Countdown to Kickoff 2018: Midwest and South Central District Preview

Adam Rossow

August 28, 2018 @ 12:55 AM

Midwest Blue Ottertail Central will look to make it 4-for-4 in Blue subdistrict championships after winning its third-straight title in 2017. The Bulldogs will be led by QB/DB Nick VanErp, who’s one of the top skill player in the Blue. Seniors Austin Wensauer and Max Naddy also return for Eric Olson’s squad. Pillager and United North Central will be OTC’s top challengers. The Huskies are led by All-District linebacker Tucker Peterson and TE/DL Spencer Schaefer, but have no offensive players with significant varsity experience. UNC’s new headman, Cody Stevenson, has nine returning starters, including three offensive linemen and RB/LB Zach Floyd. Red Perham is firmly entrenched as the Red subdistrict favorites one season after finishing in a tie for second. The Yellowjackets return 11 starters, including Jenson Beachy, one of the top quarterbacks in northern Minnesota. WR/DE Ty Moser is also back for his senior season after gaining 769 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Fergus Falls will also be a top team in the Red. The Otters will be a little different this fall after losing key skill players to graduation. They’ll depend on three veteran offensive linemen led by Ryan Ratz as well as two-way starter Matthew Johnson also returns at both receiver and defensive back. White Stop yourself if you’ve heard this before: Hawley and Barnesville are the favorites to win the White subdistrict. The two teams have split their last 10 meetings since 2012 and most recently met in last year’s Section 8AA final at the Fargo Dome. The Nuggets haven’t forgotten the Trojans 29-22 victory, nor the devastating knee injury suffered by quarterback Jacob Vetter in that contest. According to reports, Vetter is not expected to start the season as Hawley’s quarterback, which leaves receiver Chase Libak to fill the position. Expect a heavy dose of running back Trayton Cossette until Libak settles in or Vetter returns. Barnesville will be paced by senior Preston Snobl. Snobl was one of the team’s top tacklers last season, along with junior Hunter Zenzen, who also returns. Jackson Wahl figures to be the feature back in Bryan Strand’s offense after both Brady Tweeton and Brady Martz graduated. Perham's Jenson Beachy leads the Yellowjackets in his third season under center. (Photo from Hudl.com) South Central Blue Jon Bakken won’t be leading Waterville-Elysian-Morristown for the first time in over three decades, but the Buccaneers are still the team to beat in the Blue subdistrict. New coach Mike Richards will have plenty to work with as WEM returns 16 starters, including nine on defense. Senior Levi Wolter anchors the Bucs front seven while fellow senior Tanner Ranslow is the team’s best player in the secondary. Both players also start on offense – a unit which is led by junior quarterback Grant McBroom. Maple River and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva should be the Bucs biggest challengers. The Eagles return just four starters from last year’s Blue co-championship, while the Panthers welcome back a plethora of starters. They also have a new head coach, Marc Kruger. Red Two Class AAAA teams – Waseca and Marshall – should battle it out for the top spot in the Red subdistrict. The Bluejays are led by All-District quarterback Hunter Rodriguez. Rodriguez combined for almost 1,800 yards of total offense with 18 touchdowns in his first season under center last year. He’ll have Beau Milbrett and Joe Hagen along with him in the backfield, as well as the shifty Malik Willingham. Marshall might have some early-season issues because of inexperience, but the Tigers should contend for both subdistrict and section titles again in 2018. Terry Bahlmann does not have a returning starter on his offense, but does welcome back four starting linebackers from a season ago. Juniors Yahya Black and Trey Steinbach will lead the group. White Pipestone Area, Jackson County Central and Redwood Valley have dominated the White subdistrict in its three-year existence. Those programs will again be the contenders this fall, with the Arrows the favorites after their Class AA runner-up season. Clay Anderson’s squad returns 16 starters in 2018, led by quarterback Cody Thompson. Thompson threw for more than 2,000 yards last fall with 23 touchdowns. Leading tackler Matt Enger returns at linebacker for Pipestone, as does All-District defensive tackle Chris Najera. The Huskies will depend on a strong junior class to contend with the Arrows. Quarterback Rudy Voss is back for JCC after starting as sophomore. Two of his favorite pass catchers – tight end Matt Stubbe and receiver Noah Carr – also return, although the Huskies do need replacement in their backfield. Redwood Valley will be led by two standout linemen, junior Chad Maddock and senior Corbin Wabasha.