Eden Prairie’s Isaiah Kelly (2) and Jaden Bates (99) celebrate Luke Elliott’s (12) blocked field goal in the Eagles’ 35-14 win over Wayzata on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
As football players go, Gavin Walden is living his best life.
The anchor of Eden Prairie’s defensive unit at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Walden is a swift-moving block of granite along the Eagles’ line.
The senior consistently comes up with big stops in key situations. A sack, a blocked pass, a big hit that ignites his teammates.
But on occasion, Walden is called upon to fulfill every lineman’s dream: get the ball and score a touchdown.
Gavin Walden (9) scored the Eagles first touchdown against Wayzata Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
Gavin Walden (9) scored the Eagles first touchdown against Wayzata Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
Gavin Walden (9) scored the Eagles first touchdown against Wayzata Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
“He’s played both ways a lot,” Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant said. “He’s a very good defensive player, but he’s a great blocker, and obviously runs the ball a little bit,” adding with a grin, “if you ask him, he’s the best running back.”
Walden scored not just one but two touchdowns in Eden Prairie’s 35-14 win over Wayzata on Wednesday, bringing his season total to four touchdowns in eight games.
“We know when he does get the ball, he’s going to run someone over,” Eagles quarterback Jackson Bakkum said. “No one’s going to stop him; he’s the biggest kid out there. I mean, it’s fun seeing him score because he’s always got something to say after.”
Eden Prairie linebacker Luke Elliott (12) hit Wayzata quarterback Thor Soukup, forcing an interception in the first quarter. Photo by Rick Olson
Modest in postgame interviews, Walden is always quick to put his teammates first, giving credit to those around him and maintaining a seemingly low profile.
But his play on the field betrays his self-effacing demeanor. Aside from his four touchdowns, Walden has 29 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks on the season.
Walden is one of several Eden Prairie players seeing action on offense as well as defense. And he likes the duality of lining up on both sides of the ball.
Eden Prairie’s Gavin Walden (9) returned an errant throw for a touchdown in the first quarter against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
“It’s fun. You’re happy when you leave the field on defense, and you’re happy when you leave the field on offense,” he said. “So it’s good playing both sides of the ball. Just block people and get blocked.”
Walden has two interceptions to go with the touchdowns and tackles, with one of those takeaways coming in a pick-six against Wayzata.
“He can do a lot of things for us,” Grant said. “So, you need those guys to win a championship.”
Walden’s first touchdown finished off the Eagles’ first offensive series. With first-and-goal from the Wayzata 7-yard line, he took a handoff off a reverse, rumbled to the left edge and dove for the pylon to give the Eagles an early lead.
Eden Prairie’s Luke Elliott (12) blocks a field goal by Wayzata’s Felipe Miguelfield (99) in the second quarter.Photo by Rick Olson
The play capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
“That was our bread and butter last year,” Walden said. “Last year, I ran it two times, scored two times, so I’m begging (Grant) to run it again, and he gave it to me, so it worked.
“Definitely as a lineman to get in the end zone, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
Walden’s second touchdown came on Wayzata’s next possession.
On second-and-two from the Wayzata 39-yard line, Eagles junior linebacker Luke Elliott got to Trojan quarterback Thor Soukup.
“We’ve got everyone that can just move the ball, and they’re all fast,” Eden Prairie quarterback Jackson Bakkum (4) said. Photo by Rick Olson
“I was just free off the edge,” Elliott said. “I got lucky, hit the quarterback, and just Gavin made a play.”
Elliott’s hit knocked the ball loose and into Walden’s arms.
“I saw Luke come around the edge, and I knew he’s going to kill the quarterback, but the ball popped right in my hands,” Walden recalled. “I shagged one tackle and made it to the end zone.”
Walden raced 36 yards for the touchdown. After Harrison Serk’s point-after kick, Eden Prairie led 14-0 with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter.
Eden Prairie’s Windlan Hall (5) rushed for 95 yards on 13 carries against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
Elliott was a major disruptor along with Walden. He got to Soukup two more times to break up the Trojans’ passing game and blocked a Wayzata field goal attempt in the second quarter.
Elliott was quick to give credit to Walden and his teammates for creating those opportunities.
“I just want to give thanks to the D-line,” he said. “They’re opening up those holes for me to get there, and I’m just thankful for them.”
Offensively, the Eagles were led once again by leading rusher Owen Konrad. The sophomore surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, rushing 12 times for 125 yards.
Eden Prairie’s Braden Minta (85) made a 13-yard catch to set up an Eagles touchdown in the fourth quarter against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
Konrad now has 1,043 yards on 109 carries this season, averaging 9.3 yards per carry.
“The O-line played awesome today,” Konrad said. “Windlan (Hall) played awesome today. It’s great running behind him. I feel like I just get lucky sometimes.”
The Eden Prairie offense amassed 330 yards rushing and 360 total yards, going five of 10 on third-down conversions and two of three on fourth down.
They punted only once in the game and have continually shown an ability to sustain drives and generate points.
“Whoever has to play us, they don’t want to play us,” said Owen Konrad (20), who led all rushers with 125 yards on 12 carries Friday against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
“We always know we can move the ball,” Bakkum said. “We’ve got big, strong guys. Owen Konrad, Justice (Bates), Bodey (Hedlund), Andrew (Johnson), we’ve got everyone that can just move the ball, and they’re all fast.
“They can seal the edge. They can get around and make someone miss and score or take a big gain, anything.”
Bakkum was three of six passing for 29 yards. Bates and Johnson both scored second-half touchdowns for Eden Prairie, both with 2-yard dives.
Eden Prairie’s Justice Bates (33) scored a touchdown in the third quarter against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
The Eagles’ final score came from sophomore Sam Roslansky, whose 15-yard run put the finishing touches on a seven-play, 59-yard drive to give Eden Prairie a 35-7 lead with 3:47 to play in the fourth quarter.
“We played well. And I think we were playing on a pretty even keel of execution,” Grant said. “And that’s what you want at this time of year, not too high, not too low, just execute.”
The Eagles (6-2 and ranked No. 6 in Class 6A) will have a home game in the first round of the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, facing No. 6 seed Lakeville North on Friday at 7 p.m.
Eden Prairie’s Andrew Johnson (1) scored a touchdown in the third quarter against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
“Whoever has to play us, they don’t want to play us, and that’s what we like,” Konrad said. “That’s Eden Prairie football.”
Class 6A is the only postseason format in the state that does not feature a section playoff. All 32 teams will square off in a state tournament bracket, with the first round set for Friday.
Under Grant, the Eagles break down the postseason into smaller, more focused increments of football.
Eden Prairie’s Sam Roslansky (35) scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Wayzata. Photo by Rick Olson
“We’re down to playing four great quarters next Friday,” Grant said, echoing his philosophy of playing their best football each quarter in the playoffs. “That’s all we worry about. That’s all we can worry about.”
After rolling off three straight wins following a narrow loss to then-No. 2 Minnetonka – and with their other defeat coming against No. 1 Maple Grove – the Eagles like their chances in the tournament.
“I think we’re playing well,” Grant said. “So someone’s going to have to play great to beat us, and they might.
“But we might make a run here.”
“Someone’s going to have to play great to beat us,” said Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant after the Eagles’ 35-14 win over Wayzata Friday. Photo by Rick Olson