9-man Minnesota preview capsules

Ada-Borup

Coach: Nathan Brager (fourth year)

2011 record: 11-2 (Minnesota 9-man, Section 6 champions; lost to Edgerton-Ellsworth in the state semifinals).

Players to watch: Lance Ruebke, Jr., RB/S; Blake Fetting, Jr., RB/LB; J.D. Kappes, Jr., QB/S.

Coach's comments: "We have some good, young talent," Brager said. "There will be high expectations again this fall, but there will be a little bit of a learning curve. A successful season for us this fall will be winning our section and getting back to state. We have won four section titles in a row, and it would be nice to put that fifth one down if we can."

Schedule: Aug. 30-at Kittson County Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Norman County East, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-at Moorhead Park Christian, 5 p.m. Sept. 21-Win-E-Mac, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-at Norman County West, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-at Rothsay, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-Ulen-Hitterdal, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Waubun, 7 p.m.

Ashby

Coach: Andy Campbell (second year)

2011 record: 5-4

Players to watch: Blake Ohren, Jr., QB/DL; Hunter Fick, Soph., MLB/OG; Gage Olson, Jr., RB/LB.

Coach's comments: "We have a young team full of competitors and we expect to compete in every game," said Campbell.

Schedule: Aug. 30-Underwood, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Brandon-Evansville, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-at Wheaton-Herman-Norcross, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Hancock, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Ortonville, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-at Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 12-at Bertha-Hewitt, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Prairie Valley, 7 p.m.

Brandon-Evansville

Coach: Tim Pattrin (first year)

2011 record: 5-4

Players to watch: Billy Juul, Sr., QB; Devin Roers, Sr., OL/DL; Cody Lund, Jr., FB/LB; James Huisman, Soph., RB/CB.

Coach's comments: "It is a new offensive and defensive philosophy we are throwing at the kids, but it is starting to come together after a couple of weeks of practice," said Pattrin, who was an assistant coach with the Chargers the previous two seasons. "I'm very happy with where we are right now. Our numbers are good. A couple of seasons ago we had 17 players out and now we have 39."

Schedule: Aug. 30-at Prairie Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-at Ashby, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Hancock, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Ortonville, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-Wheaton-Herman-Norcross, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-at Verndale, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Bertha-Hewitt, 7 p.m.

Climax-Fisher

Coach: Darrin Byklum (16th year)

2011 record: 6-4

Players to watch: Mike Beiswenger, Sr., OL/DL; Grant Egeland, Sr., DE/TE.

Coach's comments: "The big thing is we got all our linemen back from last year and we are hanging our hats on our experience up front on offense and defense," Byklum said. "We have three out of four running backs back from last year. We have a first-year quarterback who is a work in progress, but we should be in good shape offensively and defensively this year."

Schedule: Aug. 30-Norman County West, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-at Clearbrook-Gonvick, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Kittson County Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Goodridge-Grygla, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Stephen-Argyle, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-East Grand Forks Sacred Heart, 7 p.m. Oct. 11-at Badger-Greenbush-Middle River, 7 p.m. Oct. 16-at Northern Freeze, 7 p.m.

Fergus Falls Hillcrest

Coach: Charlie Brue (8th year)

2011 record: 6-4

Players to watch: Theo Taylor, Sr., RB; Dalton Tostenson, Sr., QB; Jared Kugler, Sr., OL/DL.

Coach's comments: "We have a good returning core," Brue said. "Our line is experienced and our backfield is experienced. We should have a good running team. We lost our second game in the playoffs to Ulen-Hitterdal, so we hope to do better this year. A lot depends on injuries because we aren't very deep. If we can stay healthy we like our chances."

Schedule: Aug. 31-at Ortonville, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-at Bertha-Hewitt, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Prairie Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-Verndale, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-Underwood, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-at Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Wheaton-Herman-Norcross, 7 p.m.

Moorhead Park Christian

Coach: Dan Kowalski (second season)

2011 record: 2-7

Players to watch: Simeon Reiswig, Sr., QB/LB; Josh Heinen, Jr., LB/RB; Matt Moberg, Jr., WR/DB; Dave Tompkins, Sr., RB/LB; Austin Daugherty, Jr., OL/DL; Hunter Nickel, Jr., DE/TE; Colby Smith, Sr., DE/TE.

Coach's comments: "We have a great amount of varsity experience from last year coming back," Kowalski said. "We are optimistic. We would obviously like to be .500 or better this year and at least double our wins. We think that is a realistic goal for us to achieve."

Schedule: Aug. 30-Goodridge-Grygla, 5 p.m. Sept. 7-at Ulen-Hitterdal, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Ada-Borup, 5 p.m. Sept. 21-at Rothsay, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Waubun, 5 p.m. Oct. 6-Norman County West, 2 p.m. Oct. 12-at Norman County West, 7 p.m. Oct. 18-Win-E-Mac, at Fargodome, 11 a.m.

Norman County East

Coach: Steve Ness (fifth year)

2011 record: 6-3

Players to watch: Sawyer Stene, Sr., RB/DB; Zach Stene, Jr., QB/LB; Gabel Hoseth, Sr., TE/WR/OLB; Michael Korsgaden, Sr., WR/OLB.

Coach's comments: "Our expectations are to hopefully finish near the top of the conference and contend for the section title this fall," Ness said. "Our backfield will be our strength. We are a little thin at linebacker, but we should be pretty strong up front."

Schedule: Aug. 30-Badger-Greenbush-Middle River, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-at Ada-Borup, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Ulen-Hitterdal, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Waubun, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Rothsay, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-at Win-E-Mac, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-Moorhead Park Christian, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-at Norman County West, 7 p.m.

Norman County West

Coach: Nate McCraven (first year)

2011 record: 2-6

Players to watch: Logan Nelson, Sr., RB/LB; Logan Hellerud, Sr., QB/S; Skyler Weltikol, Sr., TE/DE.

Coach's comments: "We're definitely looking to improve on last year's record. Our goal is to make the playoffs," McCraven said. "We're young, but with the youthfulness we have a lot of experience. We did play a lot of freshmen last year."

Schedule: Aug. 30-at Climax-Fisher, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-at Rothsay, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Waubun, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Ulen-Hitterdal, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Ada-Borup, 7 p.m. Oct. 6-at Moorhead Park Christian, 2 p.m. Oct. 12-Win-E-Mac, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Norman County East, 7 p.m.

Rothsay

Coach: Andrew Oland (fourth year)

2011 record: 0-8

Players to watch: Noah Brenden, Jr., QB/LB; Brady Johnson, Sr., TE/LB; Aaron Brenden, Sr., OL/DL.

Coach's comments: "We have 26 kids right now and that is up from years past," Oland said. "A lot of our players who are juniors and seniors have been playing since they were sophomores and freshmen, so having that experience back is a big plus. We have six seniors who start on at least one side of the ball, and their leadership will be helpful. We have always been looking for leaders in the past, and now we have them."

Schedule: Aug. 30-Clearbrook-Gonvick, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Norman County West, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-at Win-E-Mac, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-Moorhead Park Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-at Norman County East, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-Ada-Borup, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-at Waubun, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-at Ulen-Hitterdal, 7 p.m.

Ulen-Hitterdal

Coach: Dustin Flaten (fourth year)

2011 record: 10-1 (Lost to Ada-Borup 22-20 in Section 6 championship game)

Players to watch: Jacob Brooks, Sr., RB/LB; Landon Schultz, Sr., QB.

Coach's comments: "Our participation numbers are down a bit after graduating 11 seniors last year," Flaten said of the Spartans, who have 19 out for football this fall. "A lot of the kids will be seeing the varsity field for the first time, but they know what is expected of them. If they stay healthy, we'll do a lot of good things this year."

Schedule: Aug. 30-at Stephen-Argyle, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Moorhead Park Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-at Norman County East, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-Norman County West, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-at Win-E-Mac, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-Waubun, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-at Ada-Borup, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Rothsay, 7 p.m.

Underwood

Coach: Chuck Ross (15th year)

2011 record: 7-3

Players to watch: Steffen Stroh, Sr., FB/NG; Noah Rocholl, Sr., QB; Tony Onstad, Sr., TE/DT; Max Kollar, Jr., LB.

Coach's comments: "All three of our losses last year came against teams that won their section championships," Ross said. "We have a lot of players back from last year's team and have 14 seniors on the team. We expect this to be a fun group to watch. We always preach defense first. Our defense will have to keep us going early on in the season until our offense catches up."

Schedule: Aug. 24-Wheaton-Herman-Norcross, 7 p.m. Aug. 30-at Ashby, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Verndale, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Prairie Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-Bertha-Hewitt, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-at Fergus Falls Hillcrest, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-at Ortonville, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Hancock, 7 p.m.

Verndale

Coach: Michael Mahlen (44th year)

2011 record: 3-6

Players to watch: Dallas Ehrmantraut, Sr., WR/S; Alex Walsvik, Sr., TE/DE; Andy Bounds, Jr., RB/LB; Dillon Card, Soph., QB/DE

Coach's comments: "We are a pretty young team with a sophomore starting quarterback (Card)," Mahlen said. "We only have five seniors on the team so we don't have a lot of experience coming back. We are not a very big team, but we have pretty decent team speed."

Schedule: Aug. 31-at Hancock, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-at Underwood, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Bertha-Hewitt, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Fergus Falls Hillcrest, 7 p.m. Sept. 27-Prairie Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 2 - at Ashby, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-Brandon-Evansville, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-Ortonville, 7 p.m.

Waubun

Coach: Paul Clark (second year)

2011 record: 4-5

Players to watch: Cody Kologi, Sr., FB/LB; Drake Kier, Sr., TE/DE.

Coach's comments: "We started out last year with 16 kids and this year we have 40 so I hope that depth becomes a strength for us," Clark said. "We lost in the first round of playoffs and we ended on a high note last season. Our goal is to be in the top three in the conference and section. We only lost one senior that started last year, so we have some experience back."

Schedule: Aug. 30-East Grand Forks Sacred Heart, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Win-E-Mac, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-at Norman County West, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-Norman County East, 7 p.m. Sept. 28-at Moorhead Park Christian, 5 p.m. Oct. 5-at Ulen-Hitterdal, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-Rothsay, 7 p.m. Oct. 17-at Ada-Borup, 7 p.m.

Wheaton-Herman-Norcross

Coach: Tony Thiel (16h season)

2011 record: 12-2 (Minnesota

9-man runner up; lost to Edgerton-Ellsworth in the state championship game)

Players to watch: Michael Persing, Sr., RB/DB; Truman Raguse, Sr., FB/DL; Carter Thiel, Jr., RB/DB; Gus McCarthy, Sr., RB/LB; Nick Stafford, Sr., TE/LB.

Coach's comments: "We have 16 seniors and juniors on the team this year so we'll have good depth," Thiel said. "We have good team speed, but will be a little inexperienced after losing 11 starters on offense and seven on defense. We will be very competitive again this year."

Schedule: Aug. 24-at Underwood, 7 p.m. Sept. 7-Ortonville, 7 p.m. Sept. 14-Ashby, 7 p.m. Sept. 21-at Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 28-Hancock, 7 p.m. Oct. 5-at Brandon-Evansville, 7 p.m. Oct. 12-Prairie Valley, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 17-at Fergus Falls Hillcrest, 7 p.m.