Page 4 Fall Football Preview • Friday, August 29, 2025
by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Rosemount will be part of the Metro South district’ s rush... to rush.
Running the football never really went out of style in the district, but the ability to run – and stop other teams from doing so – is as important this year as it’ s ever been.
Lakeville South’ s success with the three-back Wing-T has been heavily chronicled. A version of the veer offense breathed life into Eagan’ s program. Farmington plans to switch to a run-heavy attack this year. Lakeville North had a 1,500-yard rusher last season. Shakopee and Prior Lake, both known to emphasize the run, join the district this year.
Improving the rushing offense is one of the priorities for a Rosemount team coming off a 1-8 season in 2024. The Irish believe they have the personnel in place to do it.
“ As far as the O-line, we’ ve had a couple new techniques that we’ ve introduced that are different from last year,” said senior Harry Estebo, a returning offensive lineman.“ We’ re going to a lot more of a triple-option midline veer scheme, and I think that’ s what a lot of the district’ s going toward. If we can be aggressive and good with our technique, we’ ll succeed.”
“ Running is going to be our bread and butter,” said senior Cash Talcott, another returning lineman.“ We’ re going to be a run-first team. We want our identity to be the most physical, downhillrunning team. Right now, even when putting in a new offense, it feels fantastic.”
Irish head coach Jeff Erdmann said the changes Rosemount is making on offense aren’ t new as much as they’ re tweaks to schemes that have long been in the playbook. They also want to emphasize what’ s needed for a long playoff run, something the Irish are anxious to get back to after last season’ s hiccup.
“ We’ re tweaking some of our blocking schemes and how we call some of our plays,” Erdmann said.“ I wouldn’ t characterize it as a new offense.
“ In 6A football, if you
Rosemount
can run the ball and stop the run, you’ re going to have a good season. Everybody wants to have success at high levels, so they’ re all going to be focused on running the ball. You don’ t see a lot of teams throwing the ball all over the place in the playoffs. Now we’ ll just see who can execute better and who’ s more physical to be able to get it done.”
Last season’ s record was difficult to accept for a program that had reached the final eight of the state playoffs 10 times in Erdmann’ s first 26 years as head coach. But the Irish believe they have identified and are correcting the problems that plagued them in 2024. That season actually had a promising start, as Rosemount routed Eastview in Week 1 and had a 14-0 first-quarter lead over Lakeville North in Week 2. Then things went off the rails. Lakeville North came back to beat Rosemount, and the Irish didn’ t win another game. sunthisweek. com
Irish to meet challenge in smash-mouth league Rosemount looking to rebound from rare losing season
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
A Rosemount football player is fired up at the end of practice as the Irish moved one day closer to their season opener against Centennial on Aug. 28.
Schedule
( Games 7 p. m. Fridays unless noted) Aug. 28( Thursday): Centennial Sept. 5: at Eastview Sept. 12: Prior Lake Sept. 19: at Shakopee Sept. 26: at Farmington Oct. 3: Lakeville North Oct. 10: at Eagan Oct. 15( Wednesday): Lakeville South
“ In our conference the margin between wins and losses is really, really small, and you have to be disciplined and take care of the little things,” Erdmann said. Last year we lost four games we were leading in the fourth quarter, and that comes back to little things that we needed to fix. We’ ve been pretty pleased with our guys so far. It’ s been much better.”
Max Jones, an all-district linebacker last season, two-year captain and one of Rosemount’ s top returning players, said he has noticed a difference at practice.
“ Last year a lot of people weren’ t as excited to be at practice and bring energy,” said Jones, a senior.“ Then on See Irish, 19
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Players pay attention to Rosemount coach Jeff Erdmann during an Irish football practice last week.