1. Arms (and legs) race: With the exception of Duluth East, the Blue Division is remarkably competitive, largely because of an abundance of established quarterbacks. St. Michael’s Jackson Greenwaldt, St. Francis’ Hunter Trautman, Rogers’ Andy Borchardt, Cambridge-Isanti’s John Solberg and Buffalo’s Taylor Spier are skilled veterans. Expect offense, and points, to be plentiful.
2. The not-so little guys: The Red Division supposedly houses the “smaller” teams, but such squads as Monticello, with its muscular offensive line (“We can win in the trenches,” coach Jason Telecky said), and Chisago Lakes, with beef up front in linemen Jake Klein and Luke Koskie, prove that the division has size, too.
JIM PAULSEN
Predicted finish
BLUE DIVISION
Coach: Jared Essler
2013 record: 10-2
2. St. Francis
Coach: Chris Lindquist
2013 record: 4-5
3. Rogers
Coach: Marc Franz
2013 record: 9-1
Coach: Mike Hennen
2013 record: 6-4
5. Buffalo
Coach: Todd Bouman
2013 record: 3-7
6. Duluth East
Coach: Joe Hietala
2013 record: 0-9
RED DIVISION
1. Monticello
Coach: Jason Telecky
2013 record: 5-4
Coach: Bill Weiss
2013 record: 8-2
3. Big Lake
Coach: Nick Keenan
2013 record: 3-7
4. Princeton
Coach: Roy Hanenburg
2013 record: 6-4
5. North Branch
Coach: Sam Ferraro
2013 record: 3-7
Coach: Frank Huie
2013 record: 2-8
Players to watch
QB • Senior • Cambridge-Isanti
QB • Senior • Buffalo
RB • Senior • Chisago Lakes
RB • Senior • Rogers
RB • Senior • St. Francis
QB • Senior • St. Michael-Albertville