Minnetonka High football fans were excited to see the Skippers take a 14-0 lead over the state’s No. 1-ranked 6A team, Maple Grove, in a matinee game Oct. 17.
But four turnovers later, Minnetonka was on the short end of a 31-21 final score. The outcome made Maple Grove 8-0 this season and left the Skippers 6-2.
Both teams are No. 1 in their quadrants of the state Class 6A playoff bracket. Minnetonka opens the playoffs at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, against Park of Cottage Grove at Einer Anderson Stadium. Maple Grove’s opening game begins at 7 p.m. Friday against Burnsville at Maple Grove High.
Whenever ranked teams collide in a high school football game, there is speculation in several areas: 1. Which team has played a tougher schedule? 2. Which team handles pressure better? 3. Which team has the most at stake? 4. Which team is healthier?
Early in the Oct. 17, it appeared Minnetonka was bigger and stronger and more able to finish drives. Then two key plays turned the game in Maple Grove’s favor and the scored leveled out at 14-14 at the half.
Minnetonka’s touchdowns in the first half came with crisp execution. Caleb Francois, the junior quarterback, scored on a 2-yard run. Then Minnetonka had its longest gain of the day on a 69-yard pass play from Francois to wide receiver Vinny May.
Minnetonka started another drive in hopes of taking a three-touchdown lead.
“One big moment was a fourth-and-one at our own 45 yard line,” Minnetonka head coach Mark Esch said. “We had a bad snap and Maple Grove took over on downs.”
Almost immediately, Maple Grove’s star receiver, Dylan Vokal scored on a short pass play from Kaden Harney. Maple Grove gambled on a squib kickoff that Vokal recovered deep in Minnetonka territory. Then the Crimson scored on another short pass from Harney to Vokal.
The only score of the third quarter was yet another pass from Harney to Vokal. It was the longest gain of the day for the Crimson, covering 43 yards.
Minnetonka tied the score 21-21 in the fourth quarter with Francois scoring his second rushing touchdown from four yards out.
Maple Grove mounted a drive, but Minnetonka free safety Malachi Boadi picked off a pass to give the Skippers possession on their own 2 yard line.
Operating out of the shotgun, Francois took the snap in his end zone and was hit by Crimson defender Bo Draheim, who recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
With a 28-21 lead, Maple Grove moved into position for a long field goal try that Henry Sievers made from 45 yards. Essentially, that was the end for Minnetonka.
“We had six turnovers in the game, including the two times we turned the ball over on downs,” coach Esch said. The Skippers countered by forcing two Crimson turnovers.
Minnetonka had a slight edge in offensive production - 314 yards to Maple Grove’s 294.
Francois rushed 27 times for 86 yards. Minnetonka senior halfback Chase Conrad had a solid game with 18 rushes for 69 yards. Minnetonka’s May was the top receiver in the game with six catches for 141 yards.
Francois completed seven of 10 passes for 140 yards and Caden Gutzmer came off the bench to complete one pass for 19 yards and a key Skipper first down in the second half.
Maple Grove’s Vokal had four catches for 65 yards and three touchdowns. Draheim had one Crimson reception for a 37-yard gain. James Engle added one reception for 41 yards.
Minnetonka’s pursuit on defense was good with 16 players making tackles. Boadi led the way with seven stops and Jack Yerhot and Milan Bobda added six each. Dylan Hudgens, Caleb Taylor and Alex Schneider each came up with four tackles. Sterling Bain and Quinlan Eyman each made three solo tackles.
Coach Esch is taking nothing for granted in the playoffs. The Skippers will prepare for Park of Cottage Grove the same way they prepare for any other game.
Park played only one game against a west metro opponent this season and lost to Hopkins 57-50. That performance by Hopkins was an all-time, single-game scoring record.
Local News
Comments / 0