In a game that could almost be described as having the intensity of a playoff game, the Edina Hornets kicked off their season-opener Thursday with a 21-14 win over the Andover Huskies.
It was a sticky first match of the season for Andover and Edina in more ways than one.
High summer invaded football season as the temperatures soared into the 90s and the tropical dew points contributed to the slow start for Edina coach Reed Boltmann’s crew.
“It’s hot and humid and the kids are a little lethargic,” said Boltmann.
The heat may have also contributed to the high number of players from both sides dropping like flies on the field throughout the game—at least five players had trouble returning to their feet after a play.
“I was preaching the last few days to hydrate,” said Boltmann. “But for the most part, I think the guys listened to me and were drinking a lot of water, trying to stay hydrated.”
One of those players affected was the No. 1 star of the game, Nick Rallis, who briefly went down in the fourth quarter after a drive.
“The right calf is a little tight from the cramping,” said Rallis. “Hopefully my calf doesn’t cramp up on the bus ride home, it’s kind of a long ride."
-- Jennifer Brook, MN Football Hub
Edina rallied to score 13 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Andover, 21-14, during the Week 1 matchup on Thursday, September 1.
The Hornets closed out the third quarter with the play of the game -- a 70-yard reception by senior Nick Rallis from junior quarterback Mark Handberg.
Handberg would finish the game going 6-of-11 with 137 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Rallis never seemed to leave the field except for a brief moment in the fourth quarter when he suffered from cramping due to the heat. The Hornets' co-captain ended with nine rushes for 33 yards, one reception for 70 yards and solid play on defense.
Senior fullback John Bryan added 62 rushing yards on 10 attempts for the Hornets with 34 of those yards coming on a quick hand-off and sprint for a touchdown.
Andover play was led by junior quarterback/wide receiver Tyler Evans who rushed for 23 yards on six attempts, caught three passes for 28 yards and one touchdown as well as passed for 49 yards going 8-for-15 with one interception.
The Huskies' defense forced four fumbles and senior defensive back Ben Wenberg had a night to remember returning a blocked punt for a touchdown in the second quarter and recovering a muffed punt in the third quarter.
Edina hosts Minneapolis Southwest at the Edina Community Center on Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.
Up next for Andover is a short road trip to Anoka, also on Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.
-- Michael Murakami, MN Football Hub staff
1. Nick Rallis, Edina
What more can be said for the senior co-captain who appeared to be involved in every play for the victorious Hornets? On offense, Rallis rushed for 33 yards on nine attempts and had one reception for 70 yards and a touchdown that would eventually prove to be the game-winner. On the defensive side of the ball, the linebacker made several tackles and broke up passing plays.
2. Mark Handberg, Edina
The junior quarterback got his 2011 season off to a great start throwing for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Handberg was 6-for-11 on passing attempts and did not throw an interception despite heavy pressure by Andover. His 70-yard touchdown pass may have been the play of the game but his 14-yard fade pass to junior wide receiver Marley Allison in the endzone wasn't too shabby either.
3. Ben Wenberg, Andover
With a different result, Wenberg may have vaulted to the top star as the senior defensive back was directly involved in the biggest special teams plays of the night. Along with several tackles, Wenberg recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Huskies a 14-8 lead going into halftime and also recovered a muffed punt for excellent field position in the third quarter.
-- Michael Murakami, MN Football Hub staff
NAME | HIGH SCHOOL | YEAR | POS. | COLLEGE | VERBAL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duke Anyanwu | Blaine | Senior | QB | Minnesota | Yes |
Matt Arends | Prior Lake | Senior | WR | Princeton | Yes |
Tavaughn Blair | Hopkins | Senior | SS | Northern Iowa | Yes |
Cal Bloom | Osseo | Senior | TE | Central Florida | Yes |
Nick Carr | Totino-Grace | Senior | OL | South Dakota State | Yes |
Kevin Carroll | Edina | Senior | OL | Northern Iowa | Yes |
Paddy Clancy | St. Thomas Academy | Senior | DB | Dartmouth | Yes |
Breion Creer | Benilde-St. Margaret's | Senior | DT | Northern Iowa | Yes |
Nick Davidson | Eden Prairie | Senior | OT | Stanford | Yes |
Rob Diane | Robbinsdale Cooper | *RCC Junior | DE | South Dakota State | Yes |
Cedric Dicke | Cannon Falls | Senior | LB | Minnesota | Yes |
Karmichael Dunbar | Prior Lake | Senior | DL | Louisianna | Yes |
Isaac Fruechte | Caledonia | *RCTC Sophomore | WR | Minnesota | Yes |
Joel Fuxa | Minnetonka | Senior | TE | Drake | Yes |
Jonathan Harden | Cretin-Derham Hall | Senior | DT | Western Michigan | Yes |
Tyler Hartmann | Andover | Senior | DE | Minnesota | Yes |
Isaac Hayes | St. Thomas Academy | Senior | OL/DL | Minnesota | Yes |
Cody Hazelette | Simley | Senior | LB/TE | Northern Illinois | Yes |
Kyle Hughes | Minneapolis Washburn | Senior | WR/DB | Eastern Michigan | Yes |
D.J. Hebert | Osseo | Senior | QB | Northern Iowa | Yes |
Cavonte Johnson | Edina | Senior | DB | Minnesota | Yes |
Will Johnson | Osseo | Senior | TE | West Virginia | Yes |
Zack Johnson | Eastview | Senior | OL | North Dakota State | Yes |
Paul Kaczor | St. Cloud Tech | Senior | OL | Harvard | Yes |
Brian Labat | Detroit Lakes | Senior | RB | North Dakota | Yes |
Andrew Larson | Eden Prairie | Senior | RB | Harvard | Yes |
Brandon Larson | Bemidji | Senior | LB | North Dakota | Yes |
Ben Lauer | Wayzata | Senior | OL | Minnesota | Yes |
Mitch Leidner | Lakeville South | Senior | QB | Minnesota | Yes |
Andre McDonald | Hopkins | Senior | WR | Minnesota | Yes |
Nate Meixell | Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial | Senior | LB | South Dakota State | Yes |
Nate Meyer | Rocori | Senior | QB | South Dakota State | Yes |
Drake Michaelson | Eden Prairie | Senior | LB | Wofford | Yes |
Rossevelt Morisset | Thief River Falls | Senior | WR | Southeastern Louisiana | Yes |
Andy Moritko | Totino-Grace | Senior | DB | South Dakota State | Yes |
Philip Nelson | Mankato West | Senior | QB | Minnesota | Yes |
Brett Pierce | Holy Angels | Senior | DL | North Dakota State | Yes |
Jonah Pirsig | Blue Earth | Senior | OL | Minnesota | Yes |
Nick Rallis | Edina | Senior | S | Minnesota | Yes |
Taj Rich | Robbinsdale Cooper | Senior | LB | North Dakota | Yes |
Zach Riopelle | Warren-Alvarado-Oslo | Senior | LB | North Dakota State | Yes |
Kasey Robinson | Breck | Senior | WR | Drake | Yes |
Chase Roullier | Burnsville | Senior | OL | Wyoming | Yes |
E.J. Welch | Mesabi East | *MRCC Freshman | DL | North Dakota | Yes |
Lucas Wiborg | DeLaSalle | Senior | OG | Cornell | Yes |
Evan Williams | DeLaSalle | *IWCC Freshman | RB | Northern Iowa | Yes |
Maxx Williams | Waconia | Senior | TE | Minnesota | Yes |
Carey Woods | Bemidji | Senior | WR | North Dakota State | Yes |