With Big Shoes To Fill, Zeek Rodgers Leads Minneapolis North To 1st State Title

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Taking over for all-state quarterback and now current Gopher Tyler Johnson, whose electric play led Minneapolis North just one win shy of a state title last season, to say Zeek Rodgers had some big shoes to fill is like saying Minnesota has a few lakes.

"It was a big challenge," Rodgers said. "So for me to overcome that, from most people saying, 'Oh, you're not better than Tyler, you can't do what Tyler did,' well, I picked my guys up and told them that I need they back, for me to do this, to get this job done."

He had to be unselfish enough to let his teammates be the one to make plays, rather than trying to make the plays Johnson made.

"I told Zeke that he doesn't have to win it by himself. A lot of times, Tyler felt that he had to," coach Charles Adams said. "And I just said, 'Zeke, you don't have to do it by yourself. You've got a great team that can support you, let's just do it together.'"

That's not to say Rodgers didn't make some plays of his own. A dual-threat quarterback equally dangerous with his arm and legs, athletic enough to switch from wide receiver to take over at quarterback this season. And quick to spread the credit.

"Tyler was a good player, he was a great player actually. But now we have a great team," Rodgers said. "This is a great team right here."

He finished what Johnson started, doing what not even Johnson was able to do -- lead his team to a state title.

"It feels, it feels incredible," Rodgers said. "You can't ask for nothing better than this."