Last Thursday night, on a hot, muggy night, we were able to prevail over an experienced Edina team 34-16 moving our record to 2-1 on the season.   With sixteen players back from last season and a ton of size, Edina offered a great challenge forcing us to grow up as a team throughout the night. 

Defensively, we made some great progress as we came out playing fast and creating havoc early in the game allowing for our team to settle down after our ragged start on both offense and special teams.  Our first three drives were three and outs all following turnovers of some kind from our offense.   That was huge for us, and showed some of the things great defenses can do for a team.   This group is still a work in progress, but they are progressing week in and week out as we head to our goal of being a dominant defense come playoff time.    Many people had great games and the effort was great throughout the night.    Zion Allen had eight total tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks.   Peter Doyle and Grant Hemze each had twelve tackles and Leroy Kwateh had ten.   This group is taking pride in getting better and better every week and it will be fun to see what they will do as they keep growing as a unit.

Offensively, we started as bad as you possibly can start, but we were bailed out by our defense.   As the game went on, we did start to get in a nice rhythm and our habit of scoring touchdowns the drive after an opponent scores continued this week.  That was big in momentum situations for our team as we slowly forged ahead during the evening.   Isaac Collins again had a big evening running the football with 161 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns, while Ryan Hanscome did a great job moving the chains with 21 carries for 94 yards.  Our offensive line did a nice job throughout the night, but as a group they still are trying to be a much better unit that plays physically play in and play out.    Brad Davison made great improvements this week and passed for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns with a 67% completions percentage.   Jared Martinson had 4 catches from the tight end position for 47 yards, Will Reul caught a huge 27 yards touchdown pass that stemmed their momentum, and Will Ample pulled in 2 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.    Offensively, we still need to be getting much better and we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot during big situations in the game. 

Tyler Knutsen was able to come back this week and make an impact with 4 extra points and 3 touchbacks that helped our field position throughout the game.  However, we made a critical error this week that we will have to sure up because this is an element of the game we have to come out on top every week that we play.

Next week, on September 11th, we have the opportunity to play four-time returning state champion Eden Prairie at their place.   A team, that in their first three weeks, have handled very good opponents and knows how to play the game the right way.    Last season we played them in a game that every person that took part in that game enjoyed being a part of even though the outcome was not preferred.    Playing a team that plays good defense, runs the football, and handles themselves with class is always a good thing to be a part of and we, as a team, cannot wait to prepare for a game such as this.    We need our community coming out in huge numbers to Eden Prairie next Friday night because it will be a game at a place where tradition is oozing and they represent what we, as a program, are striving to become.   This is a wonderful opportunity for our team and our goal is to still become much better than we were in this previous week.   As our team keeps creating their identity of what they want to become, the joy in the preparation for a game against a reputable opponent is what makes this sport great.   It will be a blast, and we look forward to taking the field that Friday night fully ready and prepared in a way that we look forward to every minute and yard that transpires during that battle.   This next month of football is what makes this sport great as we take on opponents that carry themselves with great pride and expectations.   What a better way to start it than against the team that sits atop that mountain.  That’s as good as it gets!  GO CRIMSON!  See you this Friday Night!

- Lombo