After missing field goal and conversion attempts earlier in the game, Lakeville South kicker Jackson Paradise came through when Lakeville South needed him most. His 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter provided the winning points in the Cougars’ 9-6 victory last Friday. Lakeville South head coach Tyler Krebs, in his first season with the Cougars, faced a Burnsville team he coached the previous six years.

It wasn’t a smooth offensive performance for the Cougars (2-1), who managed just 156 yards. Even their first-quarter touchdown wasn’t a thing of beauty, but it was worth six points nonetheless. Riley Mahlman recovered a teammate’s fumble in the end zone for South’s first points. That tied the game 6-6 after Burnsville took the lead on a 1-yard run by quarterback Marcus Shepley – a score made possible by the Blaze recovering its own fumble at the Lakeville South 2-yard line.

Junior T.J. Nelson rushed for 58 yards for Lakeville South, which was without its top two running backs, Jeremiah Jacobson and Logan Gudmundson, because of injuries. Sophomore quarterback George Brekke completed nine of 13 passes for 92 yards, and Ben Huddock had three catches for 39 yards.

Senior captain Tre Thomas gained 83 yards on 16 carries for Burnsville, which had 189 yards of offense. Shepley completed four of 10 passes for 72 yards, with each completion going to a different receiver. Junior linebacker Isaac Pasko led the Blaze defense with 10 tackles.

Burnsville (1-2) plays host to Maple Grove at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, in the first game between the schools since the 2015 state Class 6A quarterfinals. Lakeville South plays at Lakeville North at 7 p.m. Sept. 22, looking to break a seven-game losing streak against its crosstown rival.