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Friday, October 3, 2008
Mustangs are in full gallop
St. Paul, MN
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By: Tom Carothers
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Photo(s) By: Steve Murphy
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"These kids have known success in the past and we’re looking to accomplish some big things this year as well.”
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Eleven months after its 2007 season ended in another state quarterfinal defeat, the Mounds View Mustang football team is battling through the 2008 campaign with hopes of galloping all the way to downtown Minneapolis for the state semifinal round in November.
“Our goal remains the same — to make it to the state tournament,” Mounds View head coach Jim Galvin said. “What we really want to do, however, is to make it to the Metrodome.”
A 21-13 loss to Eastview at Griffin Stadium in St. Paul last Nov. 19 halted the Mustangs’ fourth state trip one stop short of the Dome for the fourth time. “We’re 0-for-4 (in state quarterfinals),” Galvin said. “That’s something we’d like to change.”
Mounds View has the horses to do just that. The Mustangs welcomed back a number of top performers this season as they look to challenge for the Suburban East Conference title before seeking higher glories in section and state play.
“We’re not looking too bad,” Galvin said. “We have more guys returning than we usually do.” The bevy of returnees included an embarrassment of riches in the backfield as three of the top four Mounds View rushers from 2007 are back for one more turn.
Leading the charge is the Mustangs’ top returning rusher Andy Osborne. As a junior, Osborne racked up 740 yards on the ground and reached the end zone three times. He’s been up to his typical on-field exploits this season as the team’s top offensive weapon.
Fellow running back Eric McKay also returned after a 329-yard, two-touchdown season last year, as does Karl Eicher, who scored once last year as well. “We really like the way those guys look,” Galvin said. “Plus, having had them on the team last year makes things easier because they already know all the plays.”
Lining up behind center is quarterback David Freed. The senior won the job in pre-season practice after seeing time on every third possession last year — throwing for one touchdown and running for another. He commands Mounds View’s aerial attack. “He throws well, he runs well,” Galvin said. “We’ve liked what we have seen from him this fall so far.”
While Freed figures to spend a lot of time pitching and hurling to his stable of running backs, wide receiver Robbie Searles also will play into the Mustangs’ passing mix. “Robbie has great hands and is a very good athlete,” Galvin said. “He’ll catch anything thrown in his vicinity.”
On the offensive line, Mounds View returned a pair of tackles in senior Tor Uggen and junior Billy Turner. “We’ll be counting on those guys,” Galvin said. “I think we’ll be playing a better combination of running and passing this season and some of that will be dictated by how our line plays.”
Defensively, Mounds View brings back just one starter on the line in the form of end Brett Johnson, a player that is “tougher than heck,” according to his coach.
While a lack of experience on the line and at inside linebacker is cause for concern, Galvin notes that a number of players who have been successful at the lower ranks stand ready to seize the positions in question.
“You can’t really compensate for the loss of experience,” Galvin said. “But we have a number of good kids from the junior varsity and sophomore teams that will have their chance.”
On the perimeter, the defense looks solid with the return of free safety Ian Goldsmith and outside linebackers Charlie Vollhaber and Kyle Mauricio. “Ian is a very good run stopper,” Galvin said. “Charlie and Kyle played nearly every down last year and are fast, physical kids.”
Mounds View was faced with an uphill climb after losing its season opener at home to Woodbury in the final minutes of regulation. However, many teams that have been dinged in week one have used the loss as motivation to build a successful campaign.
“You just have to do what you can to be better every week,” Galvin said. “These kids have known success in the past and we’re looking to accomplish some big things this year as well.”
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