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Lakeville North trounces Burnsville in Metro South subdistrict skirmish

By Ricky Campbell, SportsEngine, 08/31/17, 9:00AM CDT

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Brian Curtis Jr. led the Panthers offense with three touchdowns in the season-opener.


Lakeville North junior Brian Curtis Jr. breaks a tackle to score a first quarter touchdown against Burnsville Thursday night in Lakeville. The Panthers defeated the Blaze 62-0. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine


Lakeville North junior Brennan Kuebler readies for a throw against Burnsville Thursday night in Lakeville. The Panthers defeated the Blaze 62-0. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

It seemed like the momentum was on Lakeville North’s side from the opening kickoff until the final whistle Thursday night, as the Panthers routed Metro South foe Burnsville 62-0 at Lakeville South High School.

The Panthers (1-0) deferred after winning the coin toss, and on the opening kick, recovered a fumble deep within Blaze territory. Junior running back Brian Curtis, Jr. scored the first touchdown with a 3-yard run, on his way to finishing the night with three touchdowns on 120 yards in 12 carries.

“We have a good football team, but I also think a lot of things went our way,” Panthers’ coach Brian Vossen said, adding that in his seven years of leading Lakeville North, he’s never witnessed a game with no penalties for his squad.

“The momentum seemed like it was in our corner for the game,” he added.

Junior quarterback Brennan Kuebler passed for 45 yards on six attempts, with one passing and one rushing touchdown. He connected with Own Blascziek, a senior, in the back corner of the end zone for the Panthers’ fourth score of the night five minutes into the second quarter.

Even the Lakeville North defense contributed to the scoring party, tacking on two touchdowns of their own -- and picking Burnsville quarterback Marcus Shepley four times. Shepley completed four passes on 10 attempts for 51 yards.

Vossen said his team’s big offensive line created the opportunities the Panthers needed, including two 40-plus-yard rushes from Curtis and Kuebler.

“We knew coming in that our offense has the opportunity to be very explosive” Vossen said. “It’s a great offensive line. As long as they’re doing well and blocking, we trust the guys that we put the ball in their hands to make the right cuts and run hard enough to get us up field.”

Some of those guys included junior running back Seth Pond and senior Cole Brenno, who tacked on a 2-yard touchdown of his own early in the fourth quarter. It’s the spark they need if they want to return to the state playoffs for a seventh consecutive year.

The Blaze (0-1) leaned heavily on senior running back Tre Thomas, who ran for 47 yards on 12 carries.


Burnsville's Marcus Shepley starts to scramble as Lakeville North sophomore Landon Carter rushes the play Thursday night in Lakeville. The Panthers defeated the Blaze 62-0. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

First Report

Lakeville North (1-0) routed Burnsville (0-1) 62-0 on Thursday night in the first game of the 2017 season for these Metro South rivals at Lakeville North High School.

Panthers junior running back Brian Curtis, Jr. scored the first touchdown with a 3-yard run. He finished the night with 120 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns. Quarterback Brennan Kuebler passed for 45 yards on six attempts, with one passing and one rushing touchdown.

The Panthers’ defense contributed two touchdowns on four interceptions.

Burnsville quarterback Marcus Shepley, a junior, finished the night completing four passes of 10 passing attempts for 51 yards. Senior running back Tre Thomas led Burnsville rushing with 47 yards on 12 runs.


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Lakeville North senior Pete Bercich was part of a smothering Lakeville defense against Burnsville Thursday night in Lakeville. The Panthers defeated the Blaze 62-0. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

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