On the Bench with Byron Higgin
Nothing is richer in history than Minneota vs. Dawson-Boyd football.
Games that will never be forgotten are section champion wins by Minneota that led to state titles.
Or the time Dawson-Boyd was the top dog and won the state.
Or the time just a few years ago that Minneota defeated Dawson-Boyd for the state championship.
Yes, the arch-rivals have had some great games in recent years.
So when the schedules were unveiled for 2017, there it was — Dawson-Boyd at Minneota on Friday, Sept. 8 — a perfect kick-off to Boxelder Bug Days. And it appears an entire regular season and perhaps a section No. 1 nod may hang in the balance in just the second game of the season.
Minneota, with one of his largest reclamation projects in years, a rebuilt line coming off a 59-7 win over Sleepy Eye, takes on the Blackjacks, who are coming off a 46-14 season-opening win over another former “giant”, Adrian. So what can Minneota expect on Friday?
Best not to expect anything but more of what you’ve seen in the past. While the Blackjacks did lose some fine players, their “gun-slinging” quarterback Alex Swenson has returned for his senior season and will match his six-guns against the assault rifles of four-year Viking quarterback Alex Pohlen.
For starters, Swenson threw the ball just ten times — landing his passes safely seven of those times for 134 yards. He had three touchdown passes among those seven receptions, from 23, 33 and 14 yards out.
His primary receiver is Keaton Schuelke, who caught four passes for 80 yards and two of Swenson three touchdown passes. The backfield is manned by Bentley Boike, who broke in as a dependable runner last year. Last Thursday, he carried the ball 23 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Colton Husby also has good hands proved it with a 33-yard touchdown reception from Swenson.
You can always expect Cory Larson’s Blackjacks to be well coached. And most often, they are big in the line.
They don’t appear to be overly big this year, except for 6-4, 300-pound senior tackle Carter Anderson. Guys like senior RJ Garcia at 6-0 and 200 pounds and junior Seth Stratmoen at 6-3, 205 also will be in the line for Coach Larson.
Other sturdy linemen include Quinton Lehmann, a senior, 5-11, 185-pound lineman; Austin Schmitt, a 5-11, 190-pound senior center and linebacker and senior 5-11, 166-pound lineman Colton Lindblad.
Tyler Franzky is a returning senior at 5-11 and 210 pounds and he’ll play in the line and perhaps tight end. Cody Stock is a 6-0, 175-pound junior receiver as well.
It’s not likely that this Dawson-Boyd squad will be any easier than any that have challenged Minneota in the past. Getting them early can be good or bad. But one thing is for sure.
As Minneota Offensive Coordinator Matt Myrvik said, “They are always good competition — and it should let us know where we are this season.”