Northfield Football Preview: Raiders Face Tough Test In Opener

LAST SEASON
Northfield (8-3, 6-1 Missota Conference) advanced to the state quarterfinals for the second straight year and the 11th time in Bubba Sullivan's 22 years as head coach; St. Paul Central (8-1, 5-0 St. Paul City Conference) was unbeaten during the regular season but got upset by Hill Murray in the section semis.

PLAYMAKERS
—Nate Picha (Northfield, linebacker)
Leads a young linebacking corps into a tough early test against an opponent that likes to spread the field.

—Adam Woitalla/Devon Walker/Cody Fugate (Northfield, running backs)
The trio will share the workload in the season opener.

—T.J. Wise/Eric Shepley (Northfield, wide receivers)
The junior wideouts will have to make some plays in order to take the pressure off Northfield's running game.

—Jerad Gardner/Adrian Wood/Jones Green (Central, linebackers)
The senior trio is the strength of the Minutemen's defense, and rushing yards might be hard to come by for the Raiders as a result.

MINUTEMEN WIN IF …
Central has a veteran trio of linebackers, and if they can keep the Raiders' running game under wraps without the secondary having to “cheat” up to stop the run, the Minutemen will likely prevail. Playing on turf will also make Central's edge in speed more apparent.

RAIDERS WIN IF …
Northfield traditionally plays sound team football defensively, and the Raiders will need to be in mid-season form in that area in their 2011 opener. Central is a team that can make you pay very quickly for defensive lapses.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL
SITE: James Griffin Stadium
TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
WEATHER FORECAST: Overcast, with light winds and a temp of 83 at kickoff.
LAST SEASON: The Raiders and Minutemen did not meet last season.

NORTHFIELD SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 1 at St. Paul Central, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9 at Chaska, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 16 vs. New Prague, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23 at Red Wing, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Chanhassen, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7 at Farmington, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 14 at Holy Angels, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 19 vs. Shakopee, 7 p.m.

ST. PAUL CENTRAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 1 vs. Northfield, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10 vs. Como Park, 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 16 vs. at Fairmont, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24 vs. Highland Park, 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Johnson, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 6 vs. Harding, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 13 vs. Humboldt, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 19 Mpls.-St. Paul crossover, TBA