Young Raiders Football Team Out to Extend State Streak

The Northfield football team hasn't won a league title since the 2004-05 season. The Raiders also have qualified for the state tournament three years running. Whether or not either or both of those trends will continue this season will depend on the junior class.

“We will be young,” Raiders coach Bubba Sullivan said, with the team “probably starting more juniors than seniors.”

The Raiders return just six starters—three on each side of the ball—and are considerably younger than they were a year ago.

“In general the lack of starters back is a concern at almost every position,” Sullivan said. “We were a senior-dominated team last year, and this is a result of that.

“We've got some good athletes, but they're going to have to get seasoning as the games go on.”

One benefit of having a lot of starting slots to fill are the competitions that can develop during the preseason. And for the Raiders, nowhere is that more true than at quarterback. The battle is between senior Tim Maus and junior Jake Mathison, and the two have a bit more in common than their desire to be the Raiders' starting signal-caller.

“They're next-door neighbors,” Sullivan said. “Tim's dad (Pete Maus) is the baseball coach, and Tony Mathison (Jake's dad) has been his assistant for, I don't know, 20 years.”

Sullivan said the competition remains a toss-up at this point in training camp.

Whoever winds up winning the starting job will share the backfield with junior Devin Walker (6-foot-0, 215 pounds), who takes over at running back this season.

Two of the three returning offensive starters—senior tight end Ethan Koep (6-4, 220) and junior guard Nathan Picha (5-11, 175)—will play both ways this season, with Koep at defensive end and Picha at linebacker.

The third returnee on offense is junior tackle Max Weaver (6-foot-4, 240 pounds).

“Max Weaver has certainly looked very good so far this season,” Sullivan said.

Another player who has emerged this preseason is receiver Eric Shepley.

“He has shown himself to be a top receiver,” Sullivan said. “He's been catching everything we throw to him.”

Defensively, the Raiders have two returners in the secondary and one on the line, but will have to replace their entire corps of starting linebackers.

Seniors Cody Fugate (6-0, 190) and Adam Woitalla (5-9, 165) return to the secondary, while Kris Woods (6-2, 240) will be counted on to anchor the defensive line.

“Woods has really taken charge,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan picked defending champ Shakopee and league newcomer Chanhassen as preseason favorites.

But that doesn't mean the Raiders squad won't aim high.

“We would like to extend our state tournament appearance streak to four,” Sullivan said.