A little heat and humidity hasn’t slowed down the start of football practice. This year’s squad is blessed with some strong seniors and talented younger players. Above, action from the team’s first inter squad team was fast and furious as players showed off their skills to coaches, family and fans. Parents were allowed to go out onto the field to observe plays and cheer the kids on.
Since the entire backfield graduated last year, this will be a rebuilding year for Cook County Viking football.
Gone is All-Conference quarterback Kale Boomer, running backs Peter Warren, Colin Everson, and Mark Marxen. They have moved on to play either college football or basketball this year. But the cupboard isn’t bare. Ten seniors return and will be leaned on heavily to lead the 2013 Vikings.
Seniors Thomas Anderson and Jacob Schroeder will play halfback and fullback, but a recent shoulder injury (or an old injury that keeps flaring up) may sideline Anderson. If Anderson is out, sophomore Jack Wieben will take his spot. Sophomore Leo Johnson will start at quarterback while senior Joe Borud will sub in at QB and start at wide receiver with sophomore Owen Anderson. Sophomore Frankie Miller will play wide receiver and also play back-up quarterback. Senior Cy Fortunato will start on special teams while sophomore Andrew Lashinski will back-up Jamie Wick at tight end. Wick will also handle the punting and kickoff duties. Richie Furlong, a junior, and sophomore Rory Bakke will see playing time at the halfback spot and Andy Farley, a junior, will play at the wide receiver position. Sophomore Lucas Phillips along with ninth graders Sam O’Phelan and Will Lamb will play wide receiver and ninth grader Jack Viren will fill in at fullback and junior D.J. Finceo will play halfback.
The offensive and defensive lines should be a strong point for this Viking team because of their size and experience. Five seniors—6’3”, 255-pound Brandon Curtis; 6’2”, 245-pound John Pearson; 6’3”, 260-pound Jonny Jacobsen; 6’1”, 200- pound Seth Warren; and 6’, 235-pound Parker Slanga will play tackle along with 5’11”, 270-pound junior Devynn Deschampe, while two seniors, Breyer McQuatters, 5’10”, 235-pounds and 5’11”, 180-pound Jake Carlson will play guard along with 5’10”, 175-pound junior Noah Warren.
Sophomore Colton Thompson, 5’10” and 170-pounds, will see plenty of varsity action at tackle and sophomore Dylan Works, 5’8”, 140-pounds and ninthgrader Thomas Rankin, 5’6”, 155-pounds, will learn to play on the offensive line.
Sophomore Jaret Baker, 5’11”, 185- pounds and junior Jamie Wick, 6’1”, 200-pounds are centers and ninth-grader Noah Roth, 5’8”, 145-pounds, is learning the guard position.
Currently Rory Bakke, Parker Slanga and Anderson are out with injuries.
The Vikings’ first game is August 30 at 4 p.m. against Duluth Marshall at Marshall. The first home game is Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m. against Hinckley- Finlayson. Several top players will miss the first two games because of breaking team rules or not performing well enough in the classroom last spring. This will give younger players a chance to step up and get some varsity action.
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