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Hart a finalist for top award

By Tom Schardin, 11/20/14, 9:15AM CST

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For the second straight year, the Prior Lake football team has a finalist for the Mr. Football Award.

Last year, it was Blake Weber. This year, it's senior Alex Hart, who is one of two South Suburban Conference players nominated.

The Mr. Football Award was first presented in 2003 with the first-ever winner being Nick Mertens of East Grand Forks High School. Last year, Jeffrey Jones of Minneapolis Washburn High School was honored.

The 2014 award will be presented at the Mr. Football Banquet Nov. 30 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Minneapolis Park Place Hotel at 8:30 a.m.

The other nine finalists with Hart are: quarterback Dalton Elliot of Nicollet, quarterback Jackson Erdmann of Rosemount, running back Kez Flomo of Totino Grace, running back Robbie Grimsley of Hutchinson, running back Will Rains of Eden Prairie, quarterback John Rumppza of Bloomington Prairie, running back/defensive back John Santiago of St. Francis, quarterback Ryan Schlichte of Mankato West and quarterbck Michael Veldman of Becker. 

Hart was a two-way player for the Lakers in his third varsity season. At linebacker, he finished this season with 82 tackles, including 15 for a loss, along with eight sacks.

On offense, Hart finished with 858 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, averaging 6.0 yards per carry.

Hart, who also recently selected to the KARE 11 all-defensive first team, has not selected where he'll play Division I football next fall, but it's been reported that Wyoming, Toledo, New Mexico and North Dakota State have all been recruiting him.

Hart helped lead the Lakers to a 9-2 record this past fall (7-1 in the South Suburban Conference). Prior Lake earned its third state berth in the last four seasons, falling 10-7 to Maple Grove Nov. 7 in the Class 6A state quarterfinals.