Head Coach Dwight Lundeen and his coaching staff have 78 football players for grades 10-12. They are vying this year to return to the state playoffs after missing that opportunity last year with a loss to Zimmerman in the Section 6AAAA semifinals.

Becker finished the regular season at 3-5.

Lundeen returns the majority of his superb coaching staff including  Dr. Brent Scheidemann, Mike Lundeen, Hokan Bengtson, Troy Robinson, Tyler Niedfeldt,, Tom Cox, Brady Cobb, Denny Hansen and Derek Bjornstad. Sam Johnson, a former player for Dwight, will be coaching the offensive line. Josh Otto is working with the  defensive backs and Scott Doss is the team’s analytics coach.

Though the Bulldogs return to the Mississippi 8  Conference, it doesn’t change where they are designated in the football district. They remain in the Northwest White division with teams from Big Lake, Hutchinson, Princeton, Rocori, St. Cloud Apollo and Willmar.

Hutchinson appears to be Becker’s toughest foe after they went 8-0 in the regular season last year and are returning the majority of their players. The Tigers lost to Waseca in the Section 2AAAA semifinals last year  to finish 8-1.

Big Lake went 4-4, Princeton 1-7, Rocori 1-7, Apollo 4-4 and Willmar 7-1

QB Josh Fobbe will be key to Becker’s success this year after coming off a knee injury that had him playing at less than 100% for the majority of the season. He will wear a brace on that knee and will be expected to do a more with his arm and less with his legs, which is fine with Coach Lundeen.

“Josh is very gifted,” he says. “He’s probably the best QB I’ve had in my many years here.”

Lundeen is beginning  his 50th season as Becker head football coach. He himself is hobbled by recent knee replacement surgery but doesn’t plan on missing any games on the sidelines.

“Josh (Fobbe) had a great first game,” Lundeen said after last Friday’s win over Monticello. 

“He has worked very hard at rehabing his knee.”

Zack Wenner is Fobbe’s backup and Lundeen is sure he’ll be ready should ge ever be called upon to play.

“We also have two 10th grade QB’s in Hayden Harmoning and Eric Seavert.”

Defense was in the spotlight last week even though they have but one senior on that side of the ball. Bengtson and his staff have done a remarkable job with the younger players in getting them ready to play at a high level.

Junior Brayden     Weber — outside linebacker is a player to watch along with the Halvorson twins (Tommy and Teddy), who bring great passion and energy to every play from their middle linebacker positions.

“Team speed on defense and our passing and receiving are the strengths of our team,” said Lundeen.

Fobbe will set his sights on wide receivers Nick Mittelstaedt, Dalton Fouquette, Cade Callahan, Hunter Klatt and Carter Hietala to reel in his tosses and shake the defenders. In the backfield, Fobbe has  Austin Berning, Isaac Koop, Morgan Boros and others to give Becker a solid running game.

“Analytics has become a big part of our game preparation,” said Lundeen. “There is so much information on each team that we did not have years ago.”

Lundeen says the culture on how his staff treats players remains the same  — by motivating them thru encouragement — his  coaches are great at breaking down film.

“We have a different game plan for each game,” he said. “We try and take their best plays away and run plays that we think will be best against their defense.”

One of the team’s biggest surprises so far this season is the addition of soccer star, Emma Domka as the placekicker for field goals and extra points. Friday she went 2-for-4 in her kicking opportunities.