Eden Prairie senior running back Andrew Johnson (1) scored a first-quarter touchdown in the Eagles’ 21-14 loss to Minnetonka on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
A crescent moon rose over Minnetonka Friday, peering down on a night that could not have been more idyllic for high school football.
It was No. 2 Minnetonka taking on No. 4 Eden Prairie, a matchup that seemed to summon the entire populations of both communities.
Overflow crowds, unsuccessful in finding seats in the packed bleachers, gathered in the large plaza overlooking the north end zone.
The anticipation for this top five showdown and crosstown rivalry saw 7,000 tickets sold before walk-up sales, according to Joe Perkl, Eden Prairie High School director of student activities.
The competition certainly met the moment, with drama unfolding on every drive and the teams trading blows from the opening series.
The Skippers were without starting quarterback Caden Gutzmer, leaving an opening for running back Caleb Francois, Minnetonka’s signal caller last season, to step into the role.
After the opening kickoff, the Skippers drove from their own 20-yard line to the Eden Prairie 22, with most of their yardage compliments of Francois.
The senior had nine carries on the 12-play drive, all leading up to a fateful pass that Eden Prairie defensive back Isaiah Kelly saw happening – days ago.
Eden Prairie defensive back Isaiah Kelly (2) returns an interception 59 yards to set up the a first-quarter touchdown in the Eagles’ 21-14 loss to Minnetonka on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
“We saw it on film. We knew it was coming, and we knew that they had to make a big play in order to capitalize on that drive,” Kelly said.
Kelly jumped on the route, snatched the pass and raced 59 yards to the Minnetonka 19-yard line.
“The coaches put us in the right position. We saw that when the wide receivers were bunched up,” Kelly said. “When the ball snapped, I just saw him go and knew what had to be done.”
It was a whiplash momentum swing, turning the tables on the Skippers and giving the Eagles a short field from which to strike early.
“The first drive they were kind of picking us apart. They were running the ball,” Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant said. “We anticipated, honestly, some type of screen, and (Kelly) read it. It was obviously a great play.”
The Eagles offense wasted no time. Four plays later senior running back Andrew Johnson punched in from the 2-yard line.
Kicker Harrison Serk’s point-after was good and Eden Prairie took the early lead.
Eden Prairie running back Bodey Hedlund (30) had 55 yards on 10 carries. Photo by Rick Olson
“We were moving it really well on offense,” Johnson said.
The senior running back led Eden Prairie rushers with 81 yards on 15 carries and the first-quarter touchdown. Sophomore Owen Konrad had 58 yards on 10 carries and junior Bodey Hedlund had 55 yards on 10 carries.
“It was a battle from the start, an all-around battle, just the whole game,” Johnson added. “We were fighting back and forth. The defense had some good plays. The offense had good plays.”
Minnetonka answered with two touchdowns, both by Francois, who broke loose for 66 yards and 53 yards respectively. His second score gave the Skippers a 14-7 lead with 3:58 remaining in the second quarter.
Eden Prairie quarterback Jackson Bakkum (4) was five of 11 for 48 yards passing, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Photo by Rick Olson
“We just had to focus on being tough up front. That’s what we knew going into this game,” Eden Prairie linebacker and captain Zane Frost said. “We knew they were going to have a good, strong O-line, and they did.
“It was just about our four front guys being tough and being strong and doing what we knew we needed to do.”
The Eagles struck back on their next offensive series.
Hedlund’s 5-yard punt return gave Eden Prairie the ball on its own 40-yard line, On the ensuing series, Hedlund ripped off runs of 15, nine and 10 yards to bring the Eagles to the doorstep of tying the game.
On third-and-eight from the Minnetonka 12-yard line, Eden Prairie quarterback Jackson Bakkum found tight end Braden Minta over the middle.
The pass, a rocket resembling the scoring strike the pair had the previous week against St. Michael-Albertville, tied the score at 14 following Serk’s extra point.
Eden Prairie tight end Braden Minta (85) caught a touchdown to tie the game 14-14 in the second quarter. Photo by Rick Olson
“Our receivers and Jackson had such great plays,” Eden Prairie captain and guard Ethan Sather said.
Bakkum finished five of 11 for 48 yards passing, with one touchdown and no interceptions.
The teams entered halftime tied in a 14-14 deadlock.
“I know we made some adjustments at halftime,” Eden Prairie standout defensive lineman Gavin Walden said. “We just moved our guys in some better positions for them to make some plays, and yeah, we just executed most of them.”
The third quarter was scoreless, with the Eagles’ defense finding a way to minimize the damage inflicted by Francois, who rushed for 185 yards in the first half and finished with 269 yards on 32 carries. Francois did not complete a pass in two attempts.
“The two times he burst out for those big runs, we just had two guys in the same gap,” Kelly said. “Once we figured that out, we were containing them the rest of the game.”
“We just had to focus on being tough up front,” Eden Prairie captain and linebacker Zane Frost (7) said. Photo by Rick Olson
The Eden Prairie defense made a critical stop in the fourth quarter on a drive that began with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Minnetonka drove 80 yards in 18 plays to the Eden Prairie 2-yard line.
On fourth-and-two from the 2, Walden stopped Francois on the 1-yard line, ending the drive and giving possession to the Eagles.
“That was one of the great ones in our career here,” Grant said of the goal-line stand. “And a real credit to our kids for coming up and making that play.”
Eden Prairie sophomore Owen Konrad (20) had 58 yards on 10 carries. Photo by Rick Olson
The drive, fruitless for the Skippers, burned 9:48 off the clock, while the Eagles took control with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We had a lot of momentum there,” Walden said.
Minnetonka made a stop, forcing the Eagles to punt from their own 12-yard line.
The Skippers took full advantage on the next series, working a short field from the Eden Prairie 37-yard line.
On the sixth play from scrimmage, Francois raced 20 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 Minnetonka lead with 2:28 remaining in regulation.
“Both teams were just fighting, fighting, fighting,” Frost said. “And it was a great game. They played great. We played great. We just got to capitalize.”
Eden Prairie got the ball back at its own 42-yard line, following junior Windlan Hall’s 12-yard kickoff return.
Eden Prairie senior Jake Gau (66) and Ethan Sather (64) bring down a Skippers ball carrier. Photo by Rick Olson
The Eagles managed to squeeze every second of their two-minute drill, running 12 plays and converting on two third downs.
Bakkum completed four passes on the drive, including a 16-yard connection with Cooper Fahning, who made a spectacular sideline catch, with toes in bounds, to give Eden Prairie first-and-10 from the Minnetonka 11-yard line with just nine seconds remaining in regulation.
Bakkum tried to connect with Fahning, followed by an attempt to Minta, but both passes fell incomplete.
On third-and-10 from the 11-yard line and just two seconds remaining, Bakkum’s throw to the corner of the end zone slipped through the fingers of Hall.
Eden Prairie wide receiver Cooper Fahning (13) makes a sideline catch to keep the final drive alive in the Eagles’ 21-14 loss to Minnetonka on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
“It shows we got a lot of resilience, that’s for sure, going to the last play,” Walden said. “We still know who we are, we still think we can win the championship. So we’ve just got to come back, get better, practice every day and make it to the Bank.”
Following the incompletion, the Minnetonka side of the stadium erupted. Their 21-14 win over Eden Prairie was their first in 20 years, bringing a memorable night to a close.
After the game, the pervasive attitude was upbeat as players loaded the buses back to Eden Prairie. Going toe-to-toe with the state’s No. 2-ranked team gave the Eagles a good indication of their capabilities moving forward.
“I’d love to play them again, like tomorrow,” Johnson said. “I think we’d still have a fight. We’re up there as a team, for sure, we just got to keep working on things.”
Minnetonka quarterback Caleb Francois (2) ran for 269 yards yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. Photo by Rick Olson
Grant was asked if he’s seen his team’s confidence grow after their Week 2 loss to top-ranked Maple Grove, followed by wins over Edina and STMA, as well as a close call with the Skippers.
He took the opportunity to reiterate his program’s approach to the season.
“We expect to win the state title. That’s what our kids want to do, right?” he said. “So, nothing’s a surprise for us. We just wish we could have won this game and the Maple Grove game.”
Sather took the moment to reflect on a memorable Friday night.
“I’m just grateful to be a part of something like that,” he said. “Obviously, in the end, it didn’t go our way. … But what a privilege to be in this situation, to be in this game, to have my teammates, my best friends, around me, and now we get to go at it tomorrow again, and our story is not over.
“Nothing’s over. We get to be at it again. And, yes, that’s such a privilege, and I’m so grateful.”
Homecoming awaits the Eagles on Friday night, when they will host Moorhead at Aerie Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
“We expect to win the state title. That’s what our kids want to do,” Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant said after the Eagles’ 21-14 loss to Minnetonka on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson