Page 18 Fall Football Preview • Friday, August 29, 2025 sunthisweek. com
Apple Valley Determined class of‘ 26 ready to lead Apple Valley School’ s move to new conference includes several new opponents by Dominic Bisogno SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The offseason has seen Apple Valley football emerge ready to raise the bar and challenge expectations for the Eagles, led in large part by exciting classes of 2026 and 2027 that feature a few future NCAA Division I players.
There is a special energy in the air at Apple Valley practices as the Eagles prepare for the 2025 season and head coach Peter Usset is the first to say that the class of 2026 is at the heart of it.
“ The seniors have really been a special group. Many of them grew up around here and they’ ve been loyal to Apple Valley, they’ ve played together since before I knew them,” Usset said.“ This group has really worked to be better on and off the field, and it shows. We’ ve got nine captains, a few college bound. … We put in so much, you know, that goes unseen or it goes unheard, and it’ s exciting. You want the best for them, and we’ ve been able to see them build to this point since they were freshmen.”
The Eagles had their fair share of fun in 2024, going 4-7 overall and making a run to the Section 3-5A championship game, where they lost a competitive battle to St. Thomas Academy, improving on their semifinal run in 2023. Apple Valley will look to improve on a slow start to 2024, in which they won one game in their first six games, doubling their win count in the post-season.
Usset explained that
Photo by Dominic Bisogno
The Eagles practice hand-offs and other offensive plays amid a busy day of preseason practice.
while 2024 showed growth, it was not truly a full mission-accomplished for the Eagles.
“ We were closer, but we didn’ t go as far as we wanted. It was a step closer to a section championship, but we still have that goal to achieve. St. Thomas Academy was the better team and that’ s what it is, they beat us twice last year. … We can think, you know, we made the section championship and so we can make excuses, or, we can find a way to maybe even accelerate the next steps and get where we want to be.”
A new year brings a dramatically new conference. The Eagles have moved from the Northstar East-Gold to the Northstar East-Maroon, trading the likes of Cooper, Tartan, St. Louis Park, and Jefferson, for Burnsville, Hastings, St. Thomas Academy, and Two Rivers.
Amid the changes, Usset felt that the new schedule was a good fit for the competitive journey Apple Valley wants to take on.
“ O u r schedule has changed considerably. We’ re getting more teams from our section,
Schedule
( Games 7 p. m. Fridays unless noted) Aug. 29: at John Marshall Sept. 6: Waconia Sept. 12: at Two Rivers Sept. 19: Hastings Sept. 25: St. Thomas Academy Oct. 2: at Burnsville Oct. 10: Mankato East Oct. 15: at Owatonna
Two Rivers and Hastings. John Marshall had a great year last year, they’ re always tough, well coached. Owatonna is always going to be Owatonna. They’ re always something to aspire to. Waconia is a good program in every sport. Burnsville had a tough year, but they have kids that can play and they’ re more in our area. … We’ re going to choose the harder route because we truly believe it is an avenue or a way to get us closer to our goal.”
Defensive depth and experience will be a major piece for Apple Valley. Senior tackle Joe Jackson is among the powerful crew ready to take to the line. Linemen Kirubel Teferi returns, alongside multiple experienced linebackers, plus center Matt Hesse, guard and tackle Oscar Agbemeple, and corner Lyman Myers, who started every defensive play in 2024 as a freshman. All-state sophomore Avery Buckner is a two-way player with high potential, as is Clifford Jones, last year’ s JV MVP.
See Eagles, 19
Photo by Dominic Bisogno
Linemen prepare to clash during an Apple Valley preseason practice involving both sides of the ball.