Sam Emmerich sparked Prior Lake with a batted-down pass against Gophers recruit Jonathan Mann and scored a rushing touchdown in a 28-13 victory over Rosemount.

“I think I only had to match up with him once, and it worked out for me,” said Emmerich about the Irish star senior wide receiver.

Prior Lake’s defense contained Mann on Thursday and kept Rosemount out of the end zone until the final 3:36.

By that time the Lakers led 28-6. Emmerich scored the Lakers’ second touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard run for a 14-6 lead after running back Cam Miller scored in the third quarter. Tyler Shaver added a two-yard touchdown run and senior quarterback Nate Raddatz added a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“When I heard I was getting the ball, I knew I was going to score. There was no stopping me,” said Emmerich, a senior linebacker and running back.

Prior Lake didn’t score in the first half while Rosemount took a 6-0 lead on field goals by senior kicker Nathan Whiting. The Lakers then held the Irish without points until senior quarterback Trevor Armborst found junior wide receiver Terrance Campbell on a 75-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Rosemount recovered the onside kick but later lost possession on a Lakers interception.

“We all knew we hadn’t beat them in a while coming in here,” Emmerich said. “The only thing we wanted was a win there.”

Prior Lake got three rushing touchdowns from different backs en route to a 28-13 victory over Rosemount on Thursday in the first meeting between the South Suburban Conference rivals since 2014.

Lakers running backs Cam Miller, Sam Emmerich and Tyler Shaver each scored rushing touchdowns to build a 21-6 lead in the second half. Senior  quarterback Nate Raddatz sealed the game with a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.