Program Profile: Minneapolis Southwest Lakers
For my first “Program Profile” with Northstar Football News, I was lucky enough to be able to interview my former Offensive Coordinator and now Head Coach Josh Zoucha at my alma mater Minneapolis Southwest High School. The Lakers are coming off…
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Continue ReadingFor my first “Program Profile” with Northstar Football News, I was lucky enough to be able to interview my former Offensive Coordinator and now Head Coach Josh Zoucha at my alma mater Minneapolis Southwest High School. The Lakers are coming off of a 3-6 record in 2018 but are positioned for a much improved 2019 that should include a run for their conference title and a berth in the state playoffs. Let’s check in with the well-spoken Head Coach as he gives us an inside look at the Lakers and their 2019 expectations.
The 2019 Laker Offense
The Lakers bring a wealth of returning experience that will be incredibly helpful to take pressure off of the Lakers first D1 offered athlete in a long time: TK Marshall. With a strong rushing attack, the Lakers are in need of play making wideouts with the graduation of an incoming MIAC stud. There have been some nice surprises for the Lakers as well. Let’s see what Coach Zoucha had to say about the offense, some players to watch, and who needs to step up:
Credit: TK Marshall“We return 8 on offense and 4/5 offensive lineman because we started 3 freshman last year. Our offense will be centered around T’Kai (TK) Marshall (C/O 2020, 6’0, 190). He had 1300 rushing yards last year and 250 receiving yards and has put on 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason which is only going to make him tougher to take own and currently holds four D1 offers. Nate Mertes (C/O 2020, 5’11, 190) had 500 yards rushing last year and Nick Flaskamp (C/O 2021, 5’10, 190) will also be carrying the ball for us. One of the biggest surprises of the summer has been the growth of Will Chopin (C/O 2020, 6’1, 185) at QB. He has looked like a veteran and has really stepped up. If he keeps it up our offense could be tough to scout with someone who can throw like him and with our stable of running backs. We lost an amazing receiver Cam Sullivan who will be playing at St. John’s next year and we need our receivers to step up to take pressure off of our running game.”
The 2019 Laker Defense
My senior year at Southwest, my defense led 5A in points and yards allowed. I was happy to see that the Lakers have returned to their hard-nosed defensive roots. I’ve heard some rumblings from Southwest players that there are some hammers leading the D, does Coach Zoucha agree?
Credit: Nate Mertes Hudl“Our linebacker core has to be one of the best in 5A. Nate Mertes could leave Southwest as the all-time tackle leader in school history. He had 105 tackles as a sophomore and 85 last year. Nick Flaskamp had 75 tackles as a sophomore (last year) and Doug Sutton (C/O 2020, 5’8, 185) has 37 sacks and 30 TFL’s over the last two years. Jaden Reed (C/O 2021, 5’9, 155) will start for us at safety and has flashed all summer, while Trombone Nevels (C/O 2020, 5’10, 165) will be a three-year starter and the captain of the defense. The question is ‘who is going to step-up on the D-line?’ It may be sophomore Charlie Boucher (C/O 2022, 6’2, 200), who could have a huge year.”
New Conference, Old & New Rivalries, and Big Games in 2019
Having the conferences realign was a dramatic and saddening switch-up that ended a lot of tradition and rivalry in the Minneapolis and St. Paul City Conferences. I got to ask Coach Zoucha how this change has affected the Lakers, their rivalries, and the city in general. Also, who are some big games for the Lakers coming up in 2019? Find out below:
“After the first four years of District football all of the St. Paul and Minneapolis coaches advocated for going back to just playing city schools with two levels. It was sad to see the MPLS conference go way but it also made sense for us to be playing more of a 5A schedule and I think this adjustment is going to be good for city football and rebuilding some of our programs. It is looking like we will have our best numbers in years for 2019 with three levels of football for the first time in five years. Our biggest rival will always be Washburn but our kids are excited to play (Minneapolis) North this year. We have lost to St. Paul Johnson by 3 total points the last two years and is our last conference game of the year. That could be a huge game.”
Season Expectations, Offseason Results, Season Mantra, and State of the Southwest Lakers
It is hard to argue that playing together for years builds chemistry and competitiveness within a football team, however, it is harder to find this togetherness in Minneapolis, where high schools are not represented in elementary and middle school football. Coach Zoucha elaborated for me how this dynamic will impact his team this year, as well as expectations for the 2019 season, how the offseason is going, the mantra and state of the Southwest Lakers, and an important and eloquent response to the state of football as a whole:
Credit: Nick Flaskamp Hudl“We are going into the season with high expectations. We are not talking about wins but this team doesn’t want to stop playing football at 9 games. In Minneapolis there is no middle school football so we have to recruit park boards for players. Four years ago we got 15 out of 16 kids from the SWAFA team, so these guys have been playing together for a long time and they don’t want it to stop anytime soon. This senior group has had a lot of ups and downs over the last three years, they are battle-tested and good football players. As a team we go to the SDSU team camp every year and they end the camp with a team competition called the Jackrabbit. We have made the finals over the years but we have never won it. This year we won it which has lead to a lot of buzz and excitement for our team going into the season. We can always compete in 7 on 7’s because always have athletes, but winning something when it comes to our line and athletes versus teams who were in the state finals last year really increased our confidence. For years we have broken huddles and practice on “Family” are we are owning that mantra this year. It has been awesome to alumni and families all want our gear this year because that sentiment is real at Southwest. The state of Southwest is we are going to have our best numbers in five years. Even with park board football dying Southside there are still kids who are signing up to play football at Southwest.”
See TK Marshall’s Jackrabbit highlights here: http://www.hudl.com/v/2BPDjX
Coaching Mentors, Minnesota High School Football, and what he Loves About Football
Coaching Minnesota High School football is a prestigious and commendable tradition that holds weight with each and every coach in the state. I was lucky enough to have Coach Zoucha share with me a little about his coaching mentors, and what he loves about coaching Minnesota prep football and football in general:
“My coaching mentors have been my dad who has won multiple state championships in Cross Country at my high school (in Nebraska). Also, my high school coach who will retire as the winningest football coach in Nebraska history when he is all said and done: Jeff Bellar. Additionally, there’s Mike Bivens- my dad’s long time friend and high school assistant football coach-Dave Zeitcheck, who gave me my first coaching opportunity at St. Paul Highland Park (and who we open with this year)-and John Biezuns who gave me my first coordinating experience which lead to this head coaching opportunity. I feel privileged to be a head coach and especially one in Minneapolis. I think it is good for Minnesota football to have city teams who are competitive. There is a belief by some that football is dying in the cities and we have to do everything we can to change that belief. I believe by putting competitive teams on the field with a competitive schedule we will get more kids out for football. Football is the greatest team game ever created and those who play it are the lucky ones who know what that means and what that feels like.
Keep an eye on the Lakers and their 2019 season starting on August 29th vs. St. Paul Hyland Park.