With just one loss all season, and a perfect 4-0 record in the always difficult Lake Conference, the Edina Hornets gained the top seed in this years state Class 6A tournament at the Metrodome. They will open up on Thursday evening at 5pm and will take on Rosemount. The other quarterfinal match-ups have Lakeville North and Prior Lake meeting at 8pm Thursday. On Friday Wayzata will take on Eastview at 5pm with Eden Prairie playing Lake Conference rival Minnetonka at 8pm.

The game of the century was all that it was hyped up to be. Rarely at any level of football do you get to see the hands down 2 best teams play for a championship, we got it tonight. MaxPreps had this football game rated as its 5th best game in the country this weekend, finally a little Minnesota football love.

The first half would come and go with not much scoring as to be expected. Eden Prairie would take a 3-0 lead into the half on a 36 yard field goal from Jake Ibach at 11:49 of the 2nd quarter. Ep was held to 2 yards per carry, and Wayzata turned the ball over twice. The Trojans ran the ball effectively, but the turnovers and penalties limited their ability to extend drives. Ep 3 Wayzata 0

As the second half began, Eden Prairie started to open some holes for Andrew Larsen. The Eagles would capitalize with another field goal from Jake Ibach late in the 3rd quarter.

There were two plays in the second half that will distinguish this game forever. The Eden Prairie stand inside their red zone holding Wayzata to a field goal and in turn holding onto an all important lead. Alex Scott the talented kicker from Wayzata put the Trojans on the board, 6-3 EP.

In the middle of the 4th quarter after a muffed punt by Wayzata, Ep would have a 4th down and 15 deep in Wayzata territory. Mike Grant would call the play of his career, a double reverse flee flicker from junior QB Grant Schaffer to wing back Jacob Woodring would get the Eagles a huge first down at the Wayzata 5 yard line and Larsen would put the game away with a scamper into the end zone to ice this contest.

Eden Prairie wins its 7th state title, 13-3 over the Trojans of Wayzata

The Rebels of Moose Lake/Willow River took on the Caledonia Warriors in the Class 2A championships.

A scoreless first quarter between to evenly matched squads quickly ended early in the second quarter as senior WR Adam Drenckhahn gathered in a pass from senior QB Kennan Bruening at 11:08 of the 2nd quarter. Kick was good, 7-0 Caledonia.

Caledonia dictating the action and stealing the momentum away from ML/WR as they blocked a punt on the next possession and took over at the 13 yard line of the Rebels. Moose Lake/Willow River would hold and force a field goal attempt that went wide right as the Rebels dodged a bullet.

With 1:06 left in the 1st half Adam Drenckhahn makes a miraculous catch at the 1 yard line and Connor McCormick would dive in on the next play to extend the lead for Caledonia to 13-0.

Unlike the previous games this one is about defense. Caledonia is the real deal on that side of the ball and Moose Lake/Willow River is no slouch either. The score was 13-0 Warriors at the half.

Excuse the abrupt end as we had some technical difficulties.

27-0 Caledonia cruises to a state title in Class 2A. Congratulations to both teams

This Class A final pits two big names in small school football with Mahnomen and Dawson-Boyd. Both teams come in at 11-0 and ripped through their respective schedules without much resistance. Today we found out who is the better of the best.

Mahnomen would get on the board first. With a pace setting 11 play 75 yard drive that ticked away 4:59 of the first quarter. Senior RB Avery Fairbanks would finish the drive with a 1 yard run at 7:01 of the first quarter. Kick would fail, 6-0 Mahnomen.

Dawson-Boyd didn’t even flinch, a drive like that could make most teams fearful and play tight, not the Blackjacks. They would score the next 3 touchdowns of the first half. Sophomore Joey Lee would get the first, on a 1 yard td run. Kick was good 7-6 D-B. Esten Weber would get the next, on a 5 yard TD run, and Justin Lee from 2 yards at 2:05 of the 2nd quarter to make the halftime score 21-6.

The first half was even in yards, TOP, first downs. The factor as usual was turnovers. The 2 fumbles lost by Mahnomen was too much to overcome, and that would be the deciding factor of the half and eventually the game.

After some back and forth 3 and outs forced by both defenses, Mahnomen would put together an impressive 8 play 79 yard drive that Jacob Pavek would finish with a 1 yard dive. With a perfect 2 point conversion play, Mahnomen trimmed the lead to 21-14.

Dawsom-Boyd would respond immediately with a 9 play 58 yard drive of their own as Justin Lee gained his 2nd rushing td of the game to extend the lead for good. Later in the 4th quarter, Webber would also get his 2nd td of the game to put it on ice for the Blackjacks. Mahnomen would score as time expired in garbage time.

Final score: Dawson-Boyd 35 Mahnomen 20

Prep Bowl 2011 opened this friday morning to a wild one between Edgerton-Ellsworth and Wheaton/Herman-Norcross. Its too bad there had to be a loser as both teams played some of their best football all year.

Edgerton-Ellsworth would strike first on a 8 play 73 yard drive that took only 2:27 off the clock. EE junior QB Isaac Heard connected with junior FB Blake Jouwstra at 9:33 of the first quarter from 13 yards out. Heard then found junior WR Dan Kramer for a 2-point conversion, 8-0 EE.

Wheaton/Herman-Norcross would get themselves on the board at 10:56 of the second quarter with a 7 play 51 yard drive of their own ending with senior RB Wolfgang Brink stomping in from 4 yards to cut the lead to 8-6.  2 point conversion failed.

The first turnover of the game would lead to points and WHN taking their first lead of the game. Senior DB Adam Russell would intercept EE’s Isaac Heard and return it to their 36 yard line. WHN would then go 64 vyards on 10 plays ending in a 1 yard run from senior QB Tyler Schwagel. Schwagel would hit his TE Brock Sweere for the 2 pointer and take a 14-8 lead.

Great teams answer fast, as EE would strike back immediately with a 45 yard bullet from Heard to WR Devin Hulstein at 2:13 of the second quarter. The 2 point conversion failed and the halftime score was 14-14.

The second half was record setting for EE, but WHN would begin the half with a quick strike of their own as Greg Cronen blasted up the middle with a 42 yard TD run. Brink would carry in for a 2 point conversion and WHN would take the lead back 22-14.

EE’s passing game was starting to take full effect, on back 2 back possessions they would score quickly. First at 6:04 of the third quarter Heard would hit Casey Schilling on an 18 yard play, then at :53 Hulstein would gather in his second big play of the morning with a 73 yard catch. EE would head into the 4th with a 28-22 lead and the edge in momentum.

Wheaton would not go away quietly and at 10:27 of the 4th Michael Persing would cap a 7 play 65 yard drive with a 9 yard scamper to tie the game at 28. An opportunity was lost as the 2 point conversion failed and with it a 4th quarter lead.

In the end the spread passing attack of the Flying Dutchmen was too much. Isaac Heard would continue his record setting day and complete his 5th TD pass and 2nd of the morning to Blake Jouwstra at 8:30 of the 4th quarter and that would be our final score.

The Edgerton passing attack would end the game with Prep Bowl records in receiving yards (Hulstein 198) and passing yards (Heard 368) and 5TD passes.

Final score: Edgerton-Ellsworth 36 Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 28