Page 4 Football Preivew • Friday , August 30 , 2024
by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For a couple of years Apple Valley has flashed glimpses of potential that disappeared almost as quickly as they became visible .
The Eagles ’ football players are aware of that , too , and have been working to make the potential something sustainable . Returning players in key spots will help .
In 2023 , Apple Valley won three of its first four games but their goals of a winning record and state playoff berth ended when they lost five of their last six games .
The Eagles have built gradually under Peter Usset , who ’ s in his third season as head coach . Participation has improved , and they have gotten athletes on the field who in the recent past might not have considered playing football . Now it about instilling the commitment and discipline required to win .
“ Part of it is conditioning . The coaches ran us twice today ,” senior D ’ Vante McElroy , one of the Eagle defense ’ s leading tacklers last season , said after a recent practice . “ They ’ re holding us accountable for the small things , like ( wearing ) mouth guards . As seniors , we have to hold our teammates accountable for the same things .”
The Eagles expect to move the ball . Returnees include senior quarterback Jackson Thornburgh , beginning his third year as the starter , and
Apple Valley
Is this the year Eagles realize their potential ?
Pass-catch game should be an Apple Valley strength
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Apple Valley quarterback Jackson Thornburgh pitches to a running back during football practice Aug . 16 . This will be Thornburgh ’ s third season as the Eagles ’ starter .
junior receiver Quieris (“ Q ”) Barnslater , who was named his district ’ s receiver of the year last season . A beefed-up offensive line could help improve the running game .
“ We have pretty much the whole offensive line returning , so we ’ re really confident ,” said Thornburgh , who passed for more than 1,611 yards and 11 touchdowns last season . “ Our run game ’ s going to be better this year , and of course we ’ ll keep passing the ball .”
Why do the Eagles think the run game will be better ? “ The offensive line , that ’ s what the coaches say is going to be our winning package here ,” said senior Carter Lempola , an offensive line returnee . “ We ’ ve gotten a lot bigger since last year ; all of us have put on at least 20 pounds this off-season .”
Jaxson Gross saw playing time at running back last season . Senior Tylan Ward is a receiver and also plays in the defensive secondary .
Linebacker Derrick Whitley , McElroy and senior defensive back Kaine Larocque were the Eagles ’ tackling leaders in 2023 . Myles Matthies , playing defensive line , had three sacks and forced a fumble .
Although the Eagles limped to the finish last season , losing in the second round of the section playoffs , it didn ’ t seem to take the players long to be re-energized .
“ We turned in our pads
Schedule
( Games 7 p . m . Fridays unless noted ) Aug . 29 ( Thurs .): Rochester John Marshall Sept . 6 : at Mankato East Sept . 13 : St . Louis Park Sept . 21 ( Sat .): at Tartan ( 2 p . m .) Sept . 28 ( Sat .): Robbinsdale Cooper ( noon ) Oct . 4 : at St . Thomas Academy Oct . 11 : Bloomington Jefferson Oct . 16 ( Wed .): at Owatonna
the Monday after our last game . Then we were ready to lift ,” Lempola said . “ We all started to focus on Week 1 , ( Rochester ) John Marshall .”
“ A lot of people sunthisweek . com
showed up for lifting and the summer practices ,” McElroy said . “ The people who didn ’ t show up , you can tell in fall camp because they ’ re not starting . They ’ re messing up and not doing that well .”
The schedule will give Apple Valley a good opportunity to measure its progress . The Eagles play the same eight teams they played in the 2023 regular season , in the same order . The only difference is the teams they played on the road last season they ’ ll play at home this year , and vice-versa .
The postseason is where they want to see a difference .
“ I think we have a real shot at going to US Bank Stadium and hanging with those teams ” in See Eagles , 20A
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Apple Valley players go to work in preparation for their season opener at home against Rochester John Marshall on Thursday , Aug . 29 .