Page 16 Fall Football Preview • Friday, August 29, 2025
Burnsville
sunthisweek. com
Switch to Class 5A could energize program
by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
A new slate of opponents has added some excitement to Burnsville’ s football practices – and given the Blaze a ray of hope.
It’ s no secret that Burnsville High School found it increasingly difficult to compete with the top Class 6A schools. Last year the Blaze went 0-9 and played their final two games against two of the best teams in the enrollment class, Lakeville North and Maple Grove. Burnsville lost both by a combined 97-6. The Maple Grove game was in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs and was a step on the Crimson’ s path to the state championship.
Burnsville, however, won’ t have to play another Class 6A school for at least two years, if not longer. When the Minnesota State High School League announced new section assignments last spring, the Blaze were re-classified as a Class 5A school for football. They were sent to a new sub-district( Northstar East Maroon), and all their regular season opponents will be Class 5A schools.
Blaze coach Vince Varpness believes Class 5A will be a better competitive fit. Demographically, he said, Burnsville has more in common with Class 5A schools than Class 6A schools.
As for the players,“ it feels like a new start,” said junior defensive back / wide receiver Tommy Subah, one of Burnsville’ s cap-
Stadium. tains.
“ I’ m excited,” said junior offensive lineman Sam Liebl, also a captain.“ I think we have a good shot to beat a lot of the teams on our schedule.”
But just because Burnsville has moved to Class 5A doesn’ t mean the Blaze is being handed a plate full of cupcakes. The first three regular-season opponents( Robbinsdale Armstrong, Chanhassen and St. Thomas Academy) reached at least the quarterfinals in last year’ s Class 5A playoffs. In Week 4, Burnsville plays Two Rivers, which was 8-1 last year.
“ They wanted to make sure they gave us a really good challenge, and they sure did,” Varpness said.“ But I like it because, with us not being in 5A before,
Blaze expect to be deeper, faster than in the past
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Burnsville players work on agility during the first week of fall football practice. The Blaze’ s season opener is against Robbinsdale Armstrong on Aug. 28 at Bob Pates
we’ ll get to see the best teams. It’ s an opportunity for us to learn and grow.”
The Blaze expect to play a lot of underclassmen, but Varpness said the roster is as strong as Burnsville’ s had in a while.
“ We have enough depth now where we don’ t have to play guys two ways as much as we had to before,” Varpness said.“ We’ re at a point now where we can have guys specialize on offense or defense. And it’ s a really good group as far as love for football, listening skills and study skills.”
“ I’ ve seen a lot of laserfocused people,” said senior running back / defensive back Caleb Kamara, one of the team’ s captains.“ Everyone’ s locked in, everybody’ s down for what we’ re trying to be. It shows on the field when we’ re
Schedule
( Games 7 p. m. Fridays unless noted) Aug. 28( Thursday): Robbinsdale Armstrong, 6 p. m. Sept. 5: at Chanhassen, 7 p. m. Sept. 12: at St. Thomas Academy, 6 p. m. Sept. 19: Two Rivers, 5 p. m. Sept. 26: at Waconia, 7 p. m. Oct. 2( Thursday): Apple Valley, 6 p. m. Oct. 9( Thursday): at Hastings, 6:30 p. m. Oct. 15( Wednesday): Tartan, 6 p. m.
progressing to where we want to be to win some football games this year.”
The Burnsville coaches had a bit of a dilemma as fall practices began, but it’ s one they didn’ t mind sorting out – how to deploy the Blaze’ s team speed. The team has a number of players who can run, including Subah, Kamara, wide receiver / defensive back Keon Lloyd and receiver Joaquin Brown.
Kamara, also an accomplished sprinter in track and field, is in line to get some rushing attempts. Senior Landen Svendsen, who Varpness said has impressed the coaches this summer, is a running back and linebacker. Isaac Sczepanski, a junior, had some snaps at quarterback last season.
The Blaze return several offensive linemen, including Liebl, senior David Santos and junior
See Blaze, 17
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Burnsville players use weighted bags to work on conditioning in preparation for their season opener Aug. 28 against Robbinsdale Armstrong.