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Lake Conference football showing signs of slipping

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 09/14/14, 8:02PM CDT

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Only Eden Prairie is having the usual level of success this season in the Lake Conference.


Wayzata's Anthony Clark broke a Maple Grove tackle for more yardage during the first half.

After years of being considered the strongest football conference, top to bottom, in Minnesota, the vaunted Lake Conference is showing signs of slipping.

Sure, Eden Prairie is still the No. 1 team in the state, and that counts for plenty. But none of the other four teams in the league has distinguished itself from the pack, and a couple have even taken a step backward. At least, for this season.

Wayzata is probably of the biggest puzzler. After winning the Class 5A state championship in 2010 — its third in six seasons — Wayzata was considered on par with Eden Prairie as the metro’s pre-eminent programs. However, dating back to last season, Wayzata has lost four of its past seven, including its two most recent on its home field. It may be temporary, as Wayzata head coach Brad Anderson knows what it takes to win at the highest level, but this year’s Trojans have not resembled the heavy-hitting teams of years past.

Minnetonka is 3-1 and has shown gradual improvement after a shaky start — a loss to Hudson, Wis., followed by a dramatic 25-24 victory over Class 4A Becker. But the Skippers still have struggled in conference play with a 4-12 league record over the past four years.

Edina may be the best 0-3 team in the state — its first three opponents (Maple Grove, DeLaSalle and Rosemount) are a collective 9-0. But good teams find ways to pull out close games, which the Hornets have failed to do. Hopkins is 2-2 but has yet to defeat a team from Minnesota. Both of the Royals’ victories have been over teams from outside the border: 37-14 over Superior, Wis., in Zero Week and 26-17 over Kingsford, Mich., on Friday.

Meanwhile, conferences such as the South Suburban, which has three teams in the Metro Top 10 this week (No. 2 Rosemount, No. 3 Lakeville North and No. 8 Prior Lake), and the Suburban East, with three undefeated teams in East Ridge, Mounds View and Stillwater, are providing must-see matchups each week.

The Week Ahead

• Volleyball: Apple Valley Eagle Invitational, Saturday. The top-notch 16-team field for this two-day tournament includes the top six teams in Class 3A — Eden Prairie, Chaska, Eagan, Prior Lake, Lakeville South and Hopkins — as well as the No. 1 teams in Class 2A (Marshall) and Class 1A (Faribault Bethlehem Academy). First-round matches begin at 5 p.m. Friday, the championship bracket semifinals at 10:45 a.m. Saturday and final at 2:30 p.m..

• Cross-country: Milaca Mega-Meet, Saturday, at Stones Throw Golf Course, Milaca. Traditionally the largest high school meet of the season. This year, 150 boys’ and girls’ varsity teams will compete across four divisions based on school size. Varsity competition begins at noon, with divisions beginning 15 minutes apart.

• Girls’ tennis: Edina Jim Jones Invitational. Saturday, at Edina Community Center. Every season, this is the top team tournament of the year. Edina hosts Blake, Mahtomedi, Minnetonka, Mounds View, Rochester Mayo and Wayzata. Quarterfinals begin at 8:30 a.m., finals at 2 p.m.

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