Hopkins has the opportunity to win its first Lake Conference championship in the league’s last season of existence.

DT Williams scored two touchdowns, helping the Royals move into a position to compete for the crown with a 27-24 victory over Edina at Hopkins High School on Friday. 

The senior running back scored on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Lee in the second quarter to give the Royals a 10-0 lead. He scored on an 11-yard run late in the third quarter that increased the lead to 24-3.

The Hornets, however, mounted a furious comeback. Edina scored three touchdowns in the final 14 minutes to narrow the deficit to three points but could not recover an onside kick and Hopkins closed out the game to improve to 3-0 in the conference play and 5-2 overall. The Royals’ five victories ties for the most the team has recorded in the last four years.

The turnaround is amazing for Hopkins’ team that finished 2-7 overall and were winless in the Lake Conference last season. The Royals, ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press’ Class 6A poll, can put the exclamation point on this season by winning the league title, an accomplishment William said could inspire the school’s underclassmen.

“It feels good to change the culture of Hopkins football, so maybe the sophomores, the juniors and the kids under us will have a little bit of hope and see that it can be done,” Williams said. 

Winning the title won’t be easy. Hopkins faces football powerhouse Eden Prairie in the regular-season finale on Oct. 15. The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press’ Class 6A poll, recorded their 24th consecutive victory by defeating Wayzata on Friday and are averaging 37 points per game this season.

Eden Prairie is the three-time defending state champion and has a total of nine state titles.

“Eden Prairie is a great team, with a great tradition and we’re ready to go give it our best effort and we’re excited about the opportunity,” Hopkins coach John DenHartog said. “It’s a neat thing our kids have earned and our kids have worked hard to get there, so it’s exciting for us.” 

Williams said a Hopkins' upset victory over Eden Prairie would leave a lasting impact on him and his teammates.

“That’s a memory we’d cherish for the rest of our lives and that would bring us closer as friends and just as a team period," he said. "And that’s something we’d never forget."

Running back DT Williams had two touchdowns for Hopkins, which held off a late rally by Edina as the Royals defeated the Hornets 27-24 Friday night at Hopkins High School.

Williams scored on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Lee, helping the Royals (5-2, 3-0) build a 17-3 half-time lead and added an 11-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21 points in the second half for Hopkins, ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press' Class 6A poll.

The Hornets (1-6,1-3), however, battled back as quarterback Charlie Smith and wide receiver Ben Boone connected for three second-half touchdowns, including one with 52 seconds remaining in the game. 

Lee also found wide receiver Kevion McDonald on a 34-yard touchdown pass while junior Zach Savitz made a pair of field goals, one from 37-yards and the other from 17-yards for the Royals.

Edina senior Patrick LeCorre converted on a 38-yard field goal.

Spotlight Game Coverage