Eden Prairie has faced few challenges this season. 

The Eagles have outscored opponents 425-138 through eight regular-season game and two Class 6A state playoff games. 

But for junior running back Carlos Williams, every game is its own test of patience and determination. 

Williams rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown in Eden Prairie’s 42-14 win over Lakeville South on Friday night in the Class 6A state tournament at Eden Prairie High School, and he did it all as a reserve for one of the state’s most potent rushing offenses. 

“It’s a challenge,” Williams said of spending the majority of his time on the bench. “It’s hard to be the No. 1 guy because there’s just such great talent ahead of me.”

That talent includes speedy senior J.D. Spielman, a Nebraska commit who has rushed for more than 1,134 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, and bruising senior Alec Hetherington, who has rushed for 532 yards and 10 TDs. 

Spielman ran for 82 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries in Friday’s win and Hetherington added two TDs for the Eagles (10-0), ranked No. 1 in Class 6A in the season's final Associated Press state high school football poll. 

Williams ran just 13 times for 57 yards during the regular season but broke out in the state tournament, running for a combined 84 yards and two touchdowns in wins over Roseville and Lakeville South. 

Despite the scarcity of attempts, Williams said he understands and buys into Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant’s philosophy and plan for the team. 

“Coach Grant puts us in the right position to make plays and be the best team that we can be,” Williams said. 

Grant’s Eagles hung 42 unanswered points on the board before Lakeville South managed to score a touchdown, allowing Grant to pull most of his starters after the first quarter. 

Despite the dominance shown by the Eagles, Grant maintains there is still room for improvement. 

“Well, we’ll have film tomorrow, so there will be things we’ve got to get better at,” Grant said with a chuckle after Friday’s win. 

Lakeville South managed two second-half touchdowns thanks to senior quarterback Will Heller, who connected from 21 and 63 yards out. 

Cougars coach Larry Thompson said the Eagles’ fast start was what ultimately led to the loss. 

“I think they caught us on our heels real early and we just didn’t recover,” he said. 

Thompson also said that Lakeville South entered the game with a strong upset mentality but lost momentum after Spielman ran for a 44-yard TD on the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage. 

“Let’s shock the world,” Thompson said as he described his team’s mindset before the game. “You always hope, but when they got us on our heels, there was nothing we could do.”

Eden Prairie faces No. 7-6A Totino-Grace next Friday in the state quarterfinals. 

Eden Prairie defeated Totino-Grace 38-20 in the season-opener on Aug. 22. 

Senior running back J.D. Spielman ran three times for 82 yards and two touchdowns while senior running back Alec Hetherington ran for two TDs as Eden Prairie cruised past Lakeville South 48-14 on Friday night in the second round of the Class 6A state tournament at Eden Prairie High School. 

Spielman’s first touchdown came on the Eagles’ very first play from scrimmage as he found a hole in the line and raced 44 yards to the end zone. 

Spielman and the majority of the Eagles’ starters were pulled from the game after the first quarter. 

Senior running back T.J. Conrad and junior running back Carlos Williams each ran for a touchdown for the Eagles (10-0), who are ranked No. 1 in the latest Class 6A coaches’ poll.

Senior quarterback Will Heller threw touchdown passes of 21 and 63 yards for the Cougars (5-5). 

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