one game. He’s committed to play at the University of Minnesota.

“He has a great work ethic and a really good arm,” said Lakeville South coach Larry Thompson.

2010 final standings

Conf. Overall

Rosemount: 8-0, 12-1

Lakeville North: 6-2, 7-3

Lakeville South: 5-2, 8-4

Eastview: 5-2, 7-4

Eagan: 4-4, 6-5

Prior Lake: 4-4, 4-5

Burnsville: 3-5, 4-6

Bloomington Kennedy: 2-6, 3-7      

Apple Valley: 2-6, 2-7

Bloomington Jefferson: 0-8, 0-9

Top 2010 postseason finishes

-Rosemount was the Section 3A champions and Minnesota Class 5A state runner up, beating Lakeville South (24-14) and Brainerd (28-14) to advance to the finals. Wayzata topped the Irish in the title game 31-14.

-Lakeville South (8-4) beat Rochester John Marshall 38-8 in the first round of the Class 5A, Section 1 playoffs, defeated Lakeville North 21-7 in the second round and slammed Rochester Century 49-17 in the third round before falling to Rosemount in the quarterfinals.

-Lakeville North (7-3) beat Farmington 39-14 in the first round of the 5A, Section 1 playoffs, and then lost 21-7 to Lakeville South.

-Eastview blanked both Bloomington Jefferson 12-0 and Bloomington Kennedy 20-0 in the 5A, Section 3 playoffs before falling to state runner up Rosemount.

-Eagan defeated Henry Sibley 48-12 and East Ridge 38-20 in the 5A Section 4 playoffs before losing to Cretin Derham Hall 23-14.

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