Oakdale Patch Football Friday: Tartan vs. North Branch, North vs. South St. Paul

TARTAN vs. NORTH BRANCH

Teams: Tartan (0-1, 0-1 Classic Suburban Conference) vs. North Branch (0-1, 0-1 North Suburban Conference)

Playmakers:

• Dakota McGeehan (Tartan- Linebacker) Considered one of two anchors on the defensive side by head coach Tim Murtha.
• Elijah McGeehan (Tartan– Running Back) Sophomore led the team in rushing with 39 yards and nine carries in the season opener. 
• Zack Sundly (North Branch – Running Back) Junior rushed for 48 yards and one score in the season opener. 
• Brett Klun (North Branch – Receiver) Caught three passes for 45 yards and one touchdown.

Titans win if: They can find a balanced attack after being held in check by a good Mahtomedi defense in the season opener.

Vikings win if: They can find some more offensive firepower. They scored 19 points and only lost by three in the season, despite gaining only 111 yards.

2-Minute Drill
SITE: North Branch High School
TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
WEATHER: Clear, 58 degrees
LAST MEETING: The Titans defeated North Branch 21-14 at home in the second game of the 2010 season.

Tartan Schedule
Fri, Sept. 2 vs. Mahtomedi L 19-7
Fri, Sept. 9 at North Branch
Fri, Sept. 16 vs. North St. Paul
Fri, Sept. 23 at St. Thomas Academy
Fri, Sept. 30 vs. Hill-Murray
Thu, Oct. 6 at Henry Sibley
Fri, Oct. 14 vs. Richfield
Wed, Oct. 19 at South St. Paul

North Branch Schedule
Thu, Sept. 1 St. Louis Park L 22-19
Fri, Sept. 9 Tartan
Fri, Sept. 16 at Chisago Lakes Area
Fri, Sept. 23 Robbinsdale Cooper
Fri, Sept. 30 Columbia Heights
Fri, Oct. 7 at St. Francis
Fri, Oct. 14 Irondale
Wed, Oct. 19 at Totino-Grace

NORTH ST. PAUL vs. SOUTH ST. Paul

Teams: North St. Paul (0-1, 0-1 Classic Suburban Conference) vs. South St. Paul (1-0, 1-0 Classic Suburban Conference)

Playmakers:

• Quentin Mann (North St. Paul – Wide Receiver) Caught three passes for 63 yards in the season opening loss to Richfield. 
• Brady Soular (North St. Paul – Quarterback) Completed six of eleven passes for 105 yards and rushed for 40 more after an injury to the starting signal caller. 
• Sam Sura (South St. Paul – Running Back) Three-sport standout who was a KARE-11 preseason All-Metro selection.  He combined for 110 yards in the opener. 
• Harrison Rund (South St. Paul – Quarterback) Rushed for 1057 yards and 23 touchdowns, but completed just ten passes all last season for a rushing-dominated team. However, he showed off his arm in the season opener with 140 yards passing to go and three passing touchdowns on just four attempts. He added 85 rushing yards and another score.

Polars win if: They can keep the Packers’ strong rushing attack off the field. 

Packers win if: They can win if they dominate the time of possession with the rushing of Sura and Rund.

2-Minute Drill
SITE: North St. Paul High School
TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
WEATHER: Clear, 58 degrees
LAST MEETING: South St. Paul defeated North St. Paul 26-19 at home in the second game of the 2010 season.

NORTH ST. PAUL SCHEDULE
Thu, Sept. 1 at Richfield L 27-13
Fri, Sept. 9 vs. South St. Paul
Fri, Sept. 16 at Tartan
Fri, Sept. 23 vs. Simley
Fri, Sept. 30 at St. Thomas Academy
Fri, Oct. 7 vs. Mahtomedi
Fri, Oct. 14 vs. Henry Sibley
Wed, Oct. 19 at Edina

SOUTH ST. PAUL SCHEDULE
Thu, Sept. 1 vs. Henry Sibley W 35-0
Fri, Sept. 9 at North St. Paul
Fri, Sept. 16 vs. Duluth East
Sat, Sept. 24 at Hill-Murray
Fri, Sept. 30 at Simley
Fri, Oct. 7 vs. Richfield
Fri, Oct. 14 at Mahtomedi
Wed, Oct. 19 vs. Tartan