Lakeville North's Brandon Morgon (6) scores on a 25-yard rush in the first quarter of the Class 5A, Section 1 final Friday, Nov. 4, in Lakeville. Photo courtesy of Josh Holmberg
For the past six years, it’s been like clockwork.
A betting man would have been foolish to not put money on one of the Lakeville schools playing and winning the Class 5A, Section 1 championship before the 2011 season began. After all, one of the two schools had won the section title each year dating back to 2005 when both schools were in Class 4A.
However, putting money on Lakeville North didn’t seem like the likely choice.
Unlike Lakeville South, the Panthers had no headlining commitments to NCAA DI schools or preseason all-state team members. Heck, Lakeville North wasn't even ranked within the top-three of the South Suburban conference.
Yet, Lakeville North added another chapter to its statement season with a 26-7 win over Owatonna on Friday, Nov. 4, and earned its third trip to state in four years.
“We were counted out early on, I thought,” Lakeville North coach Brian Vossen said. “We were ranked fifth in the conference to start. The four teams ranked ahead of us happened to be our four biggest wins this year.”
The Panthers put any early season doubts to rest quickly by going undefeated (8-0) and beating conference opponents such as Lakeville South, Rosemount and Eastview among others.
“It's kind of a weird feeling,” Lakeville North senior quarterback Trey Heid said. “It's fun when nobody expects you to and then you start having a lot of success. Then teams start saying 'Hey, these guys are pretty good' and then people start to follow you.
“When you keep succeeding, it's pretty fun.”
Despite the victory, Vossen was happy but not satisfied.
“We didn't play our best game tonight,” Vossen said. “We've got better football in us than what we showed tonight and so we're going to spend the week making sure we get our best football on the field when we play Cretin (Derham Hall).
“Offensively we would have liked to see us close on a few more scoring opportunities but 26 points is a good game.”
Even though the next game is at Mall of America Field at the Metrodome, don’t expect Lakeville North to change its game week routine.
“Same schedule we always have,” Vossen said. “We'll come out Monday, we're going to watch film and we're going to breakdown Cretin. Then Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday is when we go after it.”
The Panthers may face their toughest opponent of the year in the Raiders who also finished the 2011 season undefeated (8-0).
“I got a pretty good idea -- I don't know where we're ranked right now -- but I bet they pick Cretin (Derham Hall) to beat us and that's going to give us some good fuel,” Vossen said.
“I want to make sure it's clear that this year is not over. We have three weeks of football left and we plan to play every single one of them.”
-- Michael Murakami, MN Football Hub staff
Lakeville North quarterback Trey Heid throws a pass during the the Class 5A, Section 1 finale Friday, Nov. 4, against Owatonna. Photo courtesy of Josh Holmberg
With all the eyes on Lakeville South senior quarterback and Univ. of Minnesota commit Mitchell Leidner, another South Suburban conference quarterback slipped quietly under the radar.
Lakeville North’s do-it-all senior Trey Heid.
“He's really special,” Lakeville North coach Brian Vossen said. “Every team is going to make their effort to stop him. He's not the only weapon but, boy, is he a special one.
“He can run, he can pass, he can kick, he can punt. I've said that he could probably play defense for us but we're not stupid -- I think we do enough crazy stuff with Trey Heid, he needs to rest a little.”
Rest will have to wait, however, as the senior has led the Panthers to a 10-0 record including two postseason victories over Leidner’s Lakeville South and most recently a 26-7 victory over Owatonna.
Heid went 13-29 throwing for 192 yards and one touchdown as well as carrying the ball 13 times for 53 yards and a rushing touchdown.
But that wasn’t all the Panthers’ captain did -- kicking a field goal in the second quarter and executing an impressive 60-plus yard punt late in the game which eventually led to a safety.
“Obviously I love running around and throwing it but when they call on me to kick I'll do that,” Heid said.
Despite all the attention Leidner deservedly got, it’s hard to think Heid won’t have a few colleges come calling. Something that Heid is humbling expecting.
“I'm planning on it -- whatever school fits for me, whatever offers I get. I'm planning on playing somewhere next year.”
For now, Heid is only focusing on where his play has led the Panthers: Mall of America Field at the Metrodome and the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
“He's a leader,” Vossen said. “He's respected by his teammates, his peers, teachers, I mean he just does everything right. I just couldn't be more proud of him.”
-- MIchael Murakami, MN Football Hub staff
Lakeville North breezed past Owatonna 26-7 Friday, Nov. 4, to win the Class 5A, Section 1 title, earning a trip to state.
1. Trey Heid, Lakeville North
The senior quarterback did a little bit of everything in the Panthers' win over Owatonna. Aside from going 13-for-29 passing with a touchdown, Heid rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, kicked a field goal, added three extra points and booted a monster punt that pinned Owatonna inside their 5 and led to a safety.