By John Molene

Offense and scoring weren’t problems last season as the Park Wolfpack stepped up to a rugged 6A football schedule.

Park went 4-5 last fall, racking up big wins and large losses. Park was 3-2 in the first season of the newly created seven-team Metro-Maroon South division, tying for third.

That was enough to garner coach of the year honors for Rick Fryklund, who enters his fourth season with a record of 10-14 at Park.

Park averaged close to 31 points a game last season including blowing out Hopkins 45-7, outscoring Eagan (44-34), Burnsville (48-35) and Anoka (30-27). The win at Anoka was likely the highlight of the season.

But the defense was leaky at time, allowing 50 points to eventual state champion Lakeville South, 55 to Woodbury, 56 to Prior Lake and 50-21 in a Class 6A first round loss to Shakopee.

Park’s defense should be saltier this season, with 10 players retuning who started or saw considerable action last fall, eight of them seniors.

The schedule will be identical this season, only the home games reversed. Home games at Sept. 9 against Eagan, Sept. 23 against Hopkins, Oct. 14 against Anoka and Oct. 20 against Prior Lake.

Park opens the season at the home of defending state champion Lakeville South. That will be a tough one.

Head coach Rick Fryklund sees team strengths starting with the wide receiving corps and defensive team speed. Areas of concern are line play and depth at key positions.

A best-case scenario for the Wolfpack: “We compete as best we can against the best teams in the state at the highest classification in the state,” said Fryklund.

Park will miss the services of seven of the eight players who earned all-district honors last season: starting quarterback Evan Bearth, special team player of the year Treyton Bammert-Mueller, top receiver/defensive back Brady Perryman, lineman Juan Orozco-Sanchez, Micah Runion, Will Smoot and top running back Blake Johnson.

Park returns four offensive starters and seven defensive starters.

Park returns a trio of talented big-play receivers in OT Omot (20 receptions for 390 yards, five touchdowns, 19 yards per reception), David Ola-Kazeem (18 receptions, 309 yards, four touchdowns, 17 ypr) and Jalaata Shenkor. (13 receptions, 206 yards, 1 touchdown, 15 ypr).

Omot, especially, will be tough for defenses to contain.

“Personally, I want to make the all-metro team,” said Omot. “Team-wise I want to make a state run. I feel we’re very capable of that. Our team has been together this whole summer and we’ve been putting in work, just as much as any other team is so I feel really good about this squad.”

“Will be all state caliber WR and should be preseason all-metro,” Fryklund said of Omot. “All district last year, getting lots of interest at the next level. About 6-3, 6-4 and long strider receiver who seems to catch almost anything coming his way.”

Speed can kill on the football team, and Park’s receivers have plenty of that.

“I think that one of the things that we’re going to do best this year is I think we’re going to be playing really fast,” said Shenkor. “One of the fastest in Minnesota history. Our offense, we have a lot of weapons. And we can take a big step and play really fast. I believe our offense is very balanced.”

Getting the ball to those receivers could fall to senior quarterback Sam Berry (6-3, 215), although there are other candidates in the mix to start.

“Has an arm to push the ball deep, and touch to go between windows,” said Fryklund.

Also back are offensive linemen senior Braden Karnitz (6-1, 265)) and Danny Carlson (5-9, 204) and Rory Lane (6-1 225), who will play on both the offensive and defensive lines. Fryklund is high on Karnitz in particular, saying he’s built like a silverback gorilla and is a road grader.

Depending on how you count them, Park has between five and seven fulltime starters back, plus two part-time returning starters on defense.

Returning are junior nose tackle David Laturus 91 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks), junior defensive end Jesse Truax (ability to play at the next level, Fryklund said), two-way lineman Rory Lane (32 tackles as a part-time defensive player), senior linebackers Alex Carr (70 tackles, 4 TFL), Owen Rose (54 tackles in 7 games), Taran Blasy (41 tackles) and senior defensive backs Brandan Lee (76 tackles, 1 FF, 3 INTs), Jamie Fick, Chris Wilson (27 tackles) and Chris Kujawa.

“I’m just going to play as hard as I can and do what I can for the team,” said middle linebacker Carr. “My goal is to just win.”

“From what I’ve seen I think the defense is going to surprise a lot of people,” said Rose. “I think the offense is going to lock in and score some points, too. We’re going to bring more energy than last year.”

“After what happened last year, I think everybody just wants to take that step up and we’re just going to show people we’re not what we were last year,” said Lee, who will line up at free safety. “This year I think we took a big step. We added a lot of new things nobody is ready for yet. Our secondary is really good and our run defense is just stopping everything. We’re strong.”

A key newcomer on the defense will be senior defensive back Brett Salmonson.

Top returners for the Wolfpack include, and some of coach Fryklund’s comments on each:

OT Omot -WR – A WR that can play any spot and is a savvy route runner with great hands. Will be all state caliber WR and should be preseason all-metro: All district last year, getting lots of interest at the next level.

David Ola Kazeem – Slot type with tons of upside and athleticism. Has ability to run away from everyone on the field. Will also play some DB for us at times, Could do well as either a corner, safety or WR.

Alex Carr – Returning all-strict section middle linebacker with lots of speed and athleticism. Tough wrestler type that weighs about 195 right now (and went to the state tournament). He will just continue to get bigger and stronger. Fryklund sees Carr as a possible all-metro or all-state player this season.

Brandan Lee – Athletic corner and safety. Ability play at the next level.

Jalaata Shenkor WR- Developmental TE or possession WR. Possession Threat with hands and height.

Owen Rose – RB and LB – Very versatile on offense or defense for us and he will move around to different spots there. 6’1-6’2 about 200-205 hitter and very sure tackler. Also, a college prospect.

DJ Brown – RB – I think poised for a breakout year, Ability to lower the shoulder and cut quickly. We think he could have a special year since teams have to do something with their defense with our WR core. Played in limited action in three games last year and averaged more than 4.3 yards per carry, has put on quality weight in the weightroom.

Braden Karnitz – Country strong and gets multiple pancakes at center every game no matter who he aligns against. Finishes blocks better than any lineman I have coached. All district honorable mention last season.

2024 prospects to watch/ follow are led by linebacker/ running back Taran Blasy.

– LB/RB Current captains are Owen Rose, Chris Kujawa and Brandan Lee.