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Maple Grove Triumphs in Homecoming Week with Community Spirit and Dominant Victory

By Adam Spurrell, 09/29/24, 11:45AM CDT

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Maple Grove celebrated a successful Homecoming week with a strong community spirit, a shutout victory against Blaine, and a balanced offensive performance, while honoring a student who battled cancer.

Homecoming 2024 is in the books.  What an exciting week filled with themes every day that our players took participated very well with as well as a pep fest that was filled with excitement and energy.  I was nervous that our kids would have too much energy and too much adrenaline going into the game, but they did a great job through pregame getting through the first wave of adrenaline.   Therefore, when the players came out of the tunnel and began the game, they were able to be focused from the beginning.   It was incredible looking up in the stands, seeing all the purple and pink to help support tackle cancer.   It was also amazing watching everyone hold up a card in support of someone that they know that has been impacted by cancer.  This school did a great job rallying behind a student that fought through a tough fight with cancer.   We will wear a sticker on our helmet in her honor for the remainder of the season.  

Our defense had a great challenge going into the week by playing a dynamic runner in Blaine’s quarterback.   He proved to be a slippery player on film and had shown some of his running ability last year against us.   So, our players knew what they were going into for this game.   I am super proud of our defense in holding a team that was averaging over 390 yards a game and nearly 29 points a game to virtually nothing.   We were able to keep Blaine to 111 yards and it was our defense’s first shutout of the season.   It was an all-around effort though by our team.   We didn’t have anyone with double digit tackles and yet we had great numbers all around.   I am proud of their team defense this week because it truly took a team to shut them down.  

Our offense played well and put up a great score with scoring 35 points and gaining 390 yards of total offense.   The best part is though on Saturday morning the guys felt like they could have played better.   This is awesome to hear because it means they have expectations at an elite level.   Our offense did what it wanted on the field through the run and pass game.  We had 5 guys carry the ball and 5 guys catch the ball before the JV entered the field.   This balance will prove value in the long term as it should/will be tough to prepare for us going forward.  

Our special teams came through in a big week this week with a blocked punt by Jack Weigel.   Our PAT team was 5 for 5.   Overall, we did a great job covering kicks and punts.   It was awesome to see because we haven’t had an opportunity each week to do so.   This part of our game needs to continue to be a strength of our team going forward through the last few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs.

Our JV did a great job finishing up the game for us in the 4th quarter.   It is awesome when we can get as many kids onto the field as possible.   All the kids aspire of playing on Friday nights and therefore we will try to get as many guys in as possible.   I love watching the kids that don’t normally get an opportunity fly around and show on Friday nights what they show all week in practice and on Saturday mornings.   I love the culture that we have at Maple Grove, and I love the fact that these players play hard for their teammates, coaches, families, school and community.    I am super proud of where we are and excited about what still lies ahead.   Our goal this week is to continue improving and to keep focus each and every day.   Friday night will be Coon Rapids homecoming and therefore should be a game that they have extra energy for coming into the game with.   Looking forward to another step in our journey this week and getting to 6-0.   LEAVE NO DOUBT!

Coach Spurrell