Salmonson talks season expectations

U.S. Bank Stadium. We’re going to have to keep working hard day-in and day-out. Our slogan is ‘Doesn’t Matter, Get Better’. So we’re going to have to live by that slogan every day.”

Brett Salmonson, Park senior safety/running back

However, one of the things that’s really fun about this group is that it’s very, very apparent and its very tangible how much they like being together and its very, very tangible that they want to work really, really hard and that they enjoy working hard and they know that they need to”

Park head Coach Rick Fryklund

Game Day

Park opens the 2023 season TCO Stadium in Eagan against East Ridge on Thursday, Aug. 31, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. The Park team will get a police and fire escort to the stadium on game day.

It’s a whole new season for the Park Wolfpack, in more ways than one.

Lots of new faces in the starting lineup, a first visit to TCO Stadium for a season-opening football game against old rival East Ridge, and a schedule full of new, yet familiar foes.

Veterans such as senior safety/running back Brett Salmonson, senior running back/middle linebacker Taran Blasy, junior wide receiver/defensive back Dom Batts and senior defensive lineman David Laturnus, along with four of five starting offensive linemen, will lead the Wolfpack this season. Team strengths are expected to be the offensive line, team speed and team chemistry.

“We’re learning how to be a team,” said Park head coach Rick Fryklund. “This group is a lot of fun because this is my fifth year here so these guys know me and have known me since eighth grade. They’re a lot of fun because we don’t have guys from last year like David OK (Ola-Kazeem) or OT Omot or Jalataa Shenkor or Alex Carr -- these guys who are pretty good high school players who are going to play at a high level next year.

“I think we have one that could play at a high level and some other guys that could play college football, but not the kind of talent we had last year,” Fryklund added. “However, one of the things that’s really fun about this group is that it’s very, very apparent and its very tangible how much they like being together and its very, very tangible that they want to work really, really hard and that they enjoy working hard and they know that they need to.

“So that’s what makes it really, really fun to coach,” Fryklund continued. “I’m not sure what that means in terms of what we do on the field, but it sure makes a lot of fun for everybody when you’ve got those two things going.”

Park went 3-6 overall last season and was 2-3 in division play. The Wolfpack topped Eastview, Hopkins and Anoka, but struggled in losses to powers Lakeville South, Eagan, Prior Lake and Centennial. Park was competitive but lost to rivals Woodbury (37-26) and Burnsville (35-14).

Possibly the most talented player on this year’s team, Blasy said team chemistry is one of the keys to turning that won-loss record around this season.

“My expectations for this team is to build a brotherhood that’s going to last the rest of our lives, and honestly be good friends when the season is over, no matter what the outcome of the season is,” said Blasy. “But I also expect greatness from us on the scoreboard, and our record at the end of the season as well -- playing our hearts out and giving it everything we’ve got.

“I think we go to US Bank Stadium,” Blasy added. “I think if we keep working the way we’re working, keep putting in that effort I think we can go anywhere we want to.”

A strong passing game carried the Wolfpack offense last season. Park averaged 251 yards passing to just 101 yards rushing a year ago. But strong-armed quarterback Sam Berrey, who threw for almost 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, is gone, along with standout receivers OT Omot (34 receptions for 746 yards and eight touchdowns) and David Ola-Kazeem (41 catches for 491 yards and five touchdowns). Leading runner, Derrick Brown Jr. (153 carried for 907 yards and eight touchdowns) also graduated.

Despite the loss of Berrey and those top-notch receivers, Park should be OK in the passing game, said Skyler Morgan, a wide receiver/running back/cornerback “We have some good receivers to fill in those shoes.

There’s currently a three-way battle for the starting quarterback job between juniors Jacob Czarnota, Miskir Esayas and senior Ben Pederson, a fight which will likely come down to the wire, Fryklund said.

While the skill players will all be new, four of five offensive linemen return and coach sees that as one of the team’s strengths.

“I think we can have a winning season and I fully expect us to go deep in the playoffs,” said Park junior tackle Danny Nesdahl. “You can definitely tell that people actually want to be here. They want to embrace hard work and I feel in past years people would mope and complain about just about anything.”

“My expectations are to go far in the playoffs, if not make it to state,” said Morgan. “We’ve just got to keep working and keep putting in the work that we do at practice and just work as a team and I think we’re going to have a good chance.”

Salmonson is another of the Park players who are expecting big things this fall.

“U.S. Bank Stadium,” said Salmonson when asked what his expectations for the season were. “We’re going to have to keep working hard day-in and day-out. Our slogan is ‘Doesn’t Matter, Get Better’. So we’re going to have to live by that slogan every day.”

Areas of concern, Fryklund said, include a need to play multiple new starters and sophomores on both sides of the ball.

The Wolfpack will face no less than six opponents they didn’t play last season, although four are old-time Suburban East Conference foes East Ridge, Roseville, Mounds View and Stillwater. Playing well against section opponents East Ridge, Stillwater and Mounds View will go a long ways toward determining the success of the season, Fryklund noted.

In addition to those four, new teams on the schedule are Bloomington Kennedy and Buffalo. The only two opponents back from last season are Hopkins (a 50-13 Park win) and Eastview (Park, 42-36).

Park will play in the Metro Maroon Division this fall, along with Roseville, Burnsville, Eastview, Hopkins and Buffalo.

Bookends East Ridge (7-2 in 2022), Kennedy (7-2) and Stillwater (9-2) may be the three toughest nuts to crack in this year’s schedule. East Ridge advanced to the Class 6A state quarterfinals last season before losing 24-17 to eventual state champion Maple Grove. Kennedy lost 32-28 in the Class 5A semifinals to Two Rivers. Stillwater blasted East Ridge 45-17 during the regular season before losing 37-14 to Lakeville South in the 6A quarterfinals.

Park opens the 2023 season TCO Stadium in Eagan against East Ridge on Thursday, Aug. 31, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. The TCO date came about because East Ridge is still having some stadium renovation work done and their site won’t be ready for the season opener. The Park team will get a police and fire escort to the stadium on game day.