Page 10 Football Preivew • Friday , August 30 , 2024
Eastview
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Lightning believe their stock is rising
by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
A 4-5 record in 2023 represented progress for an Eastview football team that ’ s anxious to see what ’ s next in 2024 .
It starts with everybody understanding that the plan is to go onward and upward . At the end of the second day of fall practice , Lightning defensive backs coach Elmore Roundtree pointedly explained the intensity with which the players needed to approach workouts , and how motivation has to come from within .
That didn ’ t just come out of the blue , Lightning senior Kaleb Ngwendson said – it ’ s been a point of emphasis in the program since last season .
“ The coaches and the seniors , we realized we needed to up the energy we brought to each practice and game ,” said Ngwendson , an edge rusher who led the Lightning with 5.5 sacks last season . “ I feel like our energy was a little low last year . We ’ ve been working on that constantly .”
So far , so good , said Wade Buckley , who ’ s in his second season as Eastview head coach .
In the summer program and so far during fall workouts , “ I ’ ve liked the willingness to compete and put in the work ,” Buckley said . “ What I think we ’ ll learn at fall camp is not only who ’ s going to stand out and get the starting spots , but who ’ s willing to go the extra mile to really wow us .”
The Lightning have a
Returnees at key positions fuel Eastview ’ s optimism
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Eastview is looking to improve on a four-victory season in 2023 , which was the most games the varsity team had won in six years .
strong group of returning seniors , but several positions are available for juniors to come in and , as Buckley said , wow the coaches . One of them is quarterback . Quinn Curry , who was quarterback of last year ’ s junior varsity team as a sophomore , had the lead in the competition for the job as fall camp opened .
Seniors Ngwendson and Jack Bauer are expected to be cornerstones . Ngwendson ( 6-foot-3 , 220 pounds ), who is mulling offers from several Division I and Division II programs , played mainly on defense last season but is looking at an expanded role this year . For example , he ’ s likely to see some time on offense as a receiver .
“ I ’ ll be a utility guy ,” he said . “ The idea is to line me up wherever they need me – sometimes off the line , sometimes on the line . On offense , sometimes in the backfield . Kind of like a Deebo Samuel ( of the San Francisco 49ers ) role . Wherever they need me to be .”
Bauer ( 6-4 , 260 ), who recently committed to the University of St . Thomas , will be a two-way linemen . Also a varsity wrestler , he ’ s well suited for combat along the line of scrimmage .
Nathaniel Schneider and Ryder Repke , both seniors , are returnees in the secondary . The Lightning also will benefit from the return of middle linebacker Kye Brouchet , who missed the 2023 season because of an injury .
“ I watched all last
Schedule
( Games 7 p . m . Fridays unless noted ) Aug . 29 ( Thurs .): Rosemount Sept . 6 : Roseville Sept . 13 : at Hopkins Sept . 20 : at Buffalo Sept . 26 ( Thurs .): Burnsville ( 6 p . m .) Oct . 3 ( Thurs .): at Park of Cottage Grove Oct . 11 : vs . Lakeville South Oct . 17 ( Thurs .): at Eagan ( noon )
year and got ready for this year ,” Brouchet said . “ Our D-line is doing really great , and I think we ’ ll be strong at linebacker . The secondary is what we ’ ve struggled with the last few years . If we fix that , our defense will be on the path to success .”
Eastview also was having difficulty developing linemen , but Buckley said the Lightning are improving across the front .
“ If you asked anybody in Minnesota , except for maybe Eden Prairie , they ’ d say they ’ d take more linemen ,” the coach said . “ But we like our line a lot . We have some senior returners , some upcoming juniors , and some talented line coaches , too .”
On offense , the Lightning return Drew Bartosh , who led the team in rushing yards as a sophomore and scored three touchdowns . Most of last year ’ s receiving targets have graduated , but junior Taylor Seaton could be a big part of the passing offense
See Lightning , 20A
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Eastview goes through some 11-on-11 drills during the second day of fall practice . The Lightning opens its football season at home against Rosemount on Thursday , Aug . 29 .