Amid the group of victorious, state tournament-bound Spring Lake Park players stood quarterback Zachary Ojile, a crutch under each arm. An ice bag fastened to his right ankle.

The Panthers’ second-leading rusher scored the clinching touchdown in their 28-22 victory Saturday against Park Center. Jerked down from behind in the end zone, however, Ojile needed teammates’ help to leave the field.

He vowed before a group of football alumni that he would return for the Class 5A state tournament quarterfinal Oct. 31 at Osseo High School against Section 6 champion St. Michael-Albertville (9-1). The Panthers and Knights both finished in the top five of the rankings.

Spring Lake Park coach Jeff Schlieff took a more measured approach
“I said, ‘We’ll see,’ ” Schlieff said. “Even on one-and-a-half legs, he might still be pretty good.”

Ojile and teammate Isley Carrington gave No. 1 seed Spring Lake Park (10-0) four great legs throughout the Section 5 championship game.

Carrington added to his team-leading rushing total with 29 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown. Ojile, linchpin of Spring Lake Park’s read-option offense, ran 28 times for 170 yards and two scores.

“They’re a ball-control team that gets you to play their pace,” Park Center coach Paul Strong said. The Panthers previously defeated Park Center 28-7 on Aug. 28.

The rematch saw Spring Lake Park start the third quarter with a touchdown drive for a 21-7 lead. But No. 3 seed Park Center (8-3) didn’t quit.

A 23-yard touchdown pass from Amani Hooker, playing the final game of his tremendous senior season, to Ty’shonan Brooks cut the deficit to 21-14. The pressure shifted to a Spring Lake Park offense fresh off two punts.

Carrington prolonged the deciding drive, picking up a fourth-and-1 at the Park Center 33. As bodies converged on him and pads popped, Carrington reminded himself to “just drive my legs, fight for my life. We needed that score.”

Trailing 28-14, Park Center got a Brooks touchdown and added a two-point conversion. But Spring Lake Park, state tournament semifinalists last fall, held on.

“It feels great,” Carrington said. “This has been our goal the whole season.”

Spring Lake Park’s undefeated season continues to the state tournament thanks to a 28-22 victory Saturday against Park Center.

No. 1 seed Spring Lake Park (10-0) got scoring runs from Luke Stafford, Isley Carrington and two from quarterback Zachary Ojile.

No. 3 seed Park Center (8-3) got a touchdown run and scoring pass from Amani Hooker plus a late Ty’shonan Brooks end around but could not snap a 30-year state tournament drought.

The Panthers, who reached the state tournament semifinals last season, play at 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Osseo High School against Section 6 champion St. Michael-Albertville (9-1). The Panthers and Knights both finished in the top five of the rankings.

Check back later for more on the game.