Football Friday: Lakeville South vs. Bloomington Jefferson

(3-0, 3-0 South Suburban Conference) vs. Bloomington Jefferson (1-2, 1-1 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

• Matt Melhorn (Lakeville South - safety)

Matt had an interception return for a touchdown and a lot of good hits in last week’s rout of Apple Valley. Coach Larry Thompson said he led the way for a strong defensive performance by the Cougars.

• Austin Britnell (Lakeville South – running back)

Austin is second on the team with 109 yards rushing on 19 carries for a 5.3-yard average in the team’s first three games. Thompson said that Britnell, a junior, had a few nice runs last week and broke a draw play for a sizeable gain. “We knew he’d be a good back as a sophomore,” Thompson said. “He has a lot of good instincts with the ball.”

• Andre Rowell (Bloomington Jefferson – running back)

Andre is the team’s biggest backfield threat. Two weeks ago he ran for 81 yards on 19 carries and one score in a loss to Prior Lake. Last week he was held in check by Minnetonka, gaining just a team-best 21 yards on 15 carries.

• Johnny Kamp and Noah Larson (Bloomington Jefferson – defensive ends)

Coach Jon Leverenz said the duo were bright spots on defense in last week’s drubbing at Minnetonka.

COUGARS WIN IF ...

They do what they’ve been doing and using a balanced offense and swarming defense to put the Jaguars away early. Lakeville South cannot be caught looking ahead to the next two weeks with games against Rosemount and Lakeville North.

JAGUARS WIN IF ...

They play error-free football and hope Lakeville South is careless all night. Jefferson has been outscored 86-7 in the past two weeks, so it must have some clock-crunching drives that end with points to not only keep the Cougar offense on the sidelines, but give the Jaguars some confidence.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE: Bloomington Stadium

TIME: 7 p.m. Friday

WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, 58 degrees

LAST MEETING: Lakeville South won 56-29 at home in week two last year.

LAKEVILLE SOUTH SCHEDULE

Fri. Sept. 2      vs. Eagan                 Fri. Sept. 9      @ Eastview              Fri. Sept. 16    vs. Apple Valley        W 45-6
Fri. Sept. 23    @ Bloomington Jefferson
Fri. Sept. 30    vs. Rosemount
Fri. Oct. 7        @ Lakeville North
Fri. Oct. 14      vs. Prior Lake
Wed. Oct. 19  @ Burnsville

BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 @ Burnsville                 W 20-18
Fri. Sept. 9      vs. Prior Lake              L 43-7
Fri. Sept. 16    @ Minnetonka            L 43-0
Fri. Sept. 23    vs. Lakeville South
Fri. Sept. 30    @ Eagan
Fri. Oct. 7        vs. Bloomington Kennedy
Fri. Oct. 14      @ Apple Valley
Wed. Oct. 19  vs. Eastview