Varsity Insiders With Randy Shaver

Randy Shaver is joined by Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game director Dave Fritze to reveal the 88 players selected for this year's North and South teams, from offensive playmakers to defensive standouts.

After wins in the first round of the Minnesota high school football Class 6A tournament, Lakeville South coach Ben Burk and St. Michael-Albertville coach Jared Essler join Randy Shaver to discuss their postseason preparation, the possibility of facing Moorhead later in the bracket and their upcoming matchups.

Aitkin, Willmar and Park Christian enter the Minnesota high school football playoffs with perfect records. Their coaches — Alan Hills, Jon Konold and Matt Baasch — join Randy Shaver to share what changed, who stepped up and why past wins won’t carry them through the postseason.

First-year Minnesota high school football head coaches Jerad Kostiuk (International Falls), Devin Lockerby (NRHEG) and Chris Zimmel (Fertile-Beltrami), whose journeys to the job could hardly be more different, chat with Randy Shaver about their first wins, unexpected responsibilities and lessons from the sideline.

Lakeville South defensive coordinator Mark Dean has coached all three of his sons, and now his oldest, Camden, coaches alongside him while his youngest, Griffen, finishes his senior season before heading to Montana. The three join Randy Shaver to talk about what it was like growing up in the Dean family, how their competitive streaks followed them onto the football field, coaching alongside each other and Griffen’s hoped-for return from injury.

Ortonville, Medford and Sibley East are each seeking their first win of the Minnesota high school football season while carrying long losing streaks. Head coaches Matt Fellows, Jerome Johannes and Stephen Montgomery join Randy Shaver to discuss what keeps players coming back, where they see progress and what it will take to break through.

After almost 58 seasons and 442 victories, Verndale football coach Mike Mahlen still enjoys practices, game preparation and calling plays on Friday nights. He joins Randy Shaver to discuss his remarkable career, his path from a 0-0 game to two state championships and why he plans to keep coaching as long as the game remains fun.

Wayzata, Bagley and Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons have opened the Minnesota high school football season 3-0, and each program took a different path to get there. The three teams' head coaches join Randy Shaver to discuss their turnarounds, explain why their players bought in and look ahead to the challenges that await.

Twenty-five years after playing high school football at Academy of Holy Angels, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is back in Minnesota for an honor that connects his past, present and family legacy. He joins Randy Shaver to discuss Fitzgerald Field, his sons’ football journeys and the unforgettable people who helped him believe anything was possible.

Chris Meidt joins Randy Shaver to share how Minneota's broken scoreboard inspired the community to transform its stadium and honor his father, legendary coach Gerhard Meidt. He also shares stories about his father’s leadership, the rise of Minneota's dynasty in Minnesota high school football and a legacy that still shapes the community.