Anoka, Champlin Park battle for trophies

Two trophies and an outright conference championship are up for grabs when Champlin Park meets Anoka at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Goodrich Field.

Tornadoes football coach Jeff Buerkle said the former actually holds more value to him than the latter.

Anoka is 0-8 in games played for The Paddle, a traveling trophy signifying the Mississippi River that runs between the rival communities. And Anoka's last regular-season home game means the Pumpkin Bowl trophy is on the line for the 64th time.

An undefeated record in the Northwest Suburban Conference and the championship? It's too subjective.

"The way it's set up, it's not as meaningful as it used to be," said Buerkle, whose team played Wayzata in a nonconference game but did not face Osseo. "We didn't play everybody."

Buerkle's focus is on the Class 5A, Section 7 playoffs. A victory assures Anoka (6-1, 6-0 NWSC) the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. The Tornadoes last beat Champlin Park (4-3) in the 2006 Class 5A, Section 7 championship game.

Wednesday's game features two teams with something new to offer. Rebels coach Mike Korton watched Anoka on film Sunday evening and took note of the Tornadoes offense. Though still running the old Wing-T, the Tornadoes are mixing in passes from quarterback Cole Boughner to great effect.

"They are not as predictable," Korton said. "The way they've been throwing the football makes you play things a little differently. They don't just run where you expect them to run."

Three capable running backs also add mystery to the Tornadoes' attack. A defense that spreads out to slow speedsters Ryan Rand and Djay Johnson leaves itself susceptible to punishment inside from fullback Josh Werness.

Korton saw greater evidence of why Anoka is nearing its first seven-win season in four years.

"They play fast," Korton said. "Anoka always plays with heart, but these guys are athletic."

Similar attributes helped the Rebels endure a double shot of bad luck earlier this season, when they lost quarterback Nick Frohreich to a shoulder injury in a loss to Blaine that left them 1-2.

But Trevor Garrison stepped in, rushing for five touchdowns to help the Rebels win three consecutive games.

"If teams don't play him honest, he'll pull the ball down and run," Korton said.

Buerkle said Garrison and running back Michael Sales provide a troubling dual threat.

"That's one of the things that's tough about them," Buerkle said. "You can't key on one great player."

• Elk River defeated Rogers last week but they will share the Mississippi 8 Conference title if both win Wednesday.

• A victory gives Spring Lake Park the outright North Suburban Conference title, but a Panthers loss plus a St. Francis victory means those programs will share the title. Totino-Grace was not eligible to play for a conference title this season.

• Totino-Grace must win to keep its narrow lead over Mounds View for the top seed in Class 5A, Section 2.

• The winner of Blaine at Osseo keeps itself in contention for a share of the Northwest Suburban Conference title -- if Anoka also loses.

DAVID LA VAQUE