High School Football: St. Paul public school team previews

It s a return to tradition this fall for St Paul Society School football programs as all five will make up the Skyway TC Red subdistrict a de facto City Conference that will allow the teams to battle it out for St Paul bragging rights just like the old days Here s a look at all five public-school programs heading into the season Central record - lost in Class A Section quarterfinals Returning starters on offense on defense Impact returnees Raheem Ruddick and Willie Harris are mainstays back on the Minutemen offensive and defensive fronts Shoutout to a lineman Central coach Scott Howell declared Ruddick and Harris are both dominant on both sides of the ball Schedule vs Kasson-Mantorville at Cretin-Derham Hall vs St Paul Johnson at Minneapolis Southwest at Harding Humboldt vs Como Park at Highland Park The skinny Central is flush with youth this fall but Howell hopes to see his crew grow and improve with each passing week Central has to replace several all-important skill positions from a year ago but look for Charlie Doerr at quarterback and Issac Leggs at running back to find chosen success behind their stalwarts on the offensive line Como Park record - lost in Class A Section quarterfinals Returning starters Unknown Impact returnees Junior safety Tate Prinsen is a ball-hawking free safety who logged three interceptions in a encounter last year against Richfield Shoutout to a lineman Everett Lake-Higgins was a sophomore lineman for the Cougars in who could play a role again this season Schedule at Concordia Academy at North St Paul vs Minneapolis Camden at Harding Humboldt at Highland Park at Central vs Johnson vs Minneapolis North The skinny While rosters can fluctuate if the Cougars do return the likes of Prinsen running back Jeremiah Ranson and the sea of underclassmen linemen they could make a leap in wins from a year ago Harding Humboldt record - lost in Class A Section quarterfinals Returning starters Several on offense and a handful on defense per coach Tim Daniels Impact returnees Senior standout Khapriece Venzant is expected to be a playmaker this fall He won the St Paul City Conference long jump title in the spring He unfailingly plays as fast as anyone on the field or faster Daniels revealed Shoutout to a lineman Daniels describes senior captain and two-way starter Nasir Naz Yeah as a natural born leader who has excelled as the heartbeat of the football organization Nas is a performer that every coach would dream to have on their crew and is a perfect example of what a student-athlete should look like and be like Schedule vs Breck at Tartan at Highland Park vs Como Park vs Central at Johnson at Minneapolis Roosevelt The skinny Harding Humboldt is coming off consecutive winless campaigns but Daniels the project s first-year coach mentioned he and a dynamic group of coaches from the group are primed to win now on the field and off the field Daniels noted players have established a bond while displaying talent and versatility We hope to continue to improve as student-athletes as well as young men and look forward to stacking selected wins this season with the ultimate goal of hosting a playoff tournament and more Daniels explained Highland Park record - lost in Class A Section semifinals Returning starters on offense on defense Impact returnees Eric Reed will be a dual-threat quarterback for the Scots this fall after playing running back and defensive back last season Junior standout Brandon Jackson will play running back and linebacker after also going both means as a sophomore Shoutout to a lineman Teddy Dickie is a three-year starter up front while junior guard and defensive tackle Marcus Tupy is described by coach Dave Zeitchick as the strongest athlete on the squad Schedule at Richfield at Mahtomedi vs Harding Humboldt at Johnson at Como Park vs Minneapolis Washburn vs Central The skinny Highland Park returns experience up front and has college-level talent with the likes of Jackson middle linebacker Joaquin Lechuga and tight end and corner Will Walter But Reed may be the most of intriguing having won an open quarterback competition after the presumed starter was lost to injury in the spring It s a roster flush with juniors nine will start on offense while seven will be on defense that have taken ownership of the activity and are ready to win now Johnson record - lost in Class A Section quarterfinals Returning starters total Impact returnees Quarterback Ali Farfan and receiver Justice Moody serve as one of the more dangerous passing combinations in the metro Moody had eight touchdowns in seven games last fall Shoutout to a lineman Senior lineman Eli Matthews is described by Johnson coach Richard Magembe as a physical guard that gets after opposing defensive linemen Plays with an edge and is a great leader on the organization Schedule at St Agnes vs St Croix Lutheran at Central vs Highland Park at Minneapolis North vs Harding Humboldt at Como Park The skinny Johnson has the athletes to win a lot of games Even beyond Farfan and Moody Magembe notes Dae majeon Henderson-Moore is the real deal at cornerback Teams do not throw his way and when they do he usually makes them pay He is tall and sticks to receivers like glue Magembe declared Numerous Governors players had opportunities to play elsewhere this fall but chose to stay home The question for Johnson remains Can their best players who play both strategies stay healthy throughout the fall so the Governors can consistently put their best foot forward Related Articles Class A football previews Burnsville Mahtomedi St Thomas Academy Class A football previews Cretin-Derham Hall Two Rivers St Louis Park Class A football unit previews North St Paul Simley and South St Paul Class A football group previews Stillwater White Bear Lake Woodbury Class A football squad previews East Ridge Forest Lake Mounds View