A veteran Central Lakes College Raiders football team will open its season in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Kickoff Classic at 7 p.m. Friday against Fond Du Lac at St. Cloud State University's Husky Stadium.
CLC, coming off a 7-3 season and a second straight state playoff appearance, returns 28 players and boasts a program-record 64 players.
Raiders coach Greg Medeck said CLC was awarded one of the two night games because other programs regard CLC as having one of the better programs in the state. Revenue is an issue for MCAC schools to continue to play at SCSU so schools considered the best draw get a night game.
MCAC Football Kickoff Classic
Where: Husky Stadium, St. Cloud State University
When: Friday-Saturday
Friday's games: Northland vs. Rochester 3 p.m.; Central Lakes vs. Fond Du Lac 7 p.m.
Saturday's games: Mesabi Range vs. MSCTC-Fergus Falls 11 a.m.; Vermilion vs. Minnesota West 3 p.m.; Itasca vs. Ridgewater 7 p.m.
"It was a unanimous decision among coaches that we are the best draw of any of the teams in the league," Medeck said, "and they want to make us a highlight game so that's why we got the Friday night slot because everyone felt like we would draw the best. We want to live up to that and do a good job.
"We've worked really hard to represent our local community and central Minnesota with our recruiting. I think that's important. I think it pays off in the type of kids we bring in, and the fan support we get. We want to build that up as strong as we can.
"I think it would be great to get a good showing in St. Cloud. It's a great venue. Our players get a little nostalgic for playing under the lights on Friday nights. There's no high school competition that night so it should be a good event to kick off the season."
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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