The Minnewaska Area football team is set to open up the 2024 season at Morris Area-CA, Thursday, Aug. 29 followed by the home opener at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept 6.

The Lakers, coached by Jared Lyle, went 2-7 last fall and 2-5 in the Mid State NW White Division.

Gone from last year’s team are Austin Ballhagen, Austin Weber, Nathan Dell, Bode DeZelar, Jack Majerus, Myles Reichmann, Austin Hoverud, Cole Kittelson, Kenneth Czech, John Jenson and Ben Jenson, but the Lakers do return a number of key individuals.

The Lakers, who beat Howard Lake-WW (18-12 in overtime) and Melrose (28-6), were outscored last season by a 321-127 margin.  Minnewaska Area was seeded fifth for the Section 6AAA Tourney and the Lakers lost at fourth-seeded Sauk Centre in the opening round, 52-18.

Albany and Rockford tied for top honors in the Mid State Northwest White Football sub-district with 6-1 league records, followed by Pierz (5-2),  Montevideo (4-3), Howard Lake-WW (3-4), Sauk Centre and Minnewaska (both 2-5) and Melrose Area (0-7).

Last year, Levi Johnson completed 60-of-128 passes for 836 yards.  Among the top returning receivers were Tristan O’Neill (10 catches for 178 yards), Luke Danielson (6-139), Owen Meulebroeck (4-53) and Zach Gugisberg (3-27).

Asante Adams, who ran 38 times for 183 yards, is the top returning ballcarrier, while Carter Meyer ran 36 times last year for 158 yards and Kearri Dickens had 10 rushes for 44 yards.

Earning All-District honors last year was Myles Reichmann, while earning recognition on the All-District honorable mention team were Jack Majerus and Austin Ballhagen.

Earning the “Solem Strong Memorial Award” last season for the Lakers was Kenneth Czech, and winning the “Dan Wold Memorial Award” were John Jenson and Cole Kittelson.

The Lakers opened up the 2023 season with a 40-20 loss to Morris Area.  Following a 46-8 loss at Sauk Centre and 35-0 loss at home to Pierz, the Lakers picked up their first win with a 18-12 overtime victory at Howard Lake-WW, Sept. 22.

The next three weeks were losses as Minnewaska fell to Rockford in the Homecoming game, 34-7, and then lost at home to Francis O’Malley and Montevideo, 44-22, before losing at Albany, 52-6.

In the final regular season game, the Lakers won at Melrose Area, 28-6, before the season came to an end with the loss to Sauk Centre in the playoff opener.