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Wayzata bulldozes past Champlin Park to win 6A championship

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 11/29/19, 11:45PM CST

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Senior Christian Vasser, behind a powerful offensive line, tied a Prep Bowl record with five rushing touchdowns as the Trojans completed their undefeated season with a 35-20 victory.


Wayzata running back Christian Vasser (4) set a Prep Bowl record with 49 carries and tied one with five touchdowns Friday against Champlin Park. Photo: Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com

Wayzata running back Christian Vasser strolled onto the postgame interview platform looking like he had barely broken a sweat instead of setting a Prep Bowl standard as a workhorse running back.

Vasser was fresh from a 49-carry effort, five more than any predecessor had in a Prep Bowl game, and 285 yards. His five touchdowns tied a Prep Bowl record.

The result? A 35-20 victory over Champlin Park for the Class 6A state championship, capping a 13-0 season.

“Hey, Christian, you tired?” came a question.

“Nah, I’m good,” he replied.

“That’s what he says every time I ask him that, too,” Wayzata coach Lambert Brown said with a broad smile.

After rushing for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 victory over Lakeville South in the semifinals, Vasser went even farther on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium. He spent much of the game running through Champlin Park arm tackles, around defensive ends and over unfortunate defensive backs.

On Wayzata’s five touchdown drives, Vasser carried the ball on 39 of the Trojans’ 42 plays. Not once in his 49 carries did he lose a yard.

An amazing performance, but Vasser refused to entertain thoughts of individual glory. He was just the ball carrier. There was so much more that went into his achievement.

First report

There’s no such thing as a one-man football team, but dang if Wayzata didn’t do its best to try.

Running back Christian Vasser had his second consecutive amazing outing in the state tournament, setting a Prep Bowl record with 49 rushing attempts for 285 yards and a record-tying five touchdowns to help Wayzata cap an undefeated season with a 35-20 victory over Champlin Park in the Class 6A championship game.

Vasser, who rushed for 269 yards and three touchdowns a 28-14 victory over Lakeville South in the semifinals, spent much of Friday running through Champlin Park arm tackles, around defensive ends and over unfortunate defensive backs.

On Wayzata’s first four four touchdown drives, Vasser carried the ball on 30 of Wayzata’s 33 plays, gaining positive yards on all but one of them.

The first half was a back-and-forth showcase, with each team showing off the best of its offense.

After spotting Champlin Park a 3-0 lead, Wayzata took a 7-3 lead on a 5-yard run by Vasser early in the second quarter.

The Rebels answered, going 58 yards in eight plays and getting a 3-yard scoring run from Shawn Shipman. They led 10-7.

The ensuing kickoff was returned 81 yards by Wayzata’s Sam Robertson, giving the Trojans sparkling field position at the Champlin Park 14. Six consecutive Vasser carries later, Wayzata had regained the lead 14-10.

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