So far this season, the Superlarks football team has looked a lot like they did last year, when they took second in the state tournament.

They’ve been able to rest their starters every week and they’re outscoring their opponents on an average of 52.6 to 17 points per game.

Now GM is about to be tested like it hasn’t all season and the No. 3 ranked Larks (5-0 overall) will find out exactly how good their team is this year.

GM will play at Lanesboro (3-1 overall) this Friday at 7 p.m. The Burros are averaging 41.2 points per game and they feature one of the SEC’s most explosive players in senior running back Niko Anderson. The Burros are coming off an 83-16 win over Lyle-Pacelli.

GM head coach Gary Sloan said he’d be happy to hold Anderson to 100 yards rushing and he said the game will provide a big test for his defense.

“Lanesboro has a good program and our kids are looking forward to playing against Niko out of respect,” Sloan said. “I think its personal for Landon Jacobson, because Niko has won back of the year and that’s something Landon would like to do.”

Jacobson will certainly have fresh legs as the Larks prepare for the Burros. He’s carried the ball just 47 times in five games so far, and he’s used those carries to gain 679 yards and score 11 touchdowns.

In last week’s 50-19 win over Houston, Jacobson ran for 262 yards and four scores.

Although GM has just three starters back from last season, Sloan said the team’s defense is reminding him of last year’s team.

The Larks are small, but quick.

“I like our defense to swarm to the ball and gang tackle and that’s what they’ve done so far,” Slaon said.

GM has also had a couple of pleasant surprises on this year’s team. Junior Cody Ojulu has emerged as a go-to receiver and senior Jason Freese has given the team a lift, even though he hadn’t played football since he was a freshman.

Freese has filled in at guard, tight end, defensive line and linebacker for the Larks.

After GM plays Lanesboro, it will have no time to rest as they will host No. 7 ranked Spring Grove the Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Sloan doesn’t think his team will look past the Burros, who lost 42-14 to the Lions Sept. 6 and he thinks his team is ready for a pair of tough games.

“You don’t know until you get into them, but we’ve prepared as much as we possibly can,” Sloan said. “These two teams are much better than anybody we’ve played so far.”

Follow Rocky Hulne on Twitter @RockyHulneADH.