This off-season, Minnetonka hopes whatever kills them makes them stronger

“High school football is a lot like life. Most of the time, you don’t get a second chance”. Unfortunately, that’s the story that Minnetonka Varsity Football Coach Mark Esch had to tell after his Skippers bowed out early in the Minnesota High School State Football Tournament, at the hands of a 24-7 upset loss to Lakeville North.

Minnetonka came into the 2022 season hoping to win a state championship, and at times, they appeared more than talented enough to do so. Ultimately though, the Skippers’ downfall was their inconsistency, as they were never able to string together multiple wins in a row after their Week 1 victory over Edina.

It’s no secret that Minnetonka left a couple of wins on the table this season.

“Honestly I don’t think we reached our potential, which is a little frustrating. It came down to maybe 6 quarters all season that cost us 4 losses,” Esch said.

“I don’t feel like the Lakeville North game was an accurate representation of our team, but as hard as we fought, the reality is we can’t get that one back.”

Just as they were unable to string together consecutive wins late in the season, Minnetonka also never lost multiple games in a row, which is a testament to the resilience of the team. Despite getting punched in the stomach throughout the season, Esch believes, “Our kids played hard, and they had confidence. We didn’t ever step on the field thinking we were outmatched.”

As bad as the Lakeville North loss stings, the worst part of it all will be losing the leadership of the Senior class. Perhaps the best example of how they added to the Skippers is the emotional way that the underclassmen reacted after the playoff loss.

“It’s never about the talent you lose from Seniors. You get to watch them grow for four years and all of a sudden they're gone. You kind of have to kick them out of the nest and let them go,” Esch said.

While a defeat like that is never the ideal way to end the season, it’s hard not to look at next year’s Minnetonka team with an optimistic view. Fourteen of the 22 starters against Lakeville North were underclassmen, as were the Skippers’ leading passer, rusher, receiver, and leader in almost any defensive statistic.

Although the losses will hurt, it’s rare to return so much talent and experience on such a good football team. Esch agrees, explaining, “We’re extremely optimistic for next year. If we can fix the little inconsistencies, which I know our kids can, we’re gonna have a great year”.

Despite the team’s record not being what they had wanted, Esch felt that, “From a cultural standpoint, we were extremely successful this season”.

And although the season came with some setbacks, it’s hard not to see the brightness shine through the window. With such a young coaching staff and so many new faces on the team, Minnetonka is hoping this loss is simply a minor setback for a major comeback.