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Eden Prairie star back Rains is on the move

By David La Vaque, Star Tribune, 11/20/14, 10:17PM CST

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Will Rains’ transfer from Eastview gave Eden Prairie the power runner it needed.


Eden Prairie running back Will Rains (13) rushes the ball against Maple Grove defenders late in the second quarter Friday night. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Eden Prairie takes on Maple Grove in a Class 6A football semifin

Eden Prairie running back Will Rains hopes to make prep football history again.

Last year Rains, then attending Eastview, scored his team’s lone touchdown in the first high school football game played at TCF Bank Stadium.

Rains transferred to Eden Prairie for his senior year. The powerful runner and touchdown machine pushed Minnesota’s premier program to the brink of two new milestones. A Prep Bowl victory Friday against Totino-Grace in the Class 6A final would be Eden Prairie’s fourth in a row and 10th overall.

Totino-Grace and Eden Prairie both have won nine state championships. Only two schools, in any class, have won four or more consecutive titles: Mahnomen (four) in then-Class C (1990-93) and Stephen-Argyle Central (five) in Nine-Man (2003-07).

“We’ve been talking about it since the beginning of the year,” said Rains, who has rushed for 1,374 yards and scored 35 total touchdowns. “It would be a big accomplishment for the seniors, especially. But coaches don’t speak about it.”

Actually, the coaches do. Earlier this week, Eagles coach Mike Grant pointed out what was at stake and encouraged players to be “special.”

That word is used by some observers to describe Eden Prairie’s program.

“I used to think I had a lot of state championships,” joked former Stillwater coach George Thole, who led the Ponies from 1971-1999. “It took me [21] seasons to win four. Eden Prairie is going for four straight. I can’t imagine what that’s like. They must have a picture of victory painted in their minds.”

Came in, fit in

A Prep Bowl appearance is what Rains envisioned after arriving on the school’s campus. New teammates embraced the well-spoken teenager.

“He’s meant so much,” senior linebacker Bill Koop said. “He fit perfectly in the scheme we run. He really didn’t need to learn much. He just came in and ran the ball hard and that’s what we needed him to do. He’s a great back and I’m glad we have him on our team.”

Anonymous message board posts have questioned Rains and his character for leaving Eastview.

In an interview, he treated questions about his decision to transfer like opposing tacklers and met them head on.

“I love the criticism and everybody saying I was recruited or that Eden Prairie is not as good as it used to be,” Rains said. “Some of it, knowing it’s parents talking about kids, you just have to get used to it.”

Focus too much on Rains transferring and you overlook his transformation. The 5-11, 215-pound Rains is a leaner and faster version of his former self.

“I think I’ve grown as a player,” Rains said. “Sophomore year went really well. Junior year I had some setbacks because of injuries. I’m smarter now. I did a lot of training in the offseason to get prepared for this year. I worked with coaches to get more explosive.”

Reliable yards after contact

Eden Prairie has won 19 consecutive playoff games, including two shellackings of Totino-Grace. Rains’ sure hands and strong legs played a huge role in last week’s 13-7 victory against Maple Grove.

Though he’s scored a truckload of touchdowns this season, Rains’ best work did not come in the end zone last week. He rushed 22 times in the second half, including 10 carries to propel the game-winning drive.

“He was the difference in the game because he’d constantly get 3 or 4 yards after contact,” Crimson coach Matt Lombardi said. “He’s a powerful back who slides in the hole very well and can make you miss.”

Rains allowed the Eagles to maintain their identity as a ball-control offense that not only wears down the defense, but prevents the opposition’s offense from getting back on the field and finding a rhythm.

“Coach Grant kept giving me the ball and the offensive line had an outstanding game,” Rains said. “When the team needed me to do something, I tried to get it done.”

Ending ‘a special run’

Building character in a new environment is a big reason Will’s father, Kevin, moved his son to Eden Prairie. Another was increased exposure. Kevin Rains grew frustrated by what he perceived as Eastview’s lack of promotion of his son’s statistics as a sophomore and junior.

A hamstring injury kept Will Rains off the summer camp circuit last summer and his next college offer will be his first. But Kevin is confident his son’s strong senior season will garner college interest.

“Now that he’s not injured, he’s flourishing as the athlete he’s always been,” Kevin Rains said. “I’ve gotten ‘thank you’ a lot from Eden Prairie parents.”

Will Rains said his ties to some former Eastview teammates remains strong. He spent time with them last week mourning the death of Patrick Schoonover, 14, the Eastview Bantam hockey player who collapsed on the ice Nov. 14 from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Rains knows one of Schoonover’s siblings. He planned to attend the funeral on Friday and wear Schoonover’s No. 96 on the back of his helmet during the game in tribute.

“He had a big heart and he had a lot of life ahead of him, so it’s a sad thing that happened,” Rains said. “I’ll definitely play for him.”

And for the chance to make history.

“It’s a special year,” Rains said. “I like the atmosphere. Eastview also had a good atmosphere. But this is just a special run.”

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