Osborne learns some tough lessons

Other than the "1" in the loss column, the number most bugging Mounds View football coach Jim Galvin was 25 -- the number of passes attempted by his run-oriented offense.

Woodbury stifled the Mustangs ground game in a 21-20 Week 1 victory. Their top three running backs combined for just 107 yards on 27 carries. Senior Andy Osborne, a 5-6, 189-pound bull of an inside runner, was held to 63 yards on 13 carries.

Establishing the run was top priority in Week 2 against Stillwater. Though running inside behind new starters at the center and guard positions, Osborne broke through and keyed a 41-10 demolition of the Ponies. He ran 16 times for 108 yards and three touchdowns. Galvin said the Mustangs did not attempt a pass in the second half.

Osborne, and the Mustangs play rival White Bear Lake at 7 p.m. Friday at Mounds View. He spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about the importance of the running game, the coaching of Maurice Turner and two valuable lessons he learned last season.

Q It seems the running game really is the difference for this offense.

A It's huge because, basically, our whole offense relies on how we do on our traps, our sweeps and our bellies. If we can run effectively, we can win games. In the Stillwater game we ran those three plays the majority of the game.

Q What changes were made leading up to the Stillwater game?

A Our new offensive coordinator, Mark Schommer, took me and the other running backs aside after the Woodbury game and asked what we thought we could have done better. The consensus was establishing the running game. I think we definitely did that against Stillwater.

Q Coach Galvin said running backs coach Maurice Turner always talks about your vision as the key to your success.

A I try to let the play develop and then I hit the seam as hard as I can. Coach Turner has really helped me with my footwork, and he's helped me see the field better. I was a guard in eighth grade, then I played some fullback as a ninth-grader. I was sloppy then, but working with coach Turner has helped me get a lot better.

Q I watched you go for more than 200 yards last season against White Bear Lake, and you were finishing your runs hard. Is that a big point of emphasis for you?

A I try to play with the mindset that every play could be my last play. That something my dad told me last year before the White Bear Lake game. I felt like I was coming in pretty good after the first two games last year, but looking at the film I saw I could do more. He and I sat down and talked about trying to get as many yards as possible on every play.

Q Sorry to bring it up, but you fumbled in the Stillwater game. Does that give you something extra to work on this week?

A Definitely. After watching the film, I felt I went down on a few runs too easily. And that fumble let the defense down. Coach Turner is big on holding onto the football. In the section semifinals last year I fumbled in the second quarter, and I didn't see the field again until the fourth quarter. He pulled me aside afterward and said it wasn't the fumble -- he felt like I wasn't playing to my potential. He was trying to motivate me, and he definitely did.

Q Wow, between Coach Turner and talking with your dad, you learned some pretty tough lessons.

A Definitely. Last year was a great experience, and hopefully we'll have an even better experience this year.

DAVID LA VAQUE