Page 14 Fall Football Preview, August 28, 2026

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by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The first year in Class 5A for Burnsville football didn’ t go as the Blaze had planned. They went 1-8 last season, something the Blaze players are convinced won’ t be repeated this year.

Why are they so confident about that? Let’ s hear it from them:

“ I think some of the losses we had last year showed us we have to be more disciplined, and then just believe in ourselves against those teams and compete,” said returning quarterback Liam Henke, a senior.“ Last year gave us a lot of optimism that we’ re a fit for 5A and we’ re not outmatched anymore.”

“ We learned that the teams in 5A are tough,” said junior middle linebacker Dane Classen.“ They’ re good competition. But they make more mistakes than 6A teams, I would say, and we can take advantage of those mistakes.”

“ We’ re more physical and mentally stronger than last year,” senior wide receiver and kick returner Alex Krumwiede said.“ I think we’ ll be matched up better against the 5A teams and we won’ t make the little mistakes we made last year that cost us games.”

“ We’ re senior heavy. Nothing to lose, so just put it all on the table,” said receiver and

Offense has potential to be explosive; defense expects to improve

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Burnsville quarterback Liam Henke looks to throw downfield during Blaze football practice Aug. 18. Henke is entering his second year as a starter.

seniors.“ This is the most talented and aggressive group I’ ve been around all four years of high school.”

“ Mindset is everything,” junior running back Brandon Nuessmeier said.“ As long as you have the right mindset, you can do anything. I think we have it, and I think this group is more dedicated than some of the classes I’ ve seen before.”

Schedule

Games on Fridays unless noted Sept. 3( Thur.): at Robbinsdale Armstrong, 7 p. m. Sept. 11: Chanhassen, 6 p. m. Sept. 18: St. Thomas Aca., 6 p. m. Sept. 25: at Two Rivers, 6:30 p. m. Oct. 2: Waconia, 5 p. m. Oct. 8( Thur.): at Apple Valley, 6 p. m. Oct. 14( Wed.): Hastings, 6 p. m. Oct. 21( Wed.): at Tartan, 6:30 p. m.

All of that sounds good to new head coach Ryan King, who was promoted in February after three years as the Blaze’ s offensive coordinator. He succeeds Vince Varpness, who stepped down after the 2025 season.

The players are confident Burnsville will prove it can compete with top Class 5A schools this fall. The schedule presents a challenge as the Blaze’ s first three opponents had a combined 27-8 record last season. But the roster has more athletes and experience than Burnsville has had recently. Ten starters return on offense and nine defensive starters are back.

“ We have a lot of guys who started in their sophomore year and are now turning the page and getting toward the back end of their high school career,” said King, who will continue to serve as offensive coordinator.“ Now they’ re providing super-strong senior leadership.”

The Blaze committed to using the weightroom to become better athletes, which probably has something to do with the head football coach also being Burnsville High School’ s strength and conditioning coordinator.“ The weightroom numbers in the off-season were tremendous,” King said.“ There’ s been a ton of buy-in since February, when the transition happened.”

Running back Caleb

Kamara, who rushed for 307 yards in one game last season, now is at the University of Northern Iowa. King said the Blaze still can move the ball but might have to do it a little differently. With Henke returning at quarterback and Subah, Krumwiede and returning junior Evan Sivongsay among the receiving group, the Blaze believe they can pressure other teams’ defensive backs.

“ I feel like we’ re very talented and aggressive, and when we’ re all on the same page we’ ll be dangerous,” said Subah, a Minnesota-Duluth commit who led Burnsville in receiving the last two seasons.

Taking over at running

See Blaze, 15

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

A Burnsville receiver heads to the end zone after catching a pass during football practice Aug. 18. The Blaze are expecting major improvement over last year’ s 1-8 record.