Evan Hull admits he was nervous when he was tasked as the only ball-carrier when Maple Grove tried to hold off Prior Lake at home Friday night.

Hull carried the ball seven times on the game’s final drive, which started with 3:55 left, including runs on third and fourth down to keep the drive going and complete a 9-6 victory.

“My whole body was shaking,” said Hull, a junior. “What went through my mind was like, ‘This is it, it’s all-or-nothing.’ ”

Hull rushed for 134 yards on 28 carries, including 73 in the first half, and scored Maple Grove’s only touchdown.

“I think he’s a work in [progress], and I mean that as a compliment,” Maple Grove coach Matt Lombardi said. “He’s got a lot of ability and is going to be a very good player.”

Maple Grove, ranked No. 5 in Class 6A, kept the ninth-ranked Lakers scoreless until the fourth quarter, when Ryan Schipper passed to Tanner Wermerskirchen for a 14-yard touchdown.

In the first quarter, a host of Crimson defenders corralled Preston Jelon in the end zone for a safety. The defense also recovered three fumbles.

“I love my defense,” Hull said. “I love them so much. They really get my back when the offense can’t do much. They’re just a bunch of athletes, and they go out and get it.”

Despite a late push, too many mistakes early doomed Prior Lake on Friday night at Maple Grove, where the Crimson escaped with a 9-6 victory.

Early on Prior Lake struggled to muster any offense, ending the first half with -17 yards of total offense and just one first down from a pass interference penalty. For the game the Lakers only gained 120 yards of total offense.

Prior Lake's Preston Jelen was tackled in his own end zone with 1:14 left in the first quarter to break a scoreless deadlock and give Maple Grove a 2-0 lead.

Joe Raymon then took the ensuing safety punt to the Prior Lake 38-yard line, leading to Evan Hull’s 5-yard scamper for a touchdown. Hull ended with 134 yards on 28 carries to lead the Crimson offense, including a pair of first downs to ice the clock on the final drive.

Before that, in the fourth quarter, the Lakers started to find some momentum. They got on the scoreboard with 3:55 left in the game, when Ryan Schipper connected with Tanner Wermerskirchen for a 14-yard fade in the end zone.

Russell Tanner, who started at quarterback for Prior Lake,failed to connect on his three passes for the game. Schipper passed for 58 yards and rushed for 28 more.

Check back later for more on the game.