Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant watches the final minute of the Eagles’ 50-7 win over Lakeville North in the Class 6A playoffs. The victory was Grant’s 400th as a head coach. Photo by Rick Olson
Eden Prairie’s Mike Grant won his first football game as a head coach on Sept. 25, 1981, when he led Forest Lake over Kellogg, a school that no longer exists.
Ronald Reagan was eight months into his first term as president of the United States, the Minnesota Vikings, coached by Grant’s father, Bud, were in their final season at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, and the Mall of America, built on the site of the old Met, was 11 years away from its grand opening.
Grant was 24 years old.
Eden Prairie sophomore Owen Konrad (20) congratulates head coach Mike Grant on his 400th career win. Photo by Rick Olson
After a two-year stop at St. John’s University to serve as an assistant to the legendary John Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history, Grant returned to Forest Lake for three more seasons before arriving at Eden Prairie in 1992.
And it was in Eden Prairie on Friday night where Grant stood before his team, about to deliver his postgame message following a resounding 50-7 win over Lakeville North in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Before he could speak, an announcement over the public address system informed those present that the victory over the Panthers was Grant’s 400th as a head coach.
Grant is one of only three coaches in Minnesota high school history to reach the lofty mark and the only coach in the state’s largest class of schools to do so.
Not surprisingly, Grant downplayed the moment, but the emotion in his voice betrayed his effort to minimize the significance of the occasion.
“This truly isn’t about me,” Mike Grant told his team after capturing win No. 400 with a victory over Lakeville North on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
Grant told the team he would address the milestone at their Saturday morning practice and chose instead to focus on the game just won.
“More important, literally, more importantly, you played a great game,” he said, holding back tears. “You guys prepared really well this week. Played hard, played well, played like a championship team.”
Grant, who has led Eden Prairie to 11 state championships, was looking ahead to capture the next title.
Eden Prairie junior defensive back Quaid Johnson (16) and Isaiah Kelly (2) celebrate Johnson’s interception in the first quarter against Lakeville North. Photo by Rick Olson
“Four quarters to the state. That was a great game. This truly isn’t about me. I never wanted to talk about it,” he told his players before sharing the practice schedule for the following day.
“Just having a coach like that, a legend, 400 wins, that’s amazing,” Eagles senior captain Ethan Sather said. “Just to get to have a coach like that as a mentor, being a mentor to others and doing things the right way, it’s more than just football.”
Eden Prairie running back Justice Bates (33) scores the first of his two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 50-7 win over Lakeville North. Photo by Rick Olson
But there was football — played well by the Eagles — in this opening round of the playoffs. Eden Prairie picked up No. 400 for Grant by doing what it always does, running the football and playing solid defense.
The Eagles amassed 294 yards rushing and 404 yards of total offense while holding Lakeville North to 212 total yards.
The Eden Prairie defense provided a host of opportunities with three interceptions, including junior defensive back Quaid Johnson’s pick to silence the Panthers’ first offensive series, giving the Eagles a short field at the Lakeville North 42-yard line.
Eden Prairie linebacker Luke Elliott (12) returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 15-0 lead over Lakeville North. Photo by Rick Olson
Senior running back Justice Bates punched it in from the 3-yard line to cap a nine-play drive. Senior Andrew Johnson ran in the two-point conversion, and Eden Prairie had an early 8-0 lead with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter.
“We wanted to come out and play two great quarters, and I thought we did that,” Grant said of the first half.
The defense came away with another takeaway on the following series when junior linebacker Luke Elliott picked off Panthers quarterback Mason Eberle and cruised 61 yards for a touchdown and a 15-0 Eden Prairie lead following Harrison Serk’s extra point.
“I’ve seen that play a few times in scout team,” Elliott said. “I’ve got to give props to them, giving us a good look and I was just there to make the play.”
Eden Prairie senior running back Andrew Johnson (1) led the Eagles with 95 yards rushing on 16 carries and two touchdowns. Photo by Rick Olson
When Eden Prairie took possession with 10:37 remaining in the second quarter, senior quarterback Jackson Bakkum put together perhaps his most impressive series of the season.
On third-and-12 from the Eden Prairie 19-yard line, Bakkum found junior Windlan Hall for 17 yards and a first down.
Bakkum was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following Gavin Walden’s 6-yard run on a third-and-six from the Lakeville North 39-yard line.
The call seemed to ignite the offense and Bakkum, who connected with senior Cooper Fahning for 13 yards and a first down.
Eden Prairie quarterback Jackson Bakkum (4) completed five of eight passes for 110 yards against Lakeville North. Photo by Rick Olson
On the following play, Bakkum found tight end Braden Minta for 28 yards and a first-and-goal on the Lakeville North 6-yard line.
Two plays later Justice Bates bowled in from the 1-yard line for the second of his two touchdowns and a 22-7 Eden Prairie lead.
The 12-play, 79-yard drive gave Eden Prairie a 22-7 lead with 5:55 remaining in the second quarter.
“I had to make it up,” a grinning Bakkum said, referring to the penalty he committed on the drive. “Or else I’d probably get in trouble if I didn’t make it up.”
Eden Prairie captain Ethan Sather’s (64) block paved the way for running back Owen Konrad’s (20) touchdown in the third quarter. Photo by Rick Olson
Bakkum had one of his most productive games of the season, completing five of eight passes for 110 yards.
“I thought we played great,” Bakkum said. “We got it done on offense. They have a unique defense, so we just pounded the rock out of them and took our chances when we passed it.”
And Eden Prairie wasn’t finished before halftime.
On its next offensive series, the Eagles embarked on a nine-play, 52-yard drive culminating in Andrew Johnson’s 3-yard touchdown with 26 seconds remaining in the half.
The drive featured runs by Johnson, Hall and Bates, as well as sophomore Owen Konrad, the team’s rushing leader. Hall also had a 17-yard reception from Bakkum to set up the touchdown.
Eden Prairie running back Owen Konrad (20) had 90 yards on seven carries, including this 54-yard touchdown in the third quarter against Lakeville North. Photo by Rick Olson
The series showcased the broad scope of Eden Prairie’s backfield that has been effective in controlling drives and maintaining possessions all season.
“We’ve just got a really deep running back room and a bunch of different packages that work in different situations,” Johnson said. “And I think that was something that makes us a really good team.”
Johnson led the Eagles with 95 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. Konrad had 90 yards on seven carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
“It gives us a fresh start every time a new guy goes in,” Bakkum said of the Eagles’ numerous options at running back. “And they’re going to give you their hardest running ability, and they’re going to make someone miss, or they’re going to run someone over.”
Eden Prairie senior Gavin Walden runs over a Lakeville North defender in the Eagles’ 50-7 win on Friday. Photo by Rick Olson
Grant likes how the depth at running back keeps his players healthy, particularly at this stage of the season.
“We don’t have to give a guy 25, 35 carries. Some schools are giving them 40 carries a game,” he said. “I just think it wears them down. But we’ve got a lot of good kids that can carry the ball and deserve to get a shot to play in there.”
Grant added: “Andrew Johnson didn’t play a lot last game, and tonight, he was critical. He played both ways and had a great game.”
Eden Prairie junior Windlan Hall (5) gets yards after catch on a pass from quarterback Jackson Bakkum. Photo by Rick Olson
Johnson’s two touchdowns, both in the second half, included a 15-yard run culminating in a diving reach for the goal line to give the Eagles a 43-7 lead to start the fourth quarter.
“I just owe it all to my linemen,” Johnson said. “They do everything for me. I just have to find the hole. That’s all I’ve got to do.”
The large margin put the game in running time in the fourth quarter and provided a chance for reserve players to see action.
Senior Evan Dufault broke loose for a 49-yard run for Eden Prairie’s final score of the night, finishing off an eight-play, 89-yard drive.
The impressive victory made it a special night not only for Grant’s milestone win, but for the Eden Prairie seniors who were playing their final game at Aerie Stadium.
Eden Prairie senior Evan Dufault (25) raced for a 49-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Lakeville North. Photo by Rick Olson
“My last play ended on a touchdown. So you can’t complain,” Sather said. “It was a great game. I’m excited. Bittersweet, sad to end here, but I’m excited now. On to Champlin Park.”
The No. 3-seed Eagles will travel to Champlin Park to take on the No. 2-seed Rebels on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
“They’re a good team,” Bakkum said. “I think their quarterback is great. He’s a lefty, he’s big, and he can run the ball and he can throw it. They’ve got a fast offense and are very aggressive.”
Champlin Park finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in Class 6A, one notch below the Eagles at No. 4.
The two teams collided in August during the preseason scrimmages at Eden Prairie, which now seems like a lifetime ago.
“I’m excited,” Sather said. “Now we just got to go on to the next thing and be ready for next week.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the start time of Eden Prairie’s playoff game against Champlin Park. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday.
The Eagles’ 50-7 win over Lakeville North in the Class 6A playoffs was final home game for the Eden Prairie seniors. Photo by Rick Olson