Sterzinger finally starts, stepped on ... and out

Tanner Sterzinger is one of those athletics who paid his dues — and his time had finally come.

The 5-10, 160-pound wide runni ng and defense back scored Minneota's first touchdown of the game during the 23-8 season-opening win over Sleepy Eye on a five-yard run.

He ran for 40 yards in his first starting effort and had four tackles on defense. Two were solo tackles.

But when an injured foot was stepped on during the Sleepy Eye game, Sterzinger went down with an injury that will see him on the sideline for at least two games.

Sterzinger had been having some pain in his foot prior to the game and then had it stepped on in the game Thursday night and re-aggravated it. It was learned later that he has a small fracture and will be in a walking boot for two weeks.

No doubt the injuries to quarterback Jacob Hennen with a broken wrist and Sterzinger out will put Minneota in a precarious position for Friday's game at Dawson-Boyd.

The always tough Blackjacks beat Adrian 58-18 in Thursday's opener and are 1-0, the same as the Vikings.

They came into the season having to re-construct their entire line — but with plenty of offensive weapons with quarterback Jake Lee, backs Bentley Boike and Colton Husby and end Zach Durfee.

Against Adrian, Lee tossed two touchdown passes to Durfee, Boike ran for 180 yards and Husby added another 96 yards.

Minneota Coach Chad Johnston indicated he'd counter with the "wildcat" often to back Cole Sanow, and will use senior Thomas Hennen to take snaps at quarterback.

There willl need to be a lot of adjusting, since the Vikings have quarterback, running back, corner back and Thomas Henne's wide receiver spots to fill.

The game comes during Boxelder Bug Week in Minneota.