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Eden Prairie routs mistake-prone Maple Grove

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 11/11/16, 10:00PM CST

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The game was tied 14-14 after one quarter but the Eagles took over and ran away with a 63-21 victory.


Maple Grove's Brad Davison shakes off Eden Prairie's Jermaine Johnson II as the Crimson attempt to convert on third down during the second quarter (Matthew Hintz/Special to the Star Tribune)

Defeating Eden Prairie is hard enough, but trying to accomplish it while also battling your own mistakes? Maple Grove proved that is darn near impossible.

The Crimson and quarterback Brad Davison moved up and down the field on Eden Prairie, but turnovers, penalties, missed tackles and you name it did in Maple Grove, leading to a 63-21 romp for the Eagles.

“That’s been our story all year,” Maple Grove coach Matt Lombardi said. “We just make too many mistakes.”

Maple Grove (8-3) turned over the ball six times, allowed an onsides kick to be recovered and failed to score on a first-and-goal at the Eden Prairie 3-yard line.

Each time the Crimson bumbled, the Eagles took advantage. They turned two first-quarter fumbles into a quick 14-0 lead. After Maple Grove tied it 14-14, Eden Prairie scored four consecutive touchdowns, each one the by-product of a Maple Grove gift.

“Do I feel for those guys?” Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant was asked. “No, not during the game. I mean, I’ve been there. I’ve lost games like that. You can’t feel sorry for them.”

The key stretch came midway through second quarter. Trailing 21-14, Maple Grove drove to the Eden Prairie three. Then the following happened in rapid succession: 1-yard loss, false start penalty, incomplete pass, 7-yard sack, missed 35-yard field goal.

Eden Prairie (10-1) made it hurt even more on the very next play when running back Solo Falaniko raced 80 yards for a touchdown. In a short span of time, a potential tie game had turned into a 14-point advantage for Eden Prairie.

“That was pretty big,” Grant said. “Falaniko, he’s a special player.”

That’s an understatement. The transfer from Anchorage, Alaska — he comes from a military family — did it again the next time he touched the ball, going 74 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 223 yards on just 11 carries.

“This is so much different than Alaska football,” Falaniko said. “It’s fast and it’s physical. And it’s fun.”

First report

As if Eden Prairie needs any help.

Maple Grove proved to be the most generous of opponents, turning the ball over six times and allowing Eden Prairie to recover an onsides kick, leading to a 63-21 Eden Prairie victory Friday at Chanhassen High School.

The Eagles (10-1) took a 14-0 lead after Maple Grove fumbled the first two times it touched the ball.

Maple Grove rallied on the arm of Brad Davison to tie the game 14-14 late in the first quarter, and it appeared that a competitive game was developing.

But Eden Prairie retook the lead for good, getting touchdowns on runs of 23 and 80 yards by Solo Falaniko.

The game spiraled out of control for the Crimson in the second half. Eden Prairie extended the lead to 63-21, getting two returns for touchdowns: a 30-yard fumble return by D.J. Johnson and a 100-yard pick-six by Kyle Connelly.

Check back later for more on the game.

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