The Lowdown - Week 4 Preview

Maguire Petersen, RB/WR/DB – Hutchinson (at Becker) It's hard to overstate how important Petersen is to the Tigers' success. He's their big play threat at both running back and wide receiver, with three touchdowns of 25-yards or longer already in 2017. For the season, Petersen has almost 400 total yards and six touchdowns through three games. He also makes an impact on special teams, something the Bulldogs experienced first-hand last season when Petersen took the opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown. The 180-pound senior also returns punts and is the team's punter, and oh yeah, he plays a significant amount at defensive back too. If Hutchinson wins the matchup of two top-10 teams on the road in Becker, expect Petersen to play a huge role. Ryan Koob, QB – Centennial (vs St. Michael-Albertville) With an unbeaten record, Koob and Centennial are one of the biggest surprises in Class 6A. They'll battle another surprising team, St. Michael-Albertville, in a Metro West showdown in Circle Pines. Koob's best weapon has been his legs through the first three games. The senior is averaging more than 100 yards per game, with five touchdowns. His emergence alongside running back Sam Bonfe is a big reason why the Cougars are 3-0. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound will likely be forced to make some plays with his arm this week. Can Koob and his receivers do enough offensively to keep up with the Knights? Ryan Christenson, RB/LB – Minnewaska Area (vs BOLD) Christenson is one of the leaders of the Lakers defense that has yet to allow a first-half point through three games. He totaled a season-high 11 stops in Week 2 against A-C-GC and will likely need a performance like that to shutdown BOLD's powerful offense. An All-District player in 2016, Christenson is an important part of the Minnewaska offense too. He led the team in rushing a season ago and is second on the team to Garrett Jansen this fall. Keeping the ball away from BOLD by feeding Jansen and Christenson is probably the best formula for a Lakers upset at home in Glenwood. David Roddy, QB/DL – Breck (at Minneapolis North) Roddy will need to make an impact on both sides of the ball for the Mustangs to upset No. 3 (AA) Minneapolis North on Friday afternoon. The Mustangs are averaging 37 points per game, but haven't faced a team on the level of the Polars yet this season. Roddy, NFN's third-ranked prospect in the Class of 2019, has thrown for at least 250 yards and three touchdowns in all three of Breck's victories. Roddy also has 10 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble on defense. His play on the defensive line might be more impactful in Week 4. North is averaging 56 points per game and has outscored opponents 114-13 in the first half. Logan Nelson, RB – Litchfield (vs Annandale) Nelson is only a junior, but he's already in his third year on varsity for Jim Jackman and the Dragons. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 13 scores last season and has picked up right where he left off, rushing for 380 yards and four touchdowns already this fall. The Dragons have lost two-straight close games after their season-opening win against St. Cloud Cathedral. Nelson's averaging almost 25 carries per game, but don't be surprised if that number is over 30 this weekend against unbeaten Annandale. The Cardinals offense is one of the best in the East Central District, and Litchfield would be wise to try and keep the ball away from them with a healthy dose of Nelson.