Looking at the McLeod County matchup

Before I get to breaking down the Hutchinson and Glencoe-Silver Lake game, I'd like to pass on another link - this one from the Star Tribune on former Panther star Jon Hoese.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/27570264.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU...

Hoese, who walked on to the Gopher program a year ago and played safety and on special teams as a true freshman, has switched back to running back and could be used to spell Duane Bennett and Jay Thomas this season.

I was giddy to read this because Jon is a really great kid. I had the opportunity to talk with him on the football field and then in track when he helped the Panthers to a Class A state title. I met up with him again last summer at Gophers camp - every time, he has been very approachable.

It really is good to see a hard-working kid realize a dream of playing Division I.

Another former walk-on, Olivia's Ben Kuznia, is listed as a starting wide out for Saturday's game with Northern Illinois. I got to know Ben a little bit when I worked in Olivia. Another great kid and great parents. His parents, Fay and Curt, even offered me bowl tickets a couple of years ago.

Along with Tony Mortensen and Silver Lake's Willie Van De Steeg in the mix, we've sure got a lot to cheer for out in this area this season. Now, only if Mediacom would settle with the Big Ten Network. Comcast did. Charter did. Come on Mediacom!

Now onto the big game.....

Friday's game definitely is going to have a bit different feel to it without Panthers quarterback Matt Muenchow and longtime coach Dave Dose. One stat that does loom large - Glencoe-Silver Lake was 7-0 at home a year ago, 6-0 in 2006 and 6-0 in 2005. What does this mean? I believe the Panthers are still unbeaten at Stevens Seminary Field.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown:
Quarterback: Even
G-SL - Sophomore Kyler Anderson
Hutch - Junior Seth Hintze
* Neither quarterback has a lot of experience. I believe Anderson hasn't taken a snap at varsity, while Hintze has one start and a few other late game appearances from last year. Coaches aren't expecting either to win games for them, just be steady and make a few plays. Watch the center/QB and QB/RB exchanges.

Running backs: Hutch
G-SL - Junior Aaron Lueders, Senior Josh Kraby and senior Mitch Nowak
Hutch - Juniors Jaedon Scott, Michael Hantge and Jacob Brusehaver
* This position is the strongest on offense for Hutchinson, while the Panthers return two runners to their backfield. Brusehaver is a load and will be on a lot of major schools' recruiting list after this season. Scott played well spelling Cory Shufelt last season.

Lueders moves over from safety on defense to replace Dusty Jurek. Coach Scott Tschimperle is excited about his speed and even compared him a bit to his successor. Kraby was a nice second back last year, while Nowak was his backup. Still, they don't have Jurek or Muenchow in the backfield with them.

Wide Receivers, Split/Tight Ends: Hutch
G-SL - Junior Kaine Dummer, Junior Chase Dunbar
Hutch - Senior Aric Frith, senior Mitchell Cannon, junior Tony Trettin
* G-SL really doesn't have a flanker, but either Dummer or Dunbar could split out I guess. If Dunbar is a familiar name, it's because his brother, Hunter, scored two touchdowns against the Tigers a year ago. Dummer will be one of the top basketball players in the area this year.

Frith will likely take over for Ben Aalfs this year at flanker. He has good speed and good hands, but his first priority is blocking on the outside. Watch out for Trettin. He doesn't have great speed, but he could be a nice target over the middle.

Offensive Line: G-SL
G-SL - Seniors Tyler LaMott, Josh Noga and Derek Nowak; juniors Erik Schuft and Cody Christensen
Hutch - Seniors Brad Hauer and Jeff Zimmerman; Juniors Brahn Olson, Wes Corrigan and Zak Swenson; Sophomore Riley McGraw.
* The Panthers return 60 percent of last year's starting line, but the biggest in LaMott is out for Friday with an injury. The Panthers and Tigers seem to always fill in line positions each year. That is the task for Hutchinson as only Hauer at center returns. The replacements have good size, but need to learn the blocking schemes quick for Hutch to be successful.

Defensive Line: G-SL
G-SL – Senior ends Sam Sanken and Tom Halligan
Hutch – The unknown positions
* I really have no clue who starts on the line for the Tigers this season. They lost all six guys. I threw out a few names in the preview, but whoever is in this group will be varsity unprovens.

The Panthers lost three tackles, including Tony Schauer and Jeff Keenan as well as end Cole Schlauderaff. That’s a good group of guys. It looks like Halligan will move from linebacker to end.

Linebackers: G-SL
G-SL – Senior Tyler Lang, junior Mitch Keenan, junior Ben Slater, senior Jesse Schwarzrock
Hutch – Seniors Erik Bute and Mitch Cannon, juniors Jacob Brusehaver and Brad Muckenhirn
* Definitely the strongest positions on defense for both teams. Lang is the best defensive player in the area. Keenan was a starter last year. He moves from weak side to strong side this year to replace Steve Slater. The Slater kid is a very nice athlete.

Bute and Brusehaver return from the starting unit, while Cannon was also in the mix. The Tigers are very athletic at the linebacker position. Still, they will mix Brian Renkes.

Secondary: G-SL
G-SL – Seniors Cole Ranzau and Beau Vasek, junior Ryan Style
Hutch – Seniors Mason Julius and Dillon Nelson, junior Jackson Hallahan
* Ranzau is another key player back for the Panthers. He made six interceptions a year ago. Style, who started at linebacker the second half of the season a year, moves back to safety. He could be out Friday.

It’s an all-new secondary for at least the third straight year for the Tigers. Hallahan should be a good coverage guy, while Nelson is agile and has good jumping skills. Julius replaces all-conference Ben Aalfs at free safety. Blake Bordson could also be in the mix.

Special teams: Even
G-SL – Kaine Dummer at kicker and Kyler Anderson at punting
Hutch – unknown
* Both teams will have new guys in each position. Time will tell who will replace Jeff Matthias and Bill Moritz for Hutch.

Enjoy the game Friday - it should be a great game between two programs with great tradition. Go Tigers!