Among teams generating attention this week in the high school football playoffs is Wayzata. The Trojans, who play Osseo at home tonight in a Class 5A semifinals section playoff game, started the season having to replace 10 starters on offense, but have “surprised” coach Brad Anderson with an undefeated record, 9-0.
Among the wins was a 9-0 victory over Eden Prairie, the only loss of the year for the Eagles. Fans can’t help anticipating a possible Prep Bowl rematch later in the month. Anderson said “we gave them some wrinkles” last time but he expects Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant to make adjustments if the teams play again.
Even if Wayzata wins tonight by containing what Anderson describes as an “explosive” Osseo offense, the coach probably won’t be ready to say this is his best team. The 2008 state champion Trojans averaged almost 48 points per game. “This team is not as talented but you judge a team by what they have accomplished,” he said.
Ron Stolski, the all-time Minnesota high school leader in coaching wins with 337, has Brainerd back in the playoffs. The Warriors, 7-3, play Moorhead, 5-5, tomorrow in St. Cloud. Stolski has five sophomore starters.
The 2-6 Vikings, with a bye this week, have lost five of their six games by seven points or less. The only one-sided loss was 39-10 to Chicago.
Adrian Peterson has only caught 16 passes in eight games, probably not enough receptions to maximize the team’s offense, although the defense dictates play selection. With eight more regular season games remaining, Peterson is first in NFL rushing with 798 yards. If he finishes with 1,600 yards it will be the second best total of his five-year NFL career.
Wide receiver Percy Harvin leads the Vikings in pass receptions (31) and receiving yards (334). Among running backs with 10 or more carries, he’s averaging a team best 9.4 yards per carry.
Included in the players who have made a favorable impression of late on Gophers coach Jerry Kill is wide receiver Devin Crawford–Tufts, a true freshman from Edina. Tufts has caught six passes for 132 yards, averaging 26.4 yards per reception. Kill has noted the 18-year-old’s willingness to learn.
“Well, he’s been a young man that has come in and ─ I mean, he’s done a heck of a job,” Kill said. “I mean, it’s like anything when he came in and he was like a baby deer, just learning how to do things. …”
Injured Gophers who won’t play in tomorrow’s game at Michigan State: Brendan Beal, Josh Campion, Jimmy Gjere, Eric Jacques, Marcus Jones and Troy Stoudermire.
An ESPN2 segment on Gophers football legend Bruce Smith is scheduled to air on Sunday about 9 a.m. Minneapolis time. The segment will be part of the “Outside the Lines” program.
Dick Jonckowski, starting his 26th season as the Gophers basketball public address announcer, recalled it was 25 years ago this month that he emceed an event honoring cowboy film star Roy Rogers. The event at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club celebrated Rogers’ 75th birthday. When Rogers’ signature song “Happy Trails” was played, he started crying, Jonckowski said.
FSN has coverage of the Gophers-North Dakota hockey game tonight while the Big Ten Network televises tomorrow evening. The Gophers are off to a 4-0 WCHA start in part because of the goal scoring of freshman Kyle Rau. He and sophomore Erik Haula lead the team in goals with seven each.
The Twins will hold their seventh annual Diamond Awards Dinner on Thursday, January 26 at Target Field.