Page 4 Fall Football Preview • Thursday, August 28, 2025 sailor. mnsun. com
EDINA HORNETS
High-test offense balances passing, rushing
JOHN SHERMAN john. sherman @ apgecm. com
Now that Mason West has opted to pursue hockey rather than football after high school, it’ s full speed ahead for the Edina football team with West as the state’ s No. 1 quarterback.
The first week of practice was upbeat in the Edina camp at Kuhlman Field with West’ s passes hitting teammates in stride.
Anxious to catch many of West’ s passes in games this fall is senior Jabari Strader, who leads a group of able pass catchers that includes senior veterans Alex White and Sammy Stephenson. Senior halfback Chase Bjorgaard will add catches, mainly on screen passes.
While he didn’ t have as many catches as 2025 graduate Meyer Swinney last season, Strader may have led the Hornets in spectacular plays.
He intends to be West’ s top target this season.
“ Meyer’ s mission last season was to beat the defender across from him,” Strader said.“ That’ s my mindset this year.”
Asked about his individual goal for the season, Strader said,“ To be honest, I want to beat all of Meyer’ s stats.”
What is it like having West as his quarterback?“ Mason is good at everything,” Strader said.“ He has the ability to see the whole field and get the ball to his receiver quickly. Every day,
he shows what it means to be an Edina Hornet.”
The Edina arsenal this year includes not only a top quarterback and able receivers, but also Bjorgaard as a rushing threat. As a junior, he cracked the 1,000-yard mark and made many first downs in short-yardage situations.
Bjorgaard seems destined to be one of the very best three-sport athletes in the Lake Conference this school year.
He was the Hornets’ starting hockey goalie and starred in left field for the baseball team.
“ We’ ll be competitive on every drive this season,” Bjorgaard said.“ Our passing and rushing will be tough to stop. You always want to gain more yards than you did the year before.”
Bjorgaard concentrates on the sport that is in-season, so football is his focus until the time hockey season begins. Playing three sports is not only a passion for him, but also a badge of honor.
Edina’ s offense is projected to be one of the best in the state – the same as last year and the year before.
Defensively, the Hornets rely heavily on two key returnees, leading tackler Evan Gilder at linebacker and Sawyer Jezierski, the anchorman in the line.
“ We are all on board to help the team win,” West said.“ There is still a long way to go with a lot of new faces in the lineup.”
The Hornets finished
( SUN PHOTOS BY JOHN SHERMAN)
Jabari Strader of the Edina High football team concentrates on a catch before practice begins at the home of the Hornets, Kuhlman Field.
the 2024 season 8-3 overall. They made it to the State Class 6A Tournament before losing the eventual state champion, Maple Grove.
Edina played in the Prep Bowl in 2023 and lost a heart-breaker to Centennial 28-27.
Coach Jason Potts, now in his sixth season at Edina, has definitely raised the bar. This season, he is shooting for a third straight state tourney berth.
As usual, Edina has a demanding schedule. Moorhead is new to the schedule this year and will visit Edina for a 6 p. m. game Oct. 15.
Dates circled on the Hornets’ calendar are Maple Grove at Edina Sept. 19 and a pair of road tests that send the Hornets to Eden Prairie Sept. 12 and Minnetonka Oct. 10.
Eden Prairie is always a challenge with head coach Mike Grant in his 34th season.
Minnetonka was a Prep Bowl finalist last year and returns dynamic rusher Caleb Francois, the Iowa State recruit, who scored 24 touchdowns last season.
QUICK HITS
Head Coach Jason Potts Sixth Season
Last Year’ s Record: 8-3
Key Returning Players
Edina is more experienced on offense than it is on defense with the return of All-State senior quarterback Mason West and All-West District senior running back Chase Bjorgaard, a 1,000-yard rusher.
Add senior receivers Jabari Strader, Sammy Stephenson and Alex White, and the Hornets have the ability to score points in bunches.
West threw 37 touchdown passes to set an all-time Edina record last season. Defensively, Edina has two returning standouts, leading tackler Evan Gilder and the leader of the surge up front, Sawyer Jezierski, a University of Iowa recruit.
Edina has some rebuilding to do in the offensive line after losing last season’ s captains Ryan Zentner and Stephen Bunce to graduation.
Schedule
Aug. 28: At Hopkins Sept. 5: Wayzata Sept. 12: At Eden Prairie Sept. 19: Maple Grove Sept. 26: At St. Michael-Albertville Oct. 3: Lakeville South Oct. 10: At Minnetonka’ s Oct. 15: Moorhead, 6 p. m
Game times 7 p. m. unless otherwise noted