1. Conference realignment: The South Suburban Conference has reorganized to add Farmington and Shakopee and see Bloomington Kennedy and Bloomington Jefferson join the new Metro West Conference. Farmington and Shakopee moved into the Bloomington schools’ spots after leaving the now dissolved Missota conference. Worth noting is that both new teams had their seasons ended last year in the section quarterfinals by South Suburban teams, Rosemount and Prior Lake. More change comes with district-based scheduling next year. Shakopee and Prior Lake will move to the West Metro District while the rest of the conference will go to the East Metro.
2. Lots o’ linebackers: Just a glance at the players-to-watch list shows the South Suburban has probably the strongest linebacking corps in the state. Lakeville South’s Josh Corcoran has already committed to Northern Illinois while Lakeville North’s Jesse Cardenas and Tristyn Hanson are being recruited by Division I programs. Prior Lake’s Alex Hart has offers from schools including Wyoming, Cornell, New Mexico and North Dakota State. All of these players are well over 6 feet and 200 pounds.
MEGAN RYAN
Predicted finish
1. Rosemount
Coach: Jeff Erdmann • 2013 record: 11-2
2. Lakeville North
Coach: Brian Vossen • 2013 record: 8-3
3. Prior Lake
Coach: Matt Gegenheimer • 2013 record: 7-3
4. Lakeville South
Coach: Larry Thompson • 2013 record: 6-4
5. Eastview
Coach: Kelly Sherwin • 2013 record: 6-5
6. Eagan
Coach: Rick Sutton • 2013 record: 2-7
7. Burnsville
Coach: Tyler Krebs • 2013 record: 2-7
8. Shakopee
Coach: Jody Stone • 2013 record: 5-3
9. Apple Valley
Coach: Chad Clendening • 2013 record: 6-6
10. Farmington
Coach: Mark Froehling • 2013 record: 4-5
Players to watch
Brett Shepley
LB • Senior • Burnsville
Joe Kovach
LB • Senior • Eagan
Jesse Cardenas
LB • Senior • Lakeville North
Josh Corcoran
LB • Senior • Lakeville South
Alex Hart
LB • Senior • Prior Lake
Dimitri Williams
RB • Senior • Rosemount