Special,
BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER
The third component of what makes a football team click is often the one that goes unnoticed.
Who executes on offense and defense normally draws the most attention, but special teams often determine the outcome — especially in the playoffs.
A kickoff or punt return, blocked kick, clutch field goal or a punt that pins a team deep in their own territory can be the difference between advancing or going home.
Albany football coach Mike Ellingson makes sure his team realizes how crucial special teams are, and it is a big reason the Huskies are making their second straight and 22nd overall appearance in the Minnesota State High School League State Tournament.
“Accountability is the word we continue to strive for — and discipline,” Ellingson said. “There
Return game big factor in Albany’s success
are a lot of good football players on this team that, in a normal circumstance, would have a much bigger role. With them finding their role and owning into that role (on special teams), that has been to the betterment of this team.”
It would certainly be surprising if special teams do not play a role when Albany faces Fergus Falls in a battle of unbeatens in the Class AA state quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at Alexandria Area High School in Alexandria. In the first year of seeding in the state football tournament, the Huskies are the No. 4 seed in the north half of the bracket. The Otters are the No. 1 seed in the north.
If Albany wins, it would play the highest remaining seed from the south bracket at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Defending Class AAA champion
Stewartville is the top seed in the south, followed by No. 2 DasselCokato, No. 3 Fairmont and No. 4 Holy Family Catholic.
The Huskies have gotten big boosts in the return game from Ethan Meyer and Elliott Burnett. Meyer returned kickoffs for touchdowns in wins over Minnewaska Area and Montevideo in the final two weeks of the regular season. Burnett also has a punt return for a touchdown and is averaging 14 yards per return.
“We have two guys back there that are tremendous athletes that, as an opposing coach, they don’t want to kick the ball to,” Ellingson said.
Meyer returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown in a 52-7 win over Montevideo and also set the tone with a 75-yard kickoff return in a 21-0 win over Minnewaska Area.
PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK
Ethan Meyer (right) breaks to the outside during a punt return in the Section 6AAA championship game against MInnewaska Area Nov. 1 at Blattner Stadium at Rocori High School in Cold Spring. Meyer and Elliott Burnett have made an excellent returner pairing for Albany’s energetic special teams unit so far this season.
is one of several returning starters for a depth-driven Albany defense.
Defense
from page 4F
“As a team, having a line that can eat up blocks and can force the running back to have to go to me, it’s something they’ll never get enough credit for,” Brinkman said. “It’s cool getting all of the tackles, but I could never replace what the line has done for me.”
That defensive line does a lot more than eat up blocks; oftentimes, they are shedding right past them and stuffing the ball-carrier. Senior captain Zach Stradtmann has forced two fumbles and recovered three of them to go with 50 tackles and four sacks; junior Jake Buttweiler has become a force in his own right with 56 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks; and Brady Evenson has stepped into a larger role due to injuries and has never relinquished it, making 36 tackles in eight games.
Eleven different defenders have contributed to Albany’s 35 sacks so far, and nine more have collected at least one of its 48 tackles for loss as a group. This level of success is especially impressive considering the Huskies are usually the smaller team come Friday nights.
“We’re not the biggest team; there’s not a lot of matchups where you look at it and we’re the bigger guys,” Stradtmann said. “Our weight-lifting program — we have Coach (Aaron) Schwenzfeier, and he’s a high-level trainer, and he pushes us and trains us like athletes. If you watch our film, we’re quick off the ball, and our quickness and speed and fight every play, that helps us a lot.”
Albany also effectively utilizes the skillsets of an athletic secondary. Defensive backs Ethan Meyer, Bennett Hylla, Elliott Burnett and Braeden Justin all also play basketball during winters, and their ability to stick with the player in front of them and highpoint passes for interceptions has made throwing the ball against the Huskies a difficult task. Those fearsome four have combined to pull down 11 interceptions.
“They like to lay in the weeds and bait a quarterback into making a throw the quarterback definitely should not make,” Ellingson said. “They’ve been good at it. They have a way of getting to the ball.”
Schwenzfeier has helped the Huskies gain an extra step with strength and conditioning, but control and consistency on the defensive end often
comes from understanding the chess match that football often is. Coach Kuhn has worked to simplify the systems in place to help his players “unleash” their skills on the football field.
“We pride ourselves in making sure the guys are prepared so there are no surprises,” Kuhn said. “We ensure that they see the formations they’re going to see, the plays they’re going to see, the concepts they’re going to see. Even if a team comes out with a wrinkle, we’ve prepared for them.”
And as the Huskies prepare for their first Minnesota State High School League Class AAA Football State Tournament game against Fergus Falls at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at Alexandria Area High School in Albany, they know they have the personalities and playmakers to get the job done. With being able to bring in different looks and players in a constant rotation, Albany’s defense is almost always fresh and ready to make life chaotic for opposing offenses.
“That’s the biggest thing: the energy,” Stradtmann said. “We always have it, because we all support each other and care about each other. When we go out and play, we’re not doing it for ourselves, we’re doing it for the whole team.”
GOOD LUCK HUSKIES!
PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK
Zach Stradtmann reaches Rockford’s quarterback to record a sack Oct. 4 at Michael Field at Herges Stadium in Albany. Stradtmann
FOOTBALL Q&A
Captaininga
Captaining a Class AAA contender
Being a captain for the Albany Huskies football team is an honor not just given to any athlete. The Star Post caught up with the team’s four senior captains for the 2024 fall season and asked them questions for a Q&A.
#52
Zach Stradtmann
offensive lineman and linebacker
Parents : Derik Funk and Kelli Stradtmann
I’mt meand d Pa What playin Foot b s a per s hat. Bei ke prid e r year s as i
Jack Eveslage
Parents: Steve and Sarah Eveslage
What does it mean to you to be a part of the rich Albany history of playing football in the state tournament? Just being a small part of the long, rich tradition is an honor in itself, and continuing the Huskies football legacy.
What motivates you to succeed in football? Giving 100%, knowing everyone else on the team is doing the same.
What is your music of choice after a big win? Shania Twain.
Do you love winning or hate losing more, and why? Hate losing. Everyone loves to win, but the thought of losing motivates me more.
#69
What do you credit your undefeated season so far to? All of the coaches that help prepare us for each game, whether that be on the field or in the weight room. Also, all of the people in the community that support us week-to-week, filling the stands and cheering us on.
What does it mean to you to be a part of the rich Albany history of playing football in the state tournament? It means everything to me. Football has been a very important part of my life and shaping who I am as a person, and I believe that the program Albany has is a very large factor in that. Being able to be a captain and a leader in this program is something I take pride in because of how much I looked up to previous captains in my younger years. Being able to represent this team is something very special to me, and I’m thankful to have been given this opportunity.
What motivates you to succeed in football? I find so much motivation in pushing myself to be better as a player and a leader from the community. The amount of support the team is shown is incredible, and you can feel that support every single Friday under the lights. Just having so many people supporting the team really gives me the motivation day in and day out to be better.
What is your music of choice after a big win? We actually have had almost a tradition the last few years of playing “Grenade” by Bruno Mars in the showers, and everyone bellows it out after a win.
Do you love winning or hate losing more, and why? I love winning more than I hate losing, because in my eyes, I see losses as something to really benefit from. Although we haven’t had any losses yet this year, I remember the feeling last year of opening night, coming out and losing badly to New London-Spicer. After that loss, the whole team came into the season with more grit and determination, and when we were given the chance to play them again, we showed that grit and determination to win late in the fourth quarter of the section finals last year.
What do you credit your undefeated season so far to? The faith our coaches have had in us from the start has been a driving factor all season. They believe in us and push every day, because they know we have what it takes to be great. They teach us to never be satisfied and to always work to be better. Their dedication to the team really helps us bond as well. There is not one single player on our team that I don’t consider family, and many people feel the same way as well. I feel like that altogether really keeps us hungry to keep winning and going.
#0
Ethan Meyer
running back, wide receiver and punter
Parents: Jim and Lisa Meyer
whe w : J W fo on a maki
What does it mean to you to be a part of the rich Albany history of playing football in the state tournament? It’s definitely an honor to just be able to play on a team that has always had such a strong reputation, along with a tradition of making it to these big games.
What motivates you to succeed in football? Just knowing that every day is another opportunity to get better and making sure to use those opportunities to the best of your abilities.
What is your music of choice after a big win? I can always go for some Bruno Mars or “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.
What opportu l t es at yo o abi Wh ano M “P “Pia
Do you love winning or hate losing more, and why? I definitely hate losing more because growing up, my sister would always beat me in games we were playing, so I eventually got sick of losing.
What do you credit your undefeated season so far to? Our coaches. They put in hours every week to prepare us, along with putting us in positions to succeed each week.
Boone Roemeling
and defensive back
rents: J
Parents: Josh and Krysta Roemeling
What does it mean to you to be a part of the rich Albany history of playing football in the state tournament? It means a lot to be a part of a program with this much success in its history.
What motivates you to succeed in football? The standard and dedication we have at practice and if you don’t meet it, you feel as if you let the team down.
What is your music of choice after a big win?
Dolly Parton.
Do you love winning or hate losing more, and why? I hate losing more, because I don’t like the ‘what ifs’ after losing.
What do you credit your undefeated season so far to? The coaches give us an excellent plan each game, and the guys on scout team give us great looks week after week.
“I have goosebumps thinking about it,” said Todd Kuhn, defensive coordinator. “… You could see the pride in his eyes. He sat up a little straighter and spoke to the guys, and this year, the voice wasn’t as strong as it was in the past, but the guys were quiet and hung on every word had to say.”
Though all the coaching staff got together and sought ways to honor Herges, it was Kuhn who turned those ideas and thoughts into reality. He approached a neighbor with a design and printing background ahead of the Pierz game, asking them if they could help create stickers for the Huskies to wear. She had them ready by the next day. When the players heard about the idea, they were more than in favor of it.
“I thought it was a great idea to represent a guy that’s been in the Albany football program for so long and (to) represent him,” said Haiden Linn, senior. “… It’s an honor to wear it. There’s only one Pete Herges, and he’s really the one who started (the tradition of) Albany football.”
This type of support and admiration is not something that can necessarily be expected out of players who did not actually play under Herges. They were not a part of his 27-year coaching career that included 168 wins to only 51 losses and 13 conference championships. However, the way he coached and the lessons he instilled in his players and those around him are the same that have been taught and instilled in
Albany’s
players
every year since his retirement as activities director in 1993.
“The kids grab onto something that’s real,” said Mader, a longtime friend of Herges’ who coached the Huskies from 1980 to 2003.
“It’s not just a name; they met the person. He’s always been a part of the football practices. … The kids honor him, and they know him.”
Herges’ impact on Albany’s football team so many years after his coaching career ended could best be summed up through a touching way of saying goodbye. At Herges’ funeral Oct. 26, the same day the Huskies were set to play the Sauk Centre Streeters in the section semifinals, several seniors from the team
showed up to the event in their jerseys, bringing a touch of Purple Pride and football to the ceremony.
“When these players walked into the church that day, it brought tears (to your eyes) and raised the hair on your head,” said Kleinschmidt, who served as assistant coach for 18 years and head coach for 19 more at Albany. “It spoke volumes not only about Pete, but of the integrity of the athletes that are a part of the team. That was a powerful, symbolic message.”
Albany is returning to the Minnesota State High School League Class AAA Football State Tournament, a familiar setting for a program that has qualified for state 22 times in its history. It feels fitting, in a way, that in a season Co in re p s ad the n the bout were avor it it was
dedicated to Herges’ memory, the Huskies are representing him and the rest of the Albany community at the highest level of competition.
“Pete would be proud of this,” Kleinschmidt said.
PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK
Cooper Brinkman brings down a Rockford ball-carrier as Elliott Burnett backs up the play
at Michael Field at Herges Stadium in Albany. On the back of Brinkman and Burnett’s helmets are purple stickers adorned with the
recognize the late Pete Herges, a longtime head coach and activities director at Albany.
LET’S GO
