sailor. mnsun. com Fall Football Preview • Thursday, August 28, 2025 Page 15
BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON JAGUARS
Motivation is big for spotlight season
JASON OLSON jason. olson @ apgecm. com
One of the staples of a Jefferson home football game is the music spectacle from the Jefferson Marching Band.
After only knowing Bloomington Stadium as its home, the marching band will help christen the new on-campus stadium ahead of the home opener against Hastings on Sept. 5 at 6:30 p. m. It will be the first of just four home regular-season games for the Jaguars, who are coming off a 2-7 record under coach Marc Bachman’ s first season leading Jefferson.
The Jaguars ended last season with a 35-0 loss at Hastings in the Section 3AAAAA quarterfinals.
Those captains include senior lineman Gavin Grochow and safety / running back Abram Bruggeman. Grochow had 25 tackles, one for loss and one fumble recovery in nine games. Bruggeman rushed 40 times for 167 yards and one touchdown, and caught nine passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, he made 52 tackles, three for loss and recovered two fumbles. Bruggeman split offensive reps with one of the top sprinters in the state, Evan Feller, who ran 66 times for 311 yards and one touchdown. Feller was the leading tackler, making 86 tackles with 10 for a loss and two sacks.
“ Being a defensive-minded coach, I want to have my best athletes play defense,” Bachman said.“ Abe’ s a
Captains Gavin Grochow, left, and Abram Bruggeman
dynamic runner who is getting recruited heavily and is a committed leader. We’ ll see him in the backfield, split out and as an outside linebacker and deep safety.” Look for senior safety Carter Fleuchaus to build on the fourth-most tackles( 31) last season, tying classmate Judah Sorenson.“ Carter came on as a season went on as a starter who is always around the ball and is such a solid tackler.”
Look for Grochow to get a starting role on the offensive line to add to his role as a defensive end.
“ He rotated into the game as a sophomore and was a stalwart on the line now as a senior. He has the tenacity we need, and I couldn’ t see how we can’ t use him on both sides of the ball. He sets the tone and will be a major piece for both ways.”
Senior lineman AJ Johnson started as a defensive tackle. Still, given his quick feet, Bachman hopes to see him along the offensive line,“ especially in heavy packages,” Bachman said, as the younger students provide good size on the line for the future.
Senior Abdoulie Surwareh came out last season as a firstyear cornerback.“ He’ s a wirystrong kid, and he told me he likes to hit people, so we tried him out at defensive end, and he had four sacks. In passing downs, he couldn’ t be blocked, and now he’ s getting college attention.”
Dorian Ward Jr. started
( SUN PHOTO BY JASON OLSON)
at defensive end last season, where he had five sacks.“ But he’ s worked his butt off and is going to add in reps as a receiver.”
At quarterback, junior Ethan McIntosh, who was the junior varsity quarterback last season,“ brings a special skill set at the position and now works with a specialized QB coach,” Bachman said. He will be competing alongside Joe Moore, who completed his lone pass for 11 yards.“ Both have shown a lot of leadership and have a good grasp of the offense, which is dynamic. Both are passers first, but our zone read offense allows them to read the defense and play off
See JEFFERSON | PAGE 26
QUICK HITS
Head Coach
Marc Bachman Second Season
Last Year’ s Record: 2-7
Key Returning Players
Jefferson graduated its top defensive player from last season, Evan Feller.
Two key returnees give coach Marc Bachman’ s Jaguars some early-season stability.
Abram Bruggeman is a senior running back on offense and safety for the defensive unit.
Senior Gavin Grochow also has responsibilities on both sides of the ball as a lineman.
Schedule
Aug. 29 at Washburn 6 p. m. Sept. 5 Hastings Sept. 12 Cretin-Derham Hall Sept. 20 at Tartan 2 p. m. Sept. 26 Mahtomedi Oct. 3 at St. Louis Park Oct. 10 at Benilde-St. Margaret’ s Oct. 15 Kennedy 6:30 p. m.
Game times 7 p. m. unless otherwise noted