Identity Crisis

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn - Time for conference previews for the upcoming football season. Let us begin with the Northwest Suburban conference who welcome in a new member of the family in Armstrong.

Andover:
2009: 7-3 (6-2 Conference)
2010 Projection: 6-2
Good News: The Huskies welcome back superstar quarterback Tyler Finnes for his senior season. In his junior year, Finnes passed for over 2300 yards and 25 touchdowns. Lost in his passing numbers is the fact he was the leading rusher for the Huskies a season ago. Scampering for 622 yards and an additional 10 touchdowns, it is safe to say Finnes will be the offense once again for the Huskies.

Defensively, sophomore Tyler Hartmann returns and alongside Ryan Emmerich will anchor the defense.

Bad News: Of the 201 completions to Andover receivers, only three were to underclassmen. Leading receiver Jason Schneider is gone to graduation as is Zach Nelson and Chase Vasquez.

Much of the Huskies defense graduated leaving questions at skill positions other than quarterback.

Anoka:
2009: 6-4 (5-3 Conference)
2010 Projection: 2-6
Good News: Like the rest of the conference, the Tornadoes will search for an offensive identity. Can the defense keep them in games? Senior to be Ben Britton saw limited action at quarterback last season.

Bad News: The Tornadoes will have a new look in the backfield with the graduation of Pat Cotter and Zak Threadgill. The team will search to replace the offensive production (1300 yards combined and 13 touchdowns).

Armstrong:
2009: 2-8
2010 Projection: 0-8
Good News: Junior running back Prince Kanu and his 800 yards on 188 carries is back. Kanu found the end zone seven times for Armstrong last season. He will be a key focal point of the offense in 2010.

Will be seniors Jacob Damiani (61 tackles), Brock Molden (34 tackles) and Zarrion Stennis (33 tackles) will anchor the defense.

Bad News: Much like other teams in the conference, the Falcons will search for a quarterback. Erik Ruhland who threw for over 2000 yards and 14 touchdowns was lost to graduation.

Blaine:
2009: 8-2 (7-1 Conference)
2010 Projection: 8-0
Good News: Blaine knows walking into camp that Eric Kline will be under center for the Bengals. As a junior, Kline posted good numbers throwing for 1658 yards and 16 touchdowns he also ran for an additional 14 scores.

Chris Thomas and Mike Zrust return to anchor the defense.

Bad News: Do everything scat-back Mike Thai is lost to graduation. He ran for 866 yards, scored 16 touchdowns on the ground and caught another four scores.

Centennial:
2009: 10-2 (7-1 Conference)
2010 Projection: 5-3
Good News: Running back Adam LeMere is returns. Last season, LeMere ran for 920 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught another five.

Bad News: A team that shared the conference title a year ago will search for balance offensively outside of LeMere. Quarterback Chris Anderson is gone, as is running back Jeff Burns and wide receiver Brian Sarvela.

Champlin Park:
2009: 6-4 (5-3 Conference)
2010 Projection 4-4
Good News: Head coach Mike Korton will have his team ready to go. We may not have names, but trust us, the Rebels will be in the conversation.

Bad News: The Rebels will go without leading running back Brandon Marquardt. You don’t just run into a back that will carry the ball 240 times and rack up 21 touchdowns and over 1500 yards. Quarterback Steven Harvey and his 13 touchdown passes are gone as well.

Coon Rapids:
2009: 2-7(2-6 Conference)
2010 Projection: 3-5
Good News: The backfield duo of juniors Antonio Ford and Mo Ward are back. As sophomores, the two combined for nine touchdowns and nearly 1200 yards. Wide receiver Malcom Farley will return with his team leading 37 catches to help balance the passing game.

Logan Sargent and Shaquille Theus, the two leading tacklers return to the defense.

Bad News: It sounds like a broken record, but who will step in under center? A solid leader at quarterback could propel the Cardinals to the top half of the conference.

Osseo:
2009: 4-6(3-5 Conference)
2010 Projection: 7-1
Good News: If offensive fireworks are what you seek, Osseo might be the place to be come fall. Jameer Jackson, the states leading receiver with 86 grabs and over 1100 yards along with 15 touchdowns a season ago returns along with hard nosed runner Sam Conner who rambled for over 1400 yards and 14 touchdowns. Not to be lost in the shuffle is receiver Joey Sonnenfeld who caught six touchdowns for the Orioles.

Bad News: Quarterback Travis Kreuter graduated and the reins could be handed over to junior Ali Abdulrazaq.

Maple Grove:
2009: 3-6 (3-5 Conference)
2010 Projection: 3-5
Good News: The youngest team in the conference gained experience a season ago. Will be junior quarterback Brady Jacobs threw for 15 touchdowns and 1435 yards as a sophomore. Kevin Hanken and Tanner Ruprecht return in the backfield and receiver Dan Butorac caught 17 balls and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Bad News: Senior Kyle Coyne, the teams leading rusher is gone as is leading receiver