Either running it or kicking it works for Eastview senior

Eastview's football team is back at state for the fourth time since 2002 because of a complete team effort in Friday's 24-15 Class 5A, Section 3 championship victory over Rosemount. But one of many standouts in the game was senior Peter Burke. As a running back, he rushed 13 times for 72 yards -- an average of 5.5 yards per carry -- and a pair of touchdowns. As a kicker, he routinely put the football into the end zone for a touchback on kickoffs and connected on a 31-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Lightning is now one victory away from playing indoors at the Metrodome, and the Star Tribune's Brian Stensaas talked with Burke as he prepared for Saturday's state quarterfinal game against Cretin-Derham Hall.

Q What's the feeling like when it's all over, and you've won the section championship?

A It feels great. Just winning a hard-fought, physical game is always good. We played them before and it went into overtime, so we knew it was going to be a tough one again. We knew we could beat them but we had to play with all we had.

Q I'm sure every victory feels good, but is there something extra when you beat a next-door neighbor like Rosemount?

A There's not more emphasis on a game like that; it feels good to win any game where you know you prepared all week and did the right things to win. But when it's a rival, yeah, you do feel great about it.

Q Have you always been a kicker?

A I used to play club soccer to stay in shape for football. I was a center-midfielder and just quit playing a year ago or so. I've always been kicking for football, all the way back to like third or fourth grade. I started kicking for the varsity team as a sophomore.

Q Do you feel added pressure as the team's kicker?

A It's hard sometimes, but you just have to stay positive with it and try not to let the crowd or the pressure get to you. You just go at it like it's you kicking in practice. Just have a positive mindset.

Q Game's on the line: Do you want to be lining up for a field goal or fourth-and-short with you getting the ball for a rush?

A Either or. Whatever the coach calls. I'd be confident going into either position. I've been kicking longer. That's more how people refer to me -- Oh, there's the kicker --but this year I've been getting more runs.

Q Was the game against Rosemount about as good of a game you can imagine for yourself?

A It was pretty good. I was upset with the missed field goal [in the first quarter] that I totally just mis-struck. But I made everything after that, so that was good.

Q Quarterback Jack McDevitt hurt his foot on the game's first drive but stayed in the whole game. What does that say about him?

A Just that he's a trouper and a great leader. He knew that we needed him and that he had to stay in. He played like it was his last game, which it very well could have been. I'm glad he stuck with it.

Q Thoughts on heading back to state?

A It's good. We're all ready. We started right away Saturday by running some sprints. We're all psyched up and ready to go for next week.