Football Friday: Edina vs. Lakeville North

Edina (2-0, 0-0) Lake Conference) vs. (2-0, 2-0 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

• Nick Rallis (Edina – running back/linebacker)

Nick has rushed for 92 yards (second-most on the team) on 16 carries in the first two weeks of the season. Defensively, he is all over the field and has the ability to disrupt an offense.

• Coleman Foley (Edina – linebacker)

Coleman is averaging nine tackles per game for the Hornets and has one interception.

• Joel Oxton (Lakeville North – wide receiver)

The speedy senior, who lowered his 40 time by 2/10ths of a second since last season, has nine catches for 162 yards and a score in the team’s first two games. Coach Brian Vossen said that Oxton, a former Panthers ball boy, is long, has great leaping ability and doesn’t get rattled on the field.

• Mitch Johnson (Lakeville North – linebacker)

The junior has a team-leading 26 tackles, including 10 solos in the first two games. “He finds a way to put himself where he has no business being,” Vossen said, adding that Johnson has a great nose for the football and takes good angles to the ball causing teams to think twice before throwing a screen pass to his side.

HORNETS WIN IF ...

They find a way to slow down the high-octane Panther offense. Edina shut out Minneapolis Southwest a week ago, but Lakeville North is a much better team.

PANTHERS WIN IF ...

They keep doing what they’ve been doing. Vossen said he doesn’t expect the Panthers to score 40-plus points every game, but he knows the potential is there. Running back Isaac Sandberg, who ran for 60 yards in the season opener, is expected to return after missing last week’s game with a sore ankle. Lakeville North cannot fumble three times like it did last week.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE: Lakeville North High School

TIME: 7 p.m. Friday

WEATHER: Clear, 63 degrees

LAST MEETING: First meeting.

EDINA SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1             @ Andover                 W 21-14
Fri. Sept. 9                 vs. Mpls. Southwest   
Fri. Sept. 16               @ Lakeville North
Fri. Sept. 23               @ Minnetonka
Fri. Sept. 30               vs. Hopkins
Thur. Oct. 6               vs. Wayzata
Fri. Oct. 14                 vs. Eden Prairie
Wed. Oct. 19             vs. North St. Paul

LAKEVILLE NORTH SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1             vs. Eastview                         Fri. Sept. 9                 @ Apple Valley                    W 45-19
Fri. Sept. 16               vs. Edina      
Fri. Sept. 23               @ Rosemount
Fri. Sept. 30               vs. Burnsville
Fri. Oct. 7                   vs. Lakeville South
Fri. Oct. 14                 @ Bloomington Kennedy
Wed. Oct. 19             @ Prior Lake