Wolves open season
at North Branch

By GARY LARSON
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 8/28/02

Milaca opens its 2002 football season tonight (Thursday) with a Rum River Conference game at North Branch at 7 oíclock.

Both teams are young and relatively inexperienced.

And, both teams have new head coaches.

"Weíre in pretty similar situations," said Milaca Coach Randy Johnson, whoís beginning his second stint as Milaca head football coach. "I think both teams know they have a lot of work to do and are anxious to see just where theyíre at.

"Both teams should find some answers. And, both teams will be trying to start the conference season out with a win."

Johnson was also Milacaís football coach from 1988-1990.

Milaca got a taste of action in an intra-squad scrimmage Thursday night, Aug. 22 and at a four-team scrimmage at Albany Saturday, which also included Becker and Holdingford.

"The intra-squad scrimmage, with the youth teams, the ninth grade and junior varsity also playing, was a great way to get things going," said Johnson. "At Albany Saturday, we saw some positive things and we saw areas that we really need to work on.

"We ran the ball well at times but we also had some trouble with our blocking schemes. We were happy with our play at quarterback and defensively, we had some bright spots."

Milacaís opening offensive unit against North Branch will have sophomore Cody Pearson at quarterback, senior Mike Maiorino at fullback, seniors Kurt Koskela and Derek Beutz at the wing back spots, senior Tim Veurink and junior Darin Koppendrayer at wide receivers, juniors Derrick Fetters and Bryan Witschen at the tackles, senior Bob Sumner and sophomore Randy Hjort at the guard spots and junior Mitch Vedders at center.

Junior wing backs Clay Hoeck and Josh Loegering, sophomore wide receiver Adam Ruis and senior wide receiver Joe Barrett will also see playing time on offense.

Defensively, Milaca will open with senior Tony Swenson and junior Hunter Norrgard at the ends, junior Tony Villaneva at nose guard, Witschen at tackle, Vedders, Maiorino and sophomore Andy Kotsmith at the linebackers, Hoeck and Beutz at the corner back posts and Ruis and Barrett at the safety positions.

Sophomore Jon Moorlag will also see action at linebacker and Loegering (corner back), Fetters (end), Hjort (tackle) and Sumner (nose tackle) will also see action on the defensive side.

Senior tackle Matt Kortus, who suffered a broken wrist before practice started, is scheduled to have the cast taken off this week but probably wonít play until Milaca hosts Mora Friday, Sept. 6.

Joel Swanson is the new head coach at North Branch.