sunthisweek. com Fall Football Preview • Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 17
PANTHERS, from 8
got a lot of versatile guys,” Krolak said.“ Especially the younger guys – they can move.”
The roster’ s depth and versatility is the product of a culture than emphasizes competition, and not just on the field, the captains said.
“ Competition is really important here,” Carter Crawford said.“ Even in practice. Even before practice. Who gets their pads on the fastest? Who ties
COUGARS, from 6
A lot of guys are competing, and then( the coaches) have to figure it out.”
Senior Drake Fritz was the Cougars’ second-string quarterback last season and entered fall workouts as the front-runner to start. But there are others in the picture, including junior Gavin Stuart.
The Cougars start their season Aug. 29 at home their shoes the fastest? So we’ re not really worried about our schedule because we know we’ re prepared for it. Yeah, we have some tough games, but we’ re a tough team, too. And I want other people to know that.”
That schedule includes an opening night game Aug. 28 at Blaine, Metro South sub-district rivals Lakeville South, Farmington, Eagan, Prior Lake, Rosemount and Shakopee also are on the schedule, as is Champlin Park.
against Mounds View. The rest of the schedule is loaded with power programs and traditional rivals. But the Cougars’ ultimate goal is the same as always.
“ It’ s always going to be the state championship,” Kaleb Williams said.“ But it’ s also not defined by the wins and losses. You just need to win at the end of the year. If we can keep that bond on the field that
Making a postseason run is a priority. Another goal for the senior captains is to not lose on home field in their final high school season.
“ I love this place,” Randall said.“ I don’ t want anyone to come in here and ruin our night. So defending home field is big. So is fixing mental mistakes; we’ ve had too many of those. Once we get that done, we’ ll be set.”
Mike Shaughnessy can be reached at mike. shaughnessy @ apgecm. com.
started off the field, it’ ll allow us to go far in November.
“ It takes a lot of people stepping up. And I think there’ s a lot of people doing that, even if they don’ t get their names in the paper.”
Mike Shaughnessy can be reached at mike. shaughnessy @ apgecm. com.
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
A crab-walking drill tests Burnsville’ s football players at the end of a practice session.
BLAZE, from 16
Taveinn Wolf-Bryant.
Burnsville’ s players have spent a lot of time studying Robbinsdale Armstrong, their first opponent Aug. 28 at Bob Pates Stadium. Armstrong was 10-1 last season, with the only loss 17-14 against an Alexandria team that reached the Prep Bowl.
They’ ve spent a similar amount of time working on their mindset.
“ We have to stay hungry,” Kamara said.“ Fight for every single rep in practice and every single snap in a game.”
Mike Shaughnessy can be reached at mike. shaughnessy @ apgecm. com.