Edina junior Sawyer Anderson broke two tackles Thursday in the fourth quarter against Centennial. The Hornets defeated the Cougars, 28-20, in Edina. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine
They handed him the ball. Threw it to him, too.
And when they absolutely, positively needed a stop on defense, they set him loose at linebacker.
Edina junior Sawyer Anderson was the definition of all-purpose on Thursday night, and his sack and forced fumble on a blitz of standout Centennial quarterback Connor Zulk in the closing seconds enabled the Hornets to hold off the Cougars 28-20 at the Edina Community Center in a wildly entertaining season opener.
“He’s athletic, he’s strong, fast, good hands … he’s a freak,” Edina quarterback George Sandven said. “A freak athlete.”
Edina wide receiver Hamza Malim scored a 64-yard touchdown in the third quarter Thursday to put the Hornets ahead 21-7 en route to a 28-20 win over Centennial. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine
A sack and forced fumble by junior Sawyer Anderson, a running back filling in at linebacker in the closing minutes, clinched a 28-20 Edina victory over Centennial on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
Centennial rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half to close within 21-20, but a botched snap prevented the Cougars from pulling into a tie.
Edina (1-0) scored what proved to be the winning touchdown in the third quarter when quarterback George Sandven connected with receiver Hamza Malim for a 64-yard touchdown to put the Hornets ahead 21-7 in the third quarter.
A controversial muffed punt set up Edina’s go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter as the Hornets took a 14-7 lead at halftime.
With 4:50 left in the second quarter Centennial punt returner Noah Larson was knocked down as he was trying to field a punt. There was no penalty on the play, which left Centennial coach Mike Diggins incensed with the lack of a call.
Edina scored four plays later when junior quarterback Sandven hit Anderson with a 15-yard completion on fourth down. The touchdown hookup, and Jackson Fenske’s extra-point kick, put Edina ahead 14-7 with 2:33 left in the half.
Edina opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by fullback Jonathan Bunce with 5:46 left in the opening quarter.
Centennial (0-1) countered with a 44-yard scoring pass from Connor Zulk to Carter Anderson after Zulk had trouble handling the snap and scooped the ball off the turf. That score came with 1:01 left in the first quarter.
Centennial’s Connor Zulk sets back in the pocket after a bad snap to throw a 44 yard pass to Carter Anderson in the third quarter. The Cougars lost to the Hornets in Edina 28-20. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine
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