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Sports

Football Friday: Burnsville vs. Eagan

Blaze look to continue season-long improvement with second straight win.

Burnsville (2-4, 2-4 South Suburban Conference) vs. Eagan (2-4, 2-3 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

-- Jalen Dyson (Burnsville – running back)

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Jalen was the team’s second-leading rusher in last week’s win over Eastview, gaining 49 yards on six carries and scoring a touchdown. Jalen also caught the winning 43-yard pass in the game’s final 90 seconds. “He’s been really close all year,” said coach Tyler Krebs. “He’s pretty dynamic and has good hands.”

-- Ben Sherman (Burnsville – running back)

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The sophomore has been a pleasant surprise for the Blaze becoming a bigger part of the offense each week. He had nine carries for 69 yards last week, a 9.9-yard average. He also caught one pass for 23 yard. Krebs said Ben is fast, strong, tough, real mature, smart and has a good feel for the game.

-- Drew Bauer (Eagan – quarterback)

It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but Drew again led the Wildcats in both passing (16-26, 122 yards and two touchdowns) and rushing (29-161) last week at Prior Lake. He’s been extremely good at tucking the ball when a receiver is not open and scrambling for big yards.

-- Jabri Guy (Eagan - cornerback)

Jabri missed the first three games after a transfer issue, but since he’s been inserted into the lineup has been solid, primarily against the opponent’s top receiver. Last week, Jabri made three big stops, including a third-down play where he came up to hammer the quarterback on a roll-out, leaving the signal caller on the field in need of medical attention.

BLAZE WIN IF...

They don’t have a letdown after a huge 36-29 win over Eastview, a game in which the Blaze scored 21 fourth-quarter points. “We needed a big win against a quality team,” said coach Tyler Krebs. This team, which has gotten noticeably better each week, needs to keep showing improvement. Defensively, the Blaze must keep Eagan’s mobile quarterback in the middle of the field. Unfortunately, Burnsville lost starting quarterback Dan Motl for the season with a lacerated kidney. Junior Ben Baker is expected to start and Will Reger has also taken some snaps in practice.

WILDCATS WIN IF...

After two straight wins, Eagan made too many mental mistakes at key times in a 21-14 loss at Prior Lake. Those cannot happen again. Offensively, Eagan ran the ball effectively, and will need to do so again to open things up over the middle for receiving targets like Eric Woodcock and Mack Nelson. Defensively, Eagan needs to give different looks and put pressure on a quarterback that hasn’t taken many snaps this season.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE: Eagan High School

TIME: 7 p.m. Friday

WEATHER: Partly cloudy and a little breezy, 53 degrees

ON THE AIR: Eagan TV will be recording the game for future playback.

LAST MEETING: Burnsville scored two quick touchdowns en route to a 38-21 win last year.

 

BURNSVILLE SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 vs. Bloomington Jefferson L 20-18

Fri. Sept. 9     @ Rosemount                 

Fri. Sept. 16   @ Bloomington Kennedy  W 20-7

Fri. Sept. 23   vs. Prior Lake                  

Fri. Sept. 30   @ Lakeville North            

Fri. Oct. 7       vs. Eastview                  

Fri. Oct. 14     @ Eagan

Wed. Oct. 19 vs. Lakeville South

 

EAGAN SCHEDULE

Fri. Sept. 2     @ Lakeville South   L 35-21

Fri. Sept. 9     vs. Wayzata             

Fri. Sept. 16   vs. Eastview           

Fri. Sept. 23   @ Apple Valley       

Fri. Sept. 30   vs. Bloomington Jefferson

Fri. Oct. 7       @ Prior Lake           

Fri. Oct. 14     vs. Burnsville

Wed. Oct. 19 @ Rosemount

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