Lakeville South football is trusting the process
LAKEVILLE, Minn. (BVM) — Almost halfway through the MSHSL football season, the Lakeville South Cougars find themselves in a similar situation as they did last year: atop the state rankings and undefeated.
The difference is that this year they have the opportunity to once again go after the state championship that every high school football team sets their eyes on at the start of the season.
“It’s a goal but I mean it’s everybody’s goal … right now we just have to focus on getting better everyday like we’ve been doing,” Cougars head coach Ben Burk said.
Last season, Lakeville South went undefeated and won the Section 6A championship, but that is as far as their season was allowed to go as the MSHSL did not allow for fall sports to have a state tournament due to COVID.
However, the opportunity to play in the state tournament this year hasn’t changed how the Cougars approach the season.
“The reason why we’ve been successful is we kind of have been able to understand that it’s a process to get there,” Burk said. “We can’t think about playoffs right now when it’s only like week four.”
Even so, it’s hard to see what Lakeville South has been able to do so far and not think of what its potential could be. The Cougars are averaging over 30 points per game while holding teams to only a touchdown. Their run game, which has reached a new level since implementing the power-T, has already accounted for almost 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“I think they’ve shown each week that they can get better and improve upon what they did the previous week,” Burk said.
This is something they need to do as the Cougars have no easy games on their schedule.
“There are no let down weeks,” Burk said.
The Cougars have already faced two teams ranked in the top 10 in the state, including a rivalry match against Lakeville North that they won 12-0. However, it was their game against Eden Prairie that Burk said was their best game yet.
“That is the most complete game we’ve played this year,” Burk said.
Lakeville beat Prairie 42-7, even showing off their ability to throw the ball in their run-heavy offense as Cougars’ quarterback Camden Dean went 6-of-7 for 88 yards and a touchdown. It’s not a lot, but it’s more than enough to keep defenses wary of a pass and not totally sell out on stopping the run.
Their success has not gone unnoticed. Along with the state tournament, crowds have been allowed to return to the football field and the Cougars have been happy to welcome them back.
“We want big crowds,” Burk said.
For a football town like Lakeville, it is a nice return to some normalcy and a chance to see what their football program has been built into.
It is a testament to Burk and his coaching staff that the Cougars can graduate 27 seniors and still enter the season as dominant as they have been. Burk credits the coaching from the seventh and eighth grade levels all the way up to varsity.
“The focus isn’t on winning games, it’s on creating quality people and from that you created positive experiences for kids to play football,” Burk said.
Creating a love and a passion for football sets Lakeville up for success and prepares athletes to step into roles that have become vacant.
Already this season the Cougars have seen players like seniors Hasan Kassim and Delainey Suraju take control of the offensive and defensive lines. While senior Alex Vasquez has done a little bit of everything from starting out at linebacker then moving to defensive line, playing guard and even kicking and punting.
“Guys that are willing to step into roles like Alex has that maybe aren’t the best for him individually but helping the team is just huge for me,” Burk said.
They set the table for players like junior running back Carson Hansen to take over games. Taking over the starting position last year after an injury to senior Will Geary, Hansen ran for over 800 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 70 rushes.
“He’s a special athlete,” Burk said. “I think if you put him in any offense he’d be a star.”
Already Hansen is close to surpassing his numbers from last year and it is not only because of his talent, but the ability of everyone on Lakeville South to do their job correctly.
“The most disciplined team wins, the most physical team wins and the team with the most heart wins,” Burk said. “Those are our mantras … our guys have bought into that for sure.”
It’s a mantra that the Cougars know can get them to the state tournament and hopefully a state championship. But before all that, they have to stay dedicated to the process that has gotten them this far.
