Page 20 Football Preivew • Friday , August 30 , 2024
IRISH , from 18
weightlifting meet last year and Pena Sanchez recently set a school squat lift record of 540 pounds .
“ The D-line is a strength , for sure , Wielinski said . “ They ’ re really powerful , really explosive .”
Although the Irish will have some new starters on the field for the Aug . 29 season opener at Eastview , Erdmann said the team has been putting in the effort to be ready .
“ We ’ re expecting some guys to have monster seasons where they can show people all that they ’ ve invested in themselves over the last four years ,” the coach said .
Girls flag football leaders
Men ’ s and women ’ s flag
football will be one of the newest Olympic sports on display at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles . In Minnesota , Rosemount High School head football coach Jeff Erdmann is one of the most influental proponents of girls flag football . He started a league at the high school in 2021 .
By 2024 , Rosemount ’ s girls were playing in a league against teams from other communities . This summer the Irish were 12- 0 , won the Southeast Minnesota Football League regular-season and playoff championships , and played at US Bank Stadium at halftime of the Vikings ’ preseason game against Las Vegas on Aug . 10 .
“ Before Title IX in the ’ 70s girls weren ’ t allowed to play sports , and it ’ s atrocious that we did not allow them to have those opportunities ,” Erdmann said . “ Now they have the opportunity . Why wouldn ’ t we embrace that like crazy ?
“ The girls are part of our booster club program . They ’ re on our website . They ’ re part of Rosemount football . I ’ m hoping it will become a model and other communities will do the same thing , where they embrace football in general , male and female , and make them one program .”
Abby Essler , Taylor Krieg , Talia Vescio and Ava Kaspar , all of whom will be juniors this fall , were named to the all-conference team .
Mike Shaughnessy can be reached at mike . shaughnessy @ apgecm . com . sunthisweek . com
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Gavin Caswell hands off during a Rosemount football 11-on-11 drill . Caswell was an all-district quarterback last season despite missing nearly half the season because of an injury .
EAGLES , from 4
Class 5A , Thornburgh said .
Said McElroy : “ It ’ s all about the enthusiasm . I see people come out of our locker room ready to hit , ready to run , ready to get better , but also keeping each other up .”
11-On tournament
Summer football competitions aren ’ t a sure-fire predictor of success in the fall , but Apple Valley coach Pete Usset was encouraged by the Eagles ’ performance at the Minnesota Vikings 11- On tournament in July at TCO Performance Center in Eagan .
Each NFL team holds an 11-On tournament in the summer , with Nike as a co-sponsor . It ’ s a daylong event that includes position-specific drills for players , plus a 7-on-7 tournament .
Apple Valley finished second to Class 6A power Lakeville South in
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Apple Valley junior Quieris Barnslater was the Northstar East Gold District Receiver of the Year in 2023 .
the 7-on-7 tournament . “ There were a lot of good teams there , and I think we opened some eyes ,” Usset said . “ It definitely was good for our kids .”
The Vikings and Nike also made a $ 2,000 donation to the Apple Valley football booster club , to be used for program expenses .
Mike Shaughnessy is at mike . shaughnessy @ apgecm . com .
WILDCATS , from 8
foot-1 , 250 pounds ) anchors the offensive line and will see some time on defense , too .
“ I think we can be lethal with the guys we ’ ve got ,” Evans said .
Another key component for Eagan ’ s season will be confidence . Over the last several years , Dorsey said the Wildcats have gone from hoping they can win to believing they will win .
“ Last year we went to Lakeville South , one of the best teams in the state , and in my opinion we should have won the game ,” Dorsey said . “ We went in there as confident as anybody . That ’ s something Eagan hasn ’ t had for a long time , but we have it now .”
Tested immediately
The Wildcats won ’ t have to wait long to find out of their goal of becoming one of the top teams in Class 6A is realistic . They play at 2023 state runner-up Edina on Thursday , Aug , 29 . The teams also played in the 2023 season opener at Eagan and the Wildcats had trouble containing Edina ’ s passing offense in a 34-7 loss .
Mason West , a junior , returns at quarterback for Edina . Also back is one of his top receiving targets , Meyer Swinney , who has committed to the University of California .
“ Meyer is one of my friends , so it ’ s definitely fun to go against him ,” Eagan defensive back Adam Dorsey said . “ For our corners and safeties , I guess it ’ s an opportunity for greatness . It ’ s a big , big challenge , but we want to embrace it . When the opponent ’ s slinging the rock , that ’ s when I get to have the most fun .”
Mike Shaughnessy can be reached at mike . shaughnessy @ apgecm . com .