LAKEVILLE — Grant Mayer noticed the difference before Friday’s first snap. Lakeville South’s warmups were the most energized he had seen all season, and the Cougars carried that edge into a 26-6 rivalry win over Lakeville North.
“I felt like we took control of the game from the start,” Mayer said. “Right away our warm-ups were more energized than what they have been all year. I feel like we brought that into the game and all the way to the finish.”
The win moved Lakeville South to 2-1 and dropped Lakeville North to 1-2. The Panthers had scored 49 points in a win over Farmington the previous week. South held them to six Friday.
Mayer, a senior linebacker, said beating North showed the Cougars something about themselves three games into the season.
“Beating North meant a lot to this team,” Mayer said. “It showed that we have resilience to bounce back after a tough game last week. Also that we are willing to learn and get better every week.”
Lakeville South coach Ben Burk saw a team that did not allow the rivalry to change what it wanted to be.
“We have high standards for ourselves that we don’t allow the other team to impact,” Burk said. “We played our version of football for most of the game.”
That had been harder to do seven days earlier.
Shakopee beat Lakeville South 32-14 on Sept. 11, handing the Cougars their first loss after a season-opening win at Mounds View.
Burk said the days that followed told him plenty about his group.
“They were hungry to improve and be the best at getting better from week 2 to week 3,” Burk said.
Mayer said much of the week was spent sharpening the details that had caused problems, with South emphasizing energy and focus in practice.
“We emphasized our energy and focus throughout the week,” Mayer said. “Especially on the small things that we have struggled with. That showed up a lot on Friday.”
Mayer said the Cougars made a point of not allowing the rain or the opponent to dictate their attention.
Burk pointed to something even more fundamental when asked where South had improved most through three weeks.
“Assignment and alignment discipline,” Burk said. “When we do it right, we’re tough to beat.”
An experienced senior group has helped set those standards.
Burk singled out Mayer and fellow seniors running back Griffen Dean, quarterback/linebacker Gavin Stuart, tight end/defensive tackle Brady McCloud and linebacker/offensive lineman Dahsen McCloud among the players driving the level of accountability and intensity he wants from the Cougars.
“They push a high level of accountability and intensity,” Burk said.
Mayer sees it in smaller moments.
“We have a special focus on wanting to get better every play and owning our mistakes when we make them,” he said.
He pointed to offensive players finishing blocks and defenders running to the football as examples of the effort South expects snap after snap.
Burk described the same focus in how his players handled each snap.
“They were the most excited team to play and they did not let the last play or the next play affect how they approached the current play,” Burk said.