Ask the Eagan football coaching staff or players about senior quarterback Sam Zenner and one word seems to always come up first: leader.

“He’s carried this team all year as a leader,” said junior Sam Schuberg, Zenner’s backup. “Every day in practice, he’s working hard and making us work hard, and when we get on the field it shows.”

“He’s one of those kids that isn’t really loud or demonstrative,” coach Rick Sutton said, “but you love to have. He’s just a great kid and a true leader.”

Phenomenal is another word Schuberg used to describe the 6-0, 200-pound athlete who rushed for 1,191 yards on 133 carries entering the Class 6A playoff game at Prior Lake on Friday.

With two 200-yard rushing games and 10 touchdowns, he helped Eagan battle through a difficult South Suburban Conference and earn a number of statement victories. He had 186 rushing yards in a 17-16 upset of Wayzata on Sept. 5.

But as Zenner’s high school career winds down, his seemingly perpetually upbeat passion for the game shows through the most.

“It’s just been a great time with this team, lot of good times,” Zenner said. “Practice this year has been the most fun I’ve ever had. Great guys, great coaches, good mentality all around — it’s just been a great year.”

Power position

Zenner lines up behind center on the majority of Eagan’s offensive plays, usually in the shotgun. He’s listed as a quarterback. Still, he’s one of the best running backs in the state.

Eagan primarily uses a spread, zone-read attack, showcasing not only Zenner’s top-end speed, but also his sharp decision-making. In goal-line situations, Zenner has often lined up at tailback, with Schuberg coming in to take the snaps.

He’s calm, collected and confident in running the offense, Sutton said, something that was apparent in the team’s Oct. 24 playoff victory over Lakeville South. Zenner rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns. He led Eagan on a touchdown drive in the final minutes, capped by his two-point conversion run for a 30-29 win.

With his speed and power running the ball, though, he’s expected to be a running back at South Dakota State next year.

“It doesn’t matter to me what position I play,” he said. “I just love playing football.”

Runs in the family

Zenner’s older brother, Zach, is a senior running back at South Dakota State, where he currently ranks fourth in NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in rushing. Zach Zenner is coming off two consecutive 2,000-yard seasons, and is already the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-time leading rusher.

Sam Zenner said he’s never felt the need to “fill his brother’s shoes.”

“I love my brother, but I’m my own player,” he said.

The similarities between the two are striking, though, Sutton said, adding that it will be difficult to replace the younger Zenner’s talent and leadership.

“Unfortunately, [the Zenners] only have one more daughter,” Sutton said. “We’re all out of Zenners after this.”