by Eli Badower and Dan Sheldon, seniors

The HHS varsity football team is continuing their season tonight Friday Sep. 6 against Maple Grove, ranked number 8 in the state according to the Star Tribune.

Maple Grove has played only one game so far this season, a 41-0 victory over Armstrong.  They are led by their running back Tahi Nomane, senior, who ran for 246 yards and 4 touchdowns on 11 carries in the victory.

“Their running back is really tough.  He’s the leading rusher in the state right now.  We watched some film on him and he looks pretty good,” said Tyler Lee, junior.

The Royals are fresh off of a 33-17 victory against Apple Valley after losing their first game of the season in a shootout at the hands of Chaska.

 “It was good to get a win under our belt,” Lee said.

 However, the win was not all positive for the Royals as Lee, the starting quarterback, broke his collarbone during the game.  He is expected to return in four weeks, but in the meantime Oscar Johnson, sophomore, will have to step into the role.

 “Oscar and I have great chemistry.  He knows where to put the ball and he’s very smart for his age.  In practice, he reads routes really well, and he knows what he’s doing,” said Terrance Bowers, senior.

 Despite the confidence in Johnson, the Royals’ gameplan is to run the ball with their two running backs, Shaheed Hickman, senior, and DT Williams, junior.

 This would be a big win for the Royals, as it would provide an opportunity to take a winning record into the conference season.

 “I don’t know what the score will be, but I know that it will be close.  This win would get us back on track and show that we can be a dominant team,” Bowers said.