After losing in the 6AAAA playoffs at home to the Big Lake Hornets last year, the Becker Bulldog football team is hoping to put that pain behind them and get back to the prominence that made them back-to-back state champions in 2015-15.
Can the Bulldogs put that defeat in their rear-view mirror?
You can if you are Dwight Lundeen and his coaching staff.
“We are 31-4 over the last three years,” said Lundeen. “All four losses came on the last play of each game. They are tough losses to say the least, but we move on and focus on all the good stuff. I really don't talk to the team much about last year, we try to focus on getting better each day.”
The Bulldogs finished 6-3 in 2016. This season marks the 48th year for Lundeen to be at the helm of Becker football.
“I truly am enjoying coaching again this year,” Lundeen said. “I feel very honored to still be the head coach of this program. We will still take it one year at a time and I love putting the pieces together to make another run at getting to US Bank stadium.
This year, things will be notably different as the Bulldogs move to a 24-school district made up of Mississippi 8 and Central Lakes Conferences. They will be playing all four of the 5A schools this year.
The Bulldogs graduated some tremendous talent from last year’s squad but Lundeen and his staff look forward to see what comes out of a team that looks solid offensively, but may have a few holes to patch defensively to start.
“On offense, we return our leading rusher Sidney Boros with 1200 yards rushing,” said Lundeen. “Lucas Dertinger is our leading receiver and our starting QB Josh Fobbe is back. On defense, we have Dertinger, Brady Sheeley and Nick Radunz as returning starters.”
Play good football. Have fun. Fight for a championship. That’s been Lundeen’s football philosophy since day one. It tends to take all the pressure off the players and coaches and gives the youngsters achievable goals.
During the off-season, several of the Bulldogs team participated in passing leagues and 7-on-7 tournaments. They nearly went undefeated, winning a tournament in Brainerd, in St. John’s and Buffalo and won the Minnesota Vikings annual 7-on-7 tournament.
Lundeen praises his young team and can’t help but brag about his trio of offensive talent in Fobbe, Boros and Dertinger.
“Josh Fobbe is a very special player,” said Lundeen of his Sophomore QB. “We are blessed to have him back. He is a great practice player, knows our offense very well and can make all the throws. I’m looking for him to have a great year.”
Fobbe completed 60 percent of his passes last year for almost 1,400 yards and 23 touchdowns in nine games when he was an all-district first team pick.
“He is big, strong and fast,” said Lundeen. “Everyone will love to see him play.”
Boros, a senior, had 1,679 yards of total offense and was an all-district first team pick last season. He has a 3.7 grade-point average and is a sprinter on the track team. He has been electronically timed at 4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash this past summer and is being recruited by several Division II schools including Minnesota State-Moorhead, Minnesota State-Mankato, Winona State and Minnesota-Duluth.
“I feel like I have good vision and I can make plays and I read my blockers well," said Boros.
Dertinger, another all-district first team pick, is receiving recruiting interest from NCAA Division III teams in the MIAC. He has fantastic hands and is a perfect target for Fobbe on offense, and on defense, he is always around the ball, causing chaos for opposing teams.
One other standout for Lundeen who doesn’t always get the kind of front-page notice is starting guard Nick Radunz, the younger brother of Dillon who looks to be the starting left tackle for NDSU football this fall.
Nick is expected to get offers from several Div. I schools, Lundeen says.
Other players to keep an eye on come opening day will be Travis Ferris, Sam Ricker and Austin Hemmelgarn.
Becker's returning starters on defense include Dertinger (53 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions) at outside linebacker, Ferris at linebacker, Ricker at free safety and Sheeley (42 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries) at defensive end. Lundeen said Radunz (23 tackles, 4 sacks, 7 tackles for loss) is also likely to start at nose guard.
Lundeen says Sheeley has put on at least 30 pounds since last season and will move to defensive end from strong safety to utilize his size and strength.
Fobbe will again be the team’s punter and Austin Berning will be the kickoff specialist while Dertinger is called upon for the PATs.
“We have a three-week practice schedule that we have followed for many years,” said Lundeen. “We put in all of our offense and defense and it’s great fun watching the players improving each day and then getting all the right pieces in place to give us the best chance to win.”
Lundeen says he also loves to work on the culture that is the heart of our program.
“Players are always treated with love and making the football experience is a positive one for all 83 players.
Lundeen will have his acclaimed talented coaches beside him on the sidelines including Hokan Bengtson, Troy Robinson, Tyler Niedfeldt, Denny Hansen, Brent Scheideman Derek Bjornstad, Dan Schlicht, Brady Cobb, Andrew Hamilton, Mike Lundeen, Jason Pfingsten and Todd Smith.
Student managers are Anthony Agnew, Cheyenne Springer and Erica Freeman.
By the way, don’t forget to circle Sept. 29th’s game on the calendar. It’s bound to be a thriller!
THE 2017 BECKER BULLDOG FOOTBALL TEAM. (In no particular order): Nick Mittelstaedt, Justin Reichle, Josh Fobbe, Zach Wenner, Jacob Drury, Austin Berning, Austin Hemmelgarn, Luke Eigen, Matthew Moe, Joey James, Cade Callahan, Morgan Boros, Sydney Boros, Lucas Dertinger, Bryce Boser, Brady Sheeley, Sam Ricker, Alex Blomgren, Riley Morrell, Adam Thelen, Mikey James, Logan Jurek, Jacob Berning, James Schafer, Blake Angell, Cole Koste, Brenton Arbuckle, Thomas Bader, Travis Ferris, Braeden Beutz, Kevyn Vilayphanh, Reid Kraus, Matt Krenz, Kevin Andres, Patrick Bernstrom, Buddy Kolby, Brayden Weber, Dylan Murphy, Lincoln Carlson, Reid Tripp, Bryce Halvorson, Matthew Powell, AJ Buntrock, Trenton Michels, Cole Barringer, Logan Sassen, Charlie Wright, Colton Johannes, Parker Seeley, Tristin Emholtz, Hayden Hurrle, Jack Jones, Jake Sable, Gage Gallus, Corey McDonald, Brandon Gustafson, Travis Voigt, Nick Radunz, Carter Gustafson, Kyle Goenner, Zackeriah Hollen, Carter Hietala, Kaiden Flowers, Walker Anderson, Dalton Fouquette, Connor Lucas, Hunter Golden, Aaron Halvorson, Aiden May, Scott Braun, Adam Golembeck, Blake Paulson, Brandon Denny, Bryce Brannan, Hunter Klatt, Isaac Koop, Jacob Eich, Lucas Ingram, Nick Pettit and Nik Hosier.
