Suburban East Conference Football Preview

The Suburban East Conference should once again be filled with top-notch talent and teams during the 2011 season.

Mounds View and Cretin-Derham Hall split the conference title a year ago, then won their respective sections en route to state tournament berths. Stillwater Area came within a win of a state tournament appearance, losing to Mounds View in the Section 2AAAAA championship game.

Who will lead the SEC in 2011? Patch polled coaches across the conference to see who they picked as the top teams and players this fall.

Cretin-Derham Hall

A perennial state power, the Raiders have a lot of skill people.

Stillwater

, and he inherits a defense full of experience and leadership. Five returning defensive starters—defensive end Sam Brynestad, defensive tackle Marcus Tacheny, defensive tackle Carter Alexander, strong safety Zach Krenz and defensive back Billy Wagner—will lead the way.

Mounds View

The Mustangs made it to the state semifinals last year, but return just two starters.

The Raptors will have 10 or 11 seniors starting on defense, according to coach Mike Pendino. But only three are returning starters, making experience a question heading into Week 1.

The Royals scored 63 points in two playoff games last year, including 21 points against Section 4AAAAA champion Cretin-Derham Hall in a 44-21 semifinal loss—two weeks after being shut out 48-0 by the Raiders. Woodbury hopes to take that momentum into the new season.

Marcus Kelly - East Ridge (Offensive line)

Kelly is one of the top offensive linemen in the conference.

Jonathan Harden – Cretin-Derham Hall (Defensive tackle)

At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, the senior can dominate a game. He had 68 tackles and 15 sacks last season.

Kevin Miley – Cretin-Derham Hall (Quarterback)

A second year starter, Miley threw for 2,040 yards last season, completing 69 percent of his passes.

Mick Nelson – Mounds View (Defensive end) 

Played offensive last year, coach expects him to “be a very good DE.”

Emeche Wells – Roseville Area (WR/RB/DB/KR) 

Explosive athlete that does a little bit of everything for the Raiders.

Ezekiel Okeleye – East Ridge (Running back)

Ezekiel led the conference in rushing each of the past two seasons, including 1,508 yards last season. The Raptors hope Val Huerta can be a strong replacement in the backfield.

Andre Hunt – Cretin-Derham Hall (Running back)

Andre ran for 1,202 yards and had 13 touchdowns last year.

Andrew Rose – Stillwater Area (Linebacker)

Andrew had 92 tackles in eight conference games, 67 of them solo.

Cretin-Derham Hall — An early-season showdown at Mounds View in Week 2 is a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal. Can’t be looking ahead to game at Stillwater the following week.

Mounds View — At White Bear Lake Oct. 7. Never an easy game playing in the Bears backyard.

Stillwater Area — At Mounds View Sept. 30. Both teams with tough early schedules and neither will want a second loss.

Jonathan Harden – Cretin-Derham Hall (Defensive tackle)

Compact and tough in the trenches, Harden is ranked the seventh-best Minnesota prospect by rivals.com. His numbers may not equal last year’s as teams run away from him. University of Minnesota reportedly among his college considerations.

Conf./Overall

• Mounds View—7-1, 10-2
• Cretin-Derham Hall—7-1, 10-2
• Stillwater Area—7-1, 9-2
• East Ridge—6-2, 7-3
• Woodbury—3-5, 4-6
• Forest Lake—3-5, 4-6
• White Bear Lake—3-5, 4-6
• Roseville—3-5, 3-6
• Hastings—1-7, 1-8
• Park—0-8, 0-9

Mounds View 

Won Section 2AAAAA, but lost 21-16 to Wayzata in state semifinals.

Cretin-Derham Hall

Won Section 4AAAAA, but lost 21-7 to Mounds View in state quarterfinals.

Stillwater

Lost 32-6 to Mounds View in Section 2AAAA final.