Page 8 Football Preivew • Friday , August 30 , 2024
Eagan sunthisweek . com
Wildcats recalibrate their goals , setting them sky-high
by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The first steps – becoming respectable in Class 6A football – were tough for Eagan . The next steps could be even more difficult .
Last season Eagan played three of the four teams that reached the Class 6A playoff semifinals ( Edina , Lakeville South and Eden Prairie ). Now , the Wildcats want to get to where they are competing on equal footing with teams of that caliber . It didn ’ t happen last year ; they lost to the aforementioned playoff semifinals by two touchdowns or more . But they at least understand what it will take .
If that sounds unrealistic for a team that was 4-6 in 2023 , don ’ t tell it to the returning players . Asked about the Wildcats ’ goals , senior quarterback Brooklyn Evans said , “ number one , just having fun . And two , we want to go play in US Bank Stadium . We have the talent , and we ’ ll put in the effort because ( the seniors ) want to leave our mark as we play our last year .”
Nick Johnson is in his sixth season as Eagan ’ s head coach . Most of the assistant coaches have been with him since he started . Johnson isn ’ t discouraging the talk about a deep playoff run but said the team is realistic about what ’ s ahead .
“ If I ’ m correct , we ’ re the only 6A team to never make the state tournament ,” Johnson said . “ So that ’ s a goal . Last year we won our first playoff game
in a long time . Now we want to win at least two playoff games .
“ We have a handful of guys who will be threeyear starters . We ’ re excited about that , and knowing the group we have coming back , we feel like this is a big year for us . We need to turn the corner .”
To do that , the Wildcats will need to upgrade a defense that allowed almost 29 points a game last year . They did hold Rosemount to a single touchdown in a Week 3 victory , but linebacker Christian Langhorst went out the following week with an elbow injury that ended his season . Langhorst was the Wildcats ’ leading tackler at the time , and the defense wasn ’ t the same .
“ With having ( Langhorst ) back , we ’ ll have
‘ We need to turn the corner ,’ Eagan coach says
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy
Eagan players waste no time getting to work on the opening day of fall practice Aug . 12 . The Wildcats play their season opener at Edina on Thursday , Aug , 29 .
a better middle ,” senior defensive back Adam Dorsey said . “ Then maybe ( opposing players ) will bounce outside to me and my guys , and we ’ ll be able to impact the game more .”
Langhorst said he ’ s returning to a group with a lot of potential . “ Last year we won our first home playoff game in who knows how many years ( the last time was 2014 ) without me ,” he said . “ The guys in our linebacker group , they ’ re still a bunch of dogs . Every single one of those guys could easily start .”
Schedule
( Games 7 p . m . Fridays unless noted ) Aug . 29 ( Thurs .): at Edina Sept . 6 : Rochester Mayo Sept . 13 : at Rosemount Sept . 19 ( Thurs .): Lakeville South ( 6 p . m .) Sept . 27 : at Lakeville North Oct . 4 : Farmington Oct . 11 : at Forest Lake Oct . 17 ( Thurs .): Eastview ( noon )
Another returning starter on defense is senior linebacker Bennett Larson , a three-sport athlete who was honorable mention all-district last season . August Bowie , also a senior , is a potential playmaker on defense .
“ We got a lot of our defensive guys back , which is huge ,” Johnson said . “ Our defensive staff has worked their tails off to help them get smarter , and now it ’ s
An Eagan running back turns upfield during practice Aug . 12 .
just a matter of finding the right guys and getting them in the right positions .”
Johnson has said the Eagan offense is designed to pick up 3 or 4 yards at a time , to control the ball and clock . This year ’ s team , however , has several people capable of making explosive plays – starting with Evans , a quarterback with sprinter ’ s speed ( he ran in the state track and field meet in June ). After splitting time at quarterback the last two seasons , it ’ s his opportunity to take the offense and run with it .
Running backs Tate Gage and Madden Ison ( another track and field athlete ) also return . Threeyear starter Cole Will ( 6-
See Wildcats , 20A
Photo by Mike Shaughnessy