Blaine quarterback Connor Melton reigned over the field bringing the Bengals out of a first quarter deficit to beat Prior Lake. Photo by Kelly McGinley, SportsEngine
Connor Melton didn't look like a high school quarterback starting his sixth career game Friday.
Blaine's junior quarterback threw a 16-yard game-winning touchdown pass to senior tight end Kurtis Weigand to upend Prior Lake 21-17 in the second round of the Class 6A state tournament.
Melton won his fourth consecutive start, helping send the fifth-seeded Bengals to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
“He played very poised,” Weigand said.
Melton had to be composed from Day 1. He started his first game against Totino-Grace (10-0), the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Class 6A state high school football poll, on Sept. 30. The Bengals (8-2) lost 21-14 that night but haven't fallen since.
Previous starter KJ Downey did return to the position after an injury, but the senior played wide receiver instead. It helped the Bengals’ passing game.
“We've been successful with him, and he makes a lot of great decisions,” Blaine coach Tom Develice said. “KJ is a dynamic athlete. He can play more than one position.”
Melton proved why he was hard to supplant as a starter Friday night while leading the team on the winning drive in a playoff game. The Bengals trailed 17-14 with only 3:47 remaining when Melton found Weigand.
“He chose to pass it, and I'm glad he did,” Develice said.
The 6-foot-4 wideout leads the team this season with 474 receiving yards and added to his total despite dealing with double coverage throughout the game, snatching a high throw to the back of the end zone to score the touchdown.
“His size helps a lot with those passes,” Melton said.
Blaine's drive went 13 plays and followed a 2-yard go-ahead TD by Lakers junior running back Jordan Johnson with 10:10 remaining. Prior Lake’s possession was a set up after senior defensive back Tyler Knutson picked off Melton.
“I felt like we really had a turnaround for the team and really felt like we were going to finish it out, get the ‘W,’ ” Johnson said.
Lakers senior defensive back Jack Schoeller intercepted a Melton pass in the first quarter, but the Bengals quarterback overcome the turnovers in another strong performance.
Melton connected with junior wide receiver Byron Bynum on TD passes of 30 and 46 yards to give Blaine a 14-7 lead heading into the second quarter.
Prior Lake's stingy defense then kept Bynum for another big scoring play the rest of the game.
“They played very tight,” Bynum said.
Blaine went scoreless in the second and third quarters while Prior Lake chipped away at the lead. Senior Alex Brennan hit a 24-yard field goal in the third to pull the Lakers to 14-10.
The Bengals defense bounced back before the end of the quarter, forcing a punt later and giving its offense the ball to start the fourth.
Prior Lake ended the threat with Knutson’s interception a short time later, but Melton didn't let the turnover shake him as he was steady in leading his team to the come-from-behind victory.
“I wanted that win,” Melton said. “Our whole team did.”
Prior Lake coach Matt Gegenheimer said his team fought hard, but the fourth-seeded Lakers (5-5) could find a way to slow Melton and Blaine in the end.
The Bengals face No. 2 seed Minnetonka (8-2) in the quarterfinals on Nov. 10 at Park Center High School, with the winner advancing to the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Junior quarterback Connor Melton's game-winning touchdown pass gave Blaine the 21-17 win against Prior Lake in Friday night's Class 6A round of 16 clash at Blaine High School.
The Bengals responded to an early Lakers 55-yard receiving TD from Ian O'Connor with TD passes of 30 and 46 yards from Melton to junior wide receiver Byron Bynum Jr.
In the second quarter, Blaine (8-2) and Prior Lake (5-5) tightened the up defense, resulting in a 14-7 score at the half. Lakers senior kicker Alex Brennan chipped away at the Bengals lead in the third quarter with a 24-yard field goal.
Prior Lake grabbed the lead at the beginning of the fourth after senior defensive back Tyler Knutson's interception and a 2-yard TD run by junior running back Jordan Johnson. However, Blaine would not be denied, and Melton hit Kurtis Weigand for the winning touchdown with just under four minutes to play and the defense held firm.
Blaine will play Minnetonka (8-2) next week in the state quarterfinals.