While the last-second loss to Osseo is a tough pill to swallow, the Maple Grove Crimson are looking ahead to finish the regular season and prepare for the section tournament.
Crimson coach Matt Lombardi does not think the loss to Osseo will have any impact on his 6-1 team’s chances to secure the No. 1 seed in the section.
“I don’t know if it will be that big because they (Osseo) will still be a two-loss team and we’ll only have one loss if we beat Spring Lake Park this week (Wednesday, Oct. 15). I think this game would boost Osseo up but I don’t think it will hurt us that much.”
The seedings will be announced Thursday, Oct. 16. Lombardi looks for Maple Grove, Totino Grace and Osseo to be the top three seeds.
Lombardi said the loss to Osseo exposed some of his team’s weaknesses and the coaching staff and players will work to correct them.
Lombardi said he was not surprised the game was close because it followed a pattern when it comes to Osseo vs. Maple Grove football.
“If you look across the boards every Osseo-Maple Grove game at every level this year pretty much ended in a tie,” Lombardi said. “The freshman game ended in a tie, the sophomore game we won in overtime and the varsity ended up a one-point game. It just shows that when Osseo plays Maple Grove there’s so much at stakes that it’s always going to be a tough fight. That’s what fun about it.”
Lombardi said the game gets more hypes because of expectations from the communities.
“The most challenging thing about that game is I think the kids are pretty good about it,” Lombardi said. “They understand the game is a fun rivalry. But I think the game is a big deal because of the communities. It means a lot to the parents and the people who were there. They are the ones who put all the stocks on it. So I think a lot of the pressure for these kids going into this game come from the dinner table. It’s a fun game to play but it’s almost bigger for the parents than the kids themselves.”
The two teams may well meet again the section tournament.
“It would be fun,” Lombardi. “Once it gets to the playoffs then it will be just about the game, which is a good thing. If we do get a chance to see them that’s great because that would be great for our district. If we do get to play them, that’s great. But I think both teams are focusing on the next game.”