“Work hard. Have fun. Expect to win.”
Coach-driven mottos are as common as missed extra points and field goals in high school football, and few of those maxims ever really have a lasting impact. Moose Lake-Willow River coach Dave Louzek’s seven-word formula for success is one of the rare exceptions.
Louzek, who earned his 200th career victory with the Rebels in a 49-0 rout of Braham on Oct. 8, has been leading the program since 1999. Only about 60 coaches in state high school football history have won 200 or more games.
Louzek has guided the Moose Lake-Willow River to 14 section championships and three appearances in the Class 2A title game. Another extended playoff run appears likely, assuming the No. 4-2A Rebels (5-0) are done facing COVID protocols that have twice forced them to cancel games, including last week’s matchup with Hinckley-Finlayson.
The Rebels, who haven’t allowed a point in four straight games since opening the season with a 28-21 triumph over Hermantown on Sept. 3, will need all of their defensive might to keep a Rush City team that is averaging more than 54 points per game off the scoreboard.
Rush City is an oh-so-appropriate name for a team that runs the ball with ridiculous ease. The Tigers (7-0) are powered by the running back trio of Ty Stepp, Shaun Archambault and Lucas McFee. Moose Lake-Willow River has a stable of more than capable running backs, too, led by the likes of Logan Orvedahl and Jack Thompson.