Football Friday: Roseville at Woodbury

Both the Raiders and the Royals are coming off tough losses, but only one is going to be able to rebound.

LAST WEEK

Roseville (2-3, 2-3 Suburban East) let one get away against Forest Lake, losing 43-42 in OT; Woodbury (3-2, 3-2 Suburban East) got tripped up by White Bear Lake 24-21.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

-Roseville (Section 2, Class AAAAA)

The Raiders are currently seventh in the eight-team section rankings. Barring something out of the ordinary, Roseville is looking at a bottom-three seed and a first-round road trip.

-Woodbury (Section 4, Class AAAAA)

The Royals hold a slight edge in the race for the No. 2 seed (behind Cretin-Derham Hall), but Eagan, East Ridge and Minneapolis South are all close on their heels.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

-Sawyer Moon (Woodbury, quarterback)

Moon had his second straight big week, completing 27 of 33 attempts for 300 yards against White Bear Lake, a week after throwing for 270 against East Ridge.

-Quran Al-Hameed (Woodbury, kick returner)

Hameed capped an explosive sequence with a 92-yard kickoff return for a score against White Bear Lake. After the Royals had taken the lead with a touchdown, the Bears ran a kick back 80 yards to tie the game again, only to have Al-Hameed return the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to give the lead back to the Royals.

-Jacques Parra (Roseville, quarterback)

Parra was 17-for-25 for 290 yards and a touchdown against Forest Lake last week.

-Emeche Wells (Roseville, wide receiver)

Wells caught four passes for 145 yards and a score a week ago.

RAIDERS WIN IF …

Their defense shows up. Roseville has held just one opponent under 27 points all season, and it's no coincidence that they got one of their two wins that night. The Raiders need guys to emerge and make plays, especially on third down when they have a chance to stop drives and get off the field.

ROYALS WIN IF …

They can score 28 points. The Royals have allowed between 21 and 27 points—not counting OT—in four of their five games. That's nothing to brag about, but it definitely gives the offense something to shoot for: The Royals are 3-0 when they score 28 or more and 0-2 when they don't.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

• SITE: Woodbury High School
• TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
• WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly cloudy and 75
• LAST SEASON: Raiders 43, Royals 42

ROSEVILLE SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: White Bear Lake 28, ROSEVILLE 13

Sept. 9: ROSEVILLE 48, Park 23

Sept. 16: Roseville 17, HASTINGS 14

Sept. 23: MOUNDS VIEW 27, Roseville 7

Sept. 30: Forest Lake 43, ROSEVILLE 42 (OT)

Friday, Oct. 7 at Woodbury, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14 vs. Stillwater, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Cretin-Derham Hall, 7 p.m.

WOODBURY SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: STILLWATER 27, Woodbury 20

Sept. 9: WOODBURY 29, Hastings 23

Sept. 16: Woodbury 49, PARK 13

Sept. 23: WOODBURY 35, East Ridge 34 (2OT)

Sept. 30: WHITE BEAR LAKE 24, Woodbury 21

Friday, Oct. 7 vs. Roseville, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14 vs. Cretin-Derham Hall, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Forest Lake, 7 p.m.