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Washburn downs Southwest

By David La Vaque, Star Tribune, 09/23/11, 9:38PM CDT

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The first under-the-lights game at Southwest was a huge community event


Southwest's quarterback Max Roberts was sacked by Washburn's Corey Puterbaugh during the third quarter. /Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune

 Gary Lehman drives a UPS truck from 8 a.m. to as late as 8 p.m., hours not conducive to watching his son, Aden, play football for Minneapolis Southwest. Catching a 3:30 p.m. home game — the typical start time at Southwest Stadium at Pershing Field, which has no lights — requires Lehman “to take a whole day off or miss work.”

Things were easier Friday. Jodi Wishart, the Southwest Alumni Foundation president, coordinated the first home game under the lights in the school’s 71-year history. Six generator-powered lighting units, three on each side, lit up the field, creating an event that inspired players, parents and alumni alike.

Southwest failed to achieve its on-field objective, losing 24-12 to Washburn and falling for the 26th consecutive time to the rival Millers. But the lights and the later start time sparked interest and brought crowds not usually seen at Pershing Park. Southwest activities director Ryan Lamberty estimated Friday’s crowd at 3,000.

“The place is packed; I’m a happy girl,” Wishart said. “There are a lot of different alumni, parents and newer alumni. It’s a great mix and that’s what city schools are about.”

Wishart, a 1990 Southwest graduate, paid the $1,000 for renting the lights out of her pocket. She also purchased other finishing touches such as purple lights (the school’s primary color) and stadium flags. Lamberty said the school paid about $1,000 for other expenses, including extra security.

Two alums donated material and labor to paint the press box purple. Scoreboard lights were replaced, a new sound system was installed and purple and white spotlights gave the bleachers a dance floor vibe. Lakers’ players took the field with steam jet blasting above their heads and at their feet. An impromptu halftime fireworks display came from a house across the street.

The rented lights created a few on-field issues. Passing plays were tricky and the back corners of end zones were dark. Southwest’s Camden Knuckles slipped into the darkness to catch a first half TD pass.

Knuckles later said he was disappointed with the outcome, but he also understood the big picture.

“It was a great joy seeing all our fans,” he said. “We really wanted to thank them and the alumni by coming out with a win, but we came up short.”

Phil Fischer, a 1966 graduate whose 98-yard interception return against Henry in 1965 remains the longest touchdown in school history, said Friday he “thought the field would be a little brighter.” But he, too, enjoyed seeing the large crowd, something he remembers from his playing days.

“The stands would be full and you’d have kids standing on their bike seats to see over the fence,” Fischer said. “City sports were a pretty big deal back then.”

The game was a big deal Friday at Fischer’s home in Edina. About 30 friends and Southwest alums met for a tailgate party then rode a school bus to the game.

Community members also helped make the game special. Ed Schaefer, a 1992 Edina graduate, lives across from the Lakers’ temporary practice fields at Linden Hills Park and “adopted” them this fall by purchasing and hanging a purple “Beat Washburn” banner on Monday for the players to enjoy. It was hung above the press box for Friday’s game.

Part two of a weekend under the lights for Lakers’ athletic teams takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday as the boys’ soccer team plays host to rival South in a match-up of two top-10 soccer programs. Last season, the football team won a share of its first Minneapolis City Conference title since 1974. And the Lakers’ soccer team reached the Class 2A state championship game.

“There’s a collection of people from past years paying attention to soccer and football more than ever,” said Jamie Plaisance, a 1992 Southwest graduate and current boys’ soccer coach. “Now we have a stage for both programs. ... It’s a big block party, a weekend-long class reunion.”

Count Lehman among those impressed by the evironment — and convenience.

“The atmosphere is great,” he said. “It’s a lot better than an afternoon game.”

Millers leave Southwest in the dark once again

For months, Minneapolis Southwest school officials and alumni worked hard to create the first-ever football game to be played under lights at Pershing Park.
 
While those groups did indeed light up the night with a great community event, the Lakers remain in the dark when it comes to Washburn. Friday’s 24-12 loss was their 26th consecutive in this series. With the victory, Washburn has the inside track toward its 11th consecutive Minneapolis City Conference title.
 
Millers coach Giovan Jenkins said his players maintained their focus throughout a solid week of practice.
 
“Our kids know this is kind of a rivalry for us,” Jenkins said. “We’re their rivals, they’re not our rivals – that’s how we look at it.”
 
That swagger was evident in Washburn’s method of arrival on Friday. About 20 minutes before kickoff, the Millers came walking down West 48th Street, past the ticket booth on the north side of the park. They walked three abreast down the sidewalk, holding hands and singing as if they were at Paris Island rather than Pershing Park. The bus had dropped them off two blocks away on Xerxes.
 
“We decided to walk just because if the lights are here than we’re going to make a show out of it,” Jenkins said.
 
Once the game started, it was all about on-field moves. And Washburn had more of the right ones. Running backs Jeffery Jones and Raymonte Maynard scored on touchdown runs of five and 60 yards, respectively, and staked Washburn to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.
 
Southwest answered with a touchdown in the second quarter but Jones ran for a 20-yard score to give the Millers an 18-6 halftime lead. Southwest coach John Biezuns said his defense improved after halftime, holding the Millers’ scoreless until a late drive.
 
“In the second half, our defense played well and they got a little flat,” Biezuns said. “We have to finish drives. We got inside the 20 three times and got zero points out of it.”
 
Washburn lost last week to Waseca and Jenkins said practice leading up to Southwest focused on frame of mind and fundamentals.
 
“It really wasn’t an Xs and Os thing, it was hard work,” Jenkins said. “We had to get back to tackling and we tackled a lot better in this game. And we played a lot harder and that’s what we had to do.”

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