The 25 or so players on the Minneapolis North football field Monday afternoon gathered in the end zone around senior linebacker Kori Randle. The dreadlocked Randle led a pre-practice prayer, then hollered the team motto, building to a crescendo as each line was repeated by the rest of the team.

“Day-by-day.”

“We get better and better”

“Till we can’t be beat.”

“CAN’T BE BEAT!”

There is an urgency in Randle’s voice, burnished by the lingering pain of a snow-covered loss in the 2014 Class 1A semifinals. The Polars were cruising toward a state title, undefeated and having outscored opponents 475-65 before falling to Dawson-Boyd. The remembrance of that loss has lingered for nine months. It’s the impetus for everything North hopes to do this season.

“It took me a month to get over it,” Randle said. “I still think about it. We didn’t play like ourselves.”

Compared to other football programs, North’s turnout of less than 30 players would be a hindrance. But the Polars make up in talent what they lack in numbers. There’s Tyler Johnson, the uber-athletic quarterback who is being recruited by Division I coaches in two sports — football and basketball. There’s the quick and physical defensive line combo of Jamire Jackson and Phillip Scott, a pair of juniors who will be familiar faces in opposing backfields. Speed is evident all over the field.

Most importantly, however, there’s the desire to finish what they started last year.

“That’s what everybody on this team talks about,” said Johnson, who’s late arrival to practice was greeted by a call of “Let’s go, Hollywood.” “I’m a leader on this team. I can’t be late to practice like that. That’s on me. We’re all together in this. We’re looking forward to going back to state. And this year, we’re going to win it.”

Jim Paulsen • 612-673-7737