Tahi Nomane

Maple Grove

Football • sr.

The running back purged a season of disappointment with a memorable debut in the Crimson's 41-0 victory over Armstrong.

He rushed 11 times for 248 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 5, 55, 73 and 47 yards.

Growing up in Brooklyn Park, Nomane's family moved to Maple Grove last year. But the move came too late, so he spent his junior season on the JV.

"Honestly, it was very fulfilling," Nomane said. "I've been doing a lot of preparing for this season, working out harder than ever. This is my junior and my senior seasons rolled into one."

At 6-1 and 205 pounds, with 40-yard dash time in the 4.6 range, Nomane harbors a realistic dream of playing college football. Games like the one he had Thursday will go a long way toward making that happen, but he's aware that success comes with a price: having to face opposing defenses geared to stop him.

"I'm not too worried," he laughed. "If [the Vikings' Adrian Peterson] can face eight men in the box and still get his yards, so can I."

Kira Grev, St. Croix Lutheran volleyball

JIM PAULSEN

KIRA GREV

St. Croix Lutheran

Volleyball • sr.

The senior outside hitter led the Crusaders to a pair of impressive season-opening victories over Mayer Lutheran and New Life Academy. Combined, she had 45 kills, a .495 kill percentage, 50 digs and a .977 serving percentage with five aces.

NICK LEACH

East Ridge

Football • sr.

Behind one of the metro's best offensive lines, the senior running back found plenty of room to run. He rushed 15 times for 228 yards — a 15.2 yards-per-carry average — and two touchdowns as the Raptors downed White Bear Lake 48-15.

MARISA KNOTT

Rosemount

Soccer • sr.

The senior striker has been on a scoring binge through the early stages of the season. Last week she had three goals and an assist — on a team-leading 11 shots — as the Irish defeated Duluth East 3-0 and Hastings 5-0. In five games, Knott has seven goals and four assists.

ZACH NEIBERGER

Minneapolis Southwest

Soccer • sr.

One of the state's top defensive midfielders, Neiberger not only helped the Lakers to victories over Class 2A, No. 4 Apple Valley (2-1) and No. 1 Eastview (3-1), he chipped in some impressive offense, scoring three goals and getting an assist.

GABBY PITERA

Minnetonka

Soccer • fr.

Last week, Pitera showed a level of skill not often seen in a first-year varsity player. Her ball control abilities were vital to the Skippers' 2-1 victory over Class 2A, No. 9 Eastview. She then displayed a knack for scoring with four goals in an 8-0 rout of Andover.

JOE VIRGA

Chisago Lakes

Football • jr.

The 5-8, 170-pound defensive back made a pair of game-changing interceptions in a 40-7 victory over Big Lake. He returned the first one 72-yards for a touchdown to break a 7-7 tie and brought the second back 91 yards for a score to halt a Big Lake drive.