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Eden Prairie makes a statement

By MN Football Hub staff and Star Tribune, 11/18/11, 11:50PM CST

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Eagles rout Totino-Grace in Class 5A semifinals


Eden Prairie defenders Melvin De-Souza and Drake Michaelson sacked Totino-Grace quarterback Bob McDaniel in first half action during the Class 5A semifinals Friday, Nov. 18, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Marlin Levison, Star Tribune

A 49-7 shellacking of Totino-Grace in Friday's Class 5A semifinals means Eden Prairie will hold its final practice of this season on Thanksgiving to prepare for the Prep Bowl.

On Friday, they feasted on Totino-Grace.
 
No. 4 Eden Prairie (11-1) rolled at the Metrodome, leading 42-0 at halftime on the strength of four rushing touchdowns by running back Andrew Larson.
 
Larson ran 15 times for 138 yards in the first half. No. 9 Totino-Grace (11-2) had 83 yards of total offense during the same span. Eden Prairie added a 91-yard touchdown pass to RaShawn Fountain early in the second half just in case Totino-Grace held out hope of a valiant comeback.
 
"That's a really hungry team that looks like they're trying to make a statement," Totino-Grace coach Jeff Ferguson said. "They used us to do it."
 
Friday's victory advances Eden Prairie to its first Prep Bowl since 2009, a 16-5 loss to Cretin-Derham Hall. The Eagles will go for their seventh big-school state title since 1996 against the winner of Saturday's Wayzata vs. Cretin-Derham Hall semifinal.
 
Eden Prairie senior linebacker Drake Michaelson admitted his team was playing more than one opponent on Friday. The Eagles wanted to beat Totino-Grace and give Saturday's teams a glimpse of what they are in for.
 
Totino-Grace dominated Class 4A, the second-largest in the state, to the tune of six titles in the past eight years. So this season, Totino-Grace challenged itself by opting up. On Friday, it was handed a beat-down.
 
Eden Prairie went ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter on three Larson touchdowns. Totino-Grace tried getting back in the game by converting on fourth down at the Eden Prairie 35-yard line. But Eden Prairie pushed back, first with a Michaelson sack and then a Logan Duitsman 65-yard interception return for a touchdown.
 
Short touchdown runs from Roy McGhee and Larson moved Eden Prairie's lead to 42-0.
 
"I was expecting us to come out hard," Michaelson said. "Our team has improved, and this whole week of practice we've been going hard."
 
Totino-Grace's season ended much in the same way it began, with a lopsided loss to a Class 5A power. Minnetonka spoiled Totino-Grace's home opener with a 28-0 rout. From there, however, Totino-Grace won 11 consecutive games and players impressed Ferguson with their spirit.
 
"Nothing's going to diminish what these guys accomplished," Ferguson said. "They bit off a big chunk this season."
 
Note: Friday's announced attendance was 16,410 for the day's six games.

-- David La Vaque, Star Tribune 

All-Day Andrew

When senior Eden Prairie running back Andrew Larson joined his football team, he was assigned No. 28, the same number that adorns the jersey of his NFL role model and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. 
 
In Eden Prairie’s Nov. 18, 49-7 victory over Totino-Grace in the Class 5A semifinals, Larson made that act of chance seem like foreshadowing. 
 
Larson obliterated the Totino-Grace defense, and was untouchable near the goal line.
 
He scored the first three touchdowns for Eden Prairie, and had for four touchdowns and more than 100 yards rushing before the first half ended. Larson ended the day with 137 yards on 17 attempts. 
 
“I was seeing big holes,” Larson said. “It’s a lot easier to run when you have huge holes and good offensive lineman. When you’re running full speed its a lot harder for their defensive backs to tackle you.”
 
As Larson carried his team to the Prep Bowl, it was fitting that it happened on Mall of America Field, the same place where Peterson crushes opposing defenders on a weekly basis.
 
Larson noted that Peterson is not only his favorite player but that he also tries to imitate his running style. 
 
“I run with a real downhill attitude, I always get those two or three extra yards,” he said. “I like running people over. It’s pretty fun.”
-- Walker Orenstein, MN Football Hub staff

 

Momentum Killer

Most sporting events have a game-changer of one kind or another. For the Eden Prairie Eagles, that came in the form of a pick-six play by junior cornerback, Logan Duitsman.

“We were really rolling on defense and Melvin De-Sousa had a tip and it came right to me and I took it to the end zone,” Duitsman said.

That play seemed to deflate any fight Totino-Grace had left in it. But Eden Prairie didn’t let their stellar lead go to its head.

“You just got to keep getting better every play and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Duitsman said.

Next up for Eden Prairie is the championship game against the winner of Saturday's semifinal matchup between Wayzata and Cretin-Derham Hall.

Duitsman stressed the importance of not being too short-sighted after a rout. He also had high praise for his running back who lifted his team with four touchdowns.

“He’s been carrying us all year,” Duitsman said. “He’s the best running back in the state. I don’t care what anyone else says.”

-- Jennifer Brook, MN Football Hub staff

Game Recap

1. Andrew LarsonEden Prairie
A talent above and beyond even his own impressive teammates, Larson put this game out of reach in the first half. His four touchdowns carried his team past Totino-Grace with ease.

2. Logan DuitsmanEden Prairie
Early in the second quarter, Totino-Grace was putting together a big drive and had just converted on a fourth and 5. All of that went away when Duitsman picked off a pass and ran it 65 yards for a touchdown.

3. Bob McDanielTotino-Grace
The lone Totino-Grace touchdown wasn't one that would make a difference in the game. However, there is something to be said about saving face. McDaniel powered into the end zone late in the 4th quarter and had a picture perfect stiff-arm to get him past a defender.

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