Football Saturday: Eastview vs. Rosemount

GAME

(4-5, 3-5 South Suburban Conference) vs. (5-3, 5-3 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

—Ryan Reger (Eastview, quarterback)

Reger threw for one touchdown in Tuesday’s 14-7 quarterfinal win over Burnsville. However, he was just 6-of-21 through the air. He was 20-of-30 for 176 yards against Rosemount two weeks ago, but in that game he threw three interceptions.

—Eric Krupke (Eastview, running back)

Krupke, who had 11 rushes for 70 yards, scored the game-winning touchdown with about five minutes remaining in the section quarterfinal win. The Lightning’s featured back, Krupke had a 40-yard reception earlier in the drive to set up the score.

—Nate Lemoine (Rosemount, quarterback)

“If EV decides to go man free again with no safeties, Nate will need to hit on the deep pass plays we will run,” coach Jeff Erdmann wrote in an email. “Last time we had 6 20+ yard plays against that look because Nate was able to the ball on guys.”

—Jake O’Malley, Micah Marshall and Ben Sandoz (Rosemount, defensive backs)

“Our DBs must be in good position to make plays on balls thrown from the spread sets and vs. play-action,” Erdmann wrote. Because Eastview has struggled to sustain long drives, the Irish will need to reduce or eliminate the big play. Each of the three had an interception in the team’s last meeting.

EASTVIEW WINS IF...

...the team can keep the Rosemount rushing attack in check anywhere close to what they did Tuesday against Burnsville, limiting the Blaze to 2.2 yards per carry (62 total yards). Eastview must have some time-consuming drives, and cannot beat itself like it did in the Oct. 14 loss to the Irish. The Lightning had three interceptions in that one.

ROSEMOUNT WINS IF...

...the team can roll up another 363 yards of offense like they did against Eastview earlier this month. Rosemount ran for 214 yards in that game, averaging 6.5 yards per rush. Quarterback Nate Lemoine ran for 109 yards in that one, but also effectively mixed in the pass with 149 yards through the air. On defense, Erdmann wrote, the Irish must be good in open-field tackling when Eastview goes to its spread sets. Rosemount needs to get off to a better start than it did in its regular season finale when it allowed Eagan to score on its first two drives for a 14-0 lead; Rosemount had one first-down in the opening half of that game. Nor can the Irish hurt themselves with turnovers or penalties.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE: Rosemount High School

TIME: 7 p.m. Saturday

WEATHER: Clear, 48 degrees

LAST MEETING: Rosemount won 28-21 at Eastview two weeks ago.

EASTVIEW SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 @ Lakeville North       

Fri. Sept. 9     vs. Lakeville South    

Fri. Sept. 16   @ Eagan                  

Fri. Sept. 23   vs. Bloomington Kennedy   

Fri. Sept. 30   vs. Apple Valley       

Fri. Oct. 7       @ Burnsville           

Fri. Oct. 14     vs. Rosemount         L 28-21

Wed. Oct. 19 @ Bloomington Jefferson    W 61-0

Tues. Oct. 25 vs. Burnsville        

Sat. Oct. 29 @ Rosemount

ROSEMOUNT SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 @ Bloomington Kennedy   W 28-6

Fri. Sept. 9     vs. Burnsville                 

Fri. Sept. 16   @ Prior Lake                   W 13-6

Fri. Sept. 23   vs. Lakeville North          

Fri. Sept. 30   @ Lakeville South           

Fri. Oct. 7        vs. Apple Valley             

Fri. Oct. 14     @ Eastview                    W 28-21

Wed. Oct. 19   vs. Eagan                     

Tues. Oct. 25 First Round Bye

Sat. Oct. 29     vs. Eastview