Believing themselves to be the state's most physical, focused, cold-weather-impervious team, one featuring the right mix of size, strength and game-breaking speed, the Lakeville South Cougars backed it up with a 13-0 season and first Class 6A Prep Bowl championship.
Lakeville South, with a football attitude and its first football state title, is the All-Metro Boys' Team of the Year
The Cougars went 13-0 and won the Class 6A championship, thriving behind physical play and mental strength.
July 28, 2022 at 3:56AM
![Camden Dean accepts the Boys Team of the Year Award for Lakeville South during the Star Tribune's All-Metro Sports Awards gala Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.] aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/OJCEDBJUHCMMSTB64IY624MUKQ.jpg?&w=712)
Lakeville South is the Star Tribune All-Metro Boys' Team of the Year.
Crowned as mythical state champions after the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season meant no playoffs, the Cougars aimed for the real thing.
An early-season shutout of rival Lakeville North, followed by a 42-7 blowout of Eden Prairie, served notice.
In October, the Cougars outlasted a solid Shakopee team on the road, then beat the Sabers in the playoff cold of November.
Players such as quarterback Camden Dean and running backs Carson Hansen and Josh Jacobson kept the Power-T offense running around and over foes.
The defense, led by linebacker Zach Juckel, helped ensure a 13-7 Prep Bowl victory against Maple Grove.
"We are the more physical team for four quarters than any team in the state because of how we built our program," Cougars coach Ben Burk told the media after the victory.
![Lakeville South High School players celebrate after stopping Maple Grove High School on a final fourth down play to seal their 13-7 victory in the Minnesota High School football Class 6A State Championship Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/G5OHI3P24ATBWFQLYEAY3YKKSE.jpg?&w=712)
