A run with the big dogs

QB Darren Beenken eludes the Mankato West rush

The Tigers took a run with a couple of the state's big dogs Thursday afternoon in a three-team scrimmage held at Tiger stadium.

Defending Class 2A champion Caledonia and Class 4A semifinalist Mankato West joined Farmington in the summer get-together that drew mixed reviews from Tiger head coach Mark Froehling.

"It's good to go up against teams like West and Caledonia," Froehling said. "They are two programs who plan in to be in the state tournament every year. Playing competition like that only makes us better."

Assistant coach Glenn Mogensen discusses defensive strategy

As for his team's performance against the state powers, Froehling said it was about what he expected. In other words, some positive signs but no shortage of things to work on between now and the start of the 2012 season.

"These guys have come a long way this summer as far as becoming a team," he said, "but they still have a long way to go to get where they want to be. These summer workouts start the process of becoming a real team.

"High school football isn't like the pros where you have many of the same players year after year. You have new players every season and that means different individuals, different personalities and different chemistry. It's a building process and we've started going down that road."

Five Tiger black shirts converge on a Mankato West runner

The Tigers will conclude their summer schedule by participating in a seven-on-seven passing league at Eagan High School the next three Sundays and then start fall practice on Monday, Aug. 13.

Farmington opens its 2012 season with a non-conference home game against Rochester Mayo Friday, Aug. 31, at Tiger Stadium.