Crusaders will be underdog vs. DeLaSalle

The Crusaders are definitely outnumbered. Only 13 players are expected to see game action.

DeLaSalle beat the Crusaders 34-14 in week two. Lemke said his team "hopes to hang in there" in the rematch. Defending section champion DeLaSalle (10-0) is outscoring opponents by an average score of 54-10.

St. Croix Lutheran, located in West St. Paul, also lost to St. Anthony Village before winning the section playoff rematch last week.

When Buffalo faces St. Cloud Tech in Saturday's Class 5A, Section 8 championship game in Collegeville, there will be no surprises when the Bison have the ball. They will run, run and run some more behind a large stable of backs.

"We've got five different running backs," leading rusher Taylor Vick said. "It's awesome. We've got threats coming from everywhere."

Vick, a strong, speedy senior, leads Buffalo with 1,110 yards and 12 touchdowns. He scored twice in Saturday's 20-14 victory over Brainerd, including the winning touchdown in overtime.

"Taylor Vick doesn't know how to stop running; he's a machine," Bison coach Gerard Rohl said. "What is he, 150 pounds? He really is a workhorse for us."

Buffalo is 9-1, losing only to St. Michael-Albertville in the second game of the year. The No. 2 rusher behind Vick is Taylor Gaughan with 677 yards and nine touchdowns. Four others have each rushed at least 25 times this season for a total of 987 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"We've just got a bunch of little guys who carry the ball, six or seven guys," Rohl said. "And we've got a bunch of seniors who don't know how to quit."

While the play of Roseville running back Tony Kablan has been the most obvious reason why the Raiders, the No. 7 seed in the section, have pulled off two upsets en route to the Class 5A, Section 2 championship game Friday at Mounds View, it's certainly not the only reason.

According to head coach Chris Simdorn, extra film sessions led to a change in coaching strategy.

"We noticed on film that our kids weren't doing what we practiced," Simdorn said. "So we refocused on transferring the game plan to the field and on cutting down on mental errors."

So far, so good. The Roseville defense has not given up the big plays that were a bugaboo during the regular season, holding Irondale and White Bear Lake to 26 total points in two postseason games.

Changing the roles of three players has bolstered Coon Rapids' offense.

The Cardinals (8-2) head to Blaine for the Class 5A, Section 7 championship game at 7 p.m. Friday averaging 48.8 points in their past five games.

Used sparingly as a running back, Evan Lowe has scored six times in the past five games as a slot receiver. Lowe switched positions with Jeremy Oakley, who has run for four touchdowns in the past five games.

And freshman running back Antonio Ford has emerged, scoring four touchdowns in the past five games.

Only one of Coon Rapids' past five opponents had a winning record. The Cardinals' most recent loss came against Blaine (8-1) in week three.

Last year's section final between Champlin Park and Wayzata is remembered differently at the two schools. For Wayzata, a blocked punt for a safety in the waning moments of regulation broke a 21-21 tie and sent the Trojans to the state tournament. For the Rebels, it was a heartbreaking finish to a game they led 21-14 late.

On Friday, the teams will go toe-to-toe in a rematch that Rebels quarterback Ben Duncan said the team has been thinking about for a year.

It might also be the best Class 5A section final on a night full of them. Champlin Park has won nine consecutive games since losing its opener. Wayzata is undefeated and believed by some to be the leading contender to win a state title.

"We know they're a great football team," Duncan said.

MICHAEL RAND, DAVID LA VAQUE AND JOHN MILLEA