Vance Barnes and his scorching speed are back burning up the field.
The Minnetonka senior running back torched the Blaze (2-1) for 139 total yards and four touchdowns, leading the Skippers (3-1) to a 42-21 victory Friday at Burnsville High School.
Barnes, who rushed for three scores and also caught a touchdown pass, and senior running back Ian Cote form an intimidating combination in the Skippers’ backfield. Cote finished with 85 rushing yards against the Blaze.
“Thunder and lightning, right here,” Barnes said, flashing his mega-watt smile.
Barnes is the lightning. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. His speed is just one reason several colleges are recruiting him.
Barnes visited three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champions North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and the University of North Dakota during the spring recruiting period.
Last season, Barnes’ future wasn’t so promising. He went down with a sprained medial collateral ligament early in the year and missed four games. The injury stalled what looked to be a productive junior season for Barnes, who scored five touchdowns in three games.
Barnes knew that he needed a breakout game this season to raise up his recruiting stock.
“Before this game, my dad said that I needed to have a statement game,” Barnes said.
Barnes made a statement against the Blaze, rushing for a season-high three touchdowns, including one on a 22-yard run. He also caught a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Barnes, who has five rushing and two receiving touchdowns this season, credits his father for his success on the field.
“He was my biggest football influence,” Barnes said. “He’s my role model, and I look up to him a lot.”
Minnetonka head coach Dave Nelson said Barnes is a role model for the team’s younger players.
“He’s a good leader for us,” Nelson said. “I think a lot of players look up to him because of the kind of kid he is.”
