Football Friday: Burnsville vs. Lakeville North

Burnsville (1-3, 1-3 South Suburban Conference) vs. Lakeville North (4-0, 3-0 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

-- Will Reger (Burnsville – wide receiver)

Will had a couple of nice catches in last week’s loss to Prior Lake enabling the Blaze offense to open things up a bit. Coach Tyler Krebs said the sophomore is a “great athlete, very mature and has a great feel for the game.” Will also plays some defensive back.

-- Mike Callanan (Burnsville – defensive back)

Moved to free safety, Mike had an interception last week and, according to Krebs, “was around the ball on every play.”

-- Brandon Morgan (Lakeville North – running back)

Brandon ran for 77 yards and a touchdown against a stingy Rosemount defense last week, and had another 60-plus yard score called back because of a penalty. Brandon is not necessarily a big player at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, but coach Brian Vossen said the junior is shifty and extremely quick off a cut.

-- Alex Wood, Mitch Johnson, Josh Robinson, Alec Larson and Austin Streit (Lakeville North - linebackers)

Vossen said the Panther linebackers were strong last week in a victory at previously undefeated Rosemount. The coach said the group is ball hungry, quick to the football and each is a hard hitter. The group has been instrumental in the Panthers forcing 13 turnovers through four games. Vossen said the team’s goal is three per game.

BLAZE WINS IF...

It must have some clock-crunching drives that end with points to not only keep the explosive Panther offense on the sidelines, but give the Blaze some confidence. Burnsville cannot commit the costly mental mistakes like last week when it had two touchdowns called back because of penalties, although one was likely incorrectly called. “Lakeville North is very talented so our kids have to believe,” Krebs said. “If we play great in all three phases of the game we can play with them.”

PANTHERS WIN IF...

They don’t let down for this Homecoming game. Last week, the Panthers won at top-10 Rosemount and play another top-10 foe and cross-town rival Lakeville South next week. Vossen said the team has had a hard week of back-to-the-basics practice, including in pads on Monday. For added inspiration, North only need to look back one year when it was soundly beaten by the Blaze.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE: Lakeville North High School

TIME: 7 p.m. Friday

WEATHER: Clear, 56 degrees

LAST MEETING: Burnsville won 26-3 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

LAKEVILLE NORTH SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 vs. Eastview                        

Fri. Sept. 9     @ Apple Valley                   W 45-19

Fri. Sept. 16   vs. Edina                            

Fri. Sept. 23   @ Rosemount                     

Fri. Sept. 30   vs. Burnsville

Fri. Oct. 7       vs. Lakeville South

Fri. Oct. 14     @ Bloomington Kennedy

Wed. Oct. 19 @ Prior Lake