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Opportunistic Champlin Park defeats Osseo in Metro North subdistrict tilt

By Luke Hanlon, SportsEngine, 10/15/20, 5:45PM CDT

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The Rebels' DJ Myles blocked a punt from 20 yards out, recovered the football and returned it for the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter.

Champlin Park quarterback Cade Fitzgerald scrambles for positive yardage against Osseo Thursday night. The Rebels defeated the Orioles 14-7 in Osseo. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Champlin Park quarterback Cade Fitzgerald scrambles for positive yardage against Osseo Thursday night. The Rebels defeated the Orioles 14-7 in Osseo. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Champlin Park’s Shawn Shipman (23) dashes down the sideline for a nice gain against Osseo Thursday night. Shipman scored on an 80-yard run in the first quarter during the Rebels’ 14-7 victory over the Orioles in Osseo. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Champlin Park’s Shawn Shipman (23) dashes down the sideline for a nice gain against Osseo Thursday night. Shipman scored on an 80-yard run in the first quarter during the Rebels’ 14-7 victory over the Orioles in Osseo. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

The typical structure to a high school football season has been completely hindered by the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s clear the quick start to the season has resulted in a lack of preparation that’s likely to have significant effects on games across the state throughout the fall.

Some of those effects were on display in Thursday’s Metro North subdistrict clash between Champlin Park and Osseo, as there was a blocked punt, multiple fumbles and plenty of penalties to go around. Neither team seemed in midseason form yet, but that didn’t stop the game at Osseo High School from being an entertaining spectacle with the familiar backdrop of chilling fall winds.

Sloppy play aside, the Rebels, ranked No. 8 in the Class 6A Associated Press statewide poll, prevailed, going home with a 14-7 victory over the Orioles.

Two big plays and a dominant defensive performance guided the Rebels (2-0, 2-0) to their second-straight win.

First Report

Champlin Park traveled to Osseo High School on Thursday night for a Metro North subdistrict matchup and will take home a win, as the Rebels defeated Osseo 14-7. 

The only first-half points came from an 80-yard touchdown run by the Rebels’ Shawn Shipman, who ran up the middle of the field out of a shotgun formation, and was untouched as he sprinted to the end zone. Shipman finished with a game-high 154 rushing yards. 

The Rebels, ranked No. 8 in the Class 6A Associated Press statewide poll, looked like they were going to double their lead right before halftime. They got a 22-yard reception from Darius Givance and a 25-yard run by Shipman to set them up inside the 10-yard line. The Osseo defense came up with a goal line stand, however, stopping Shipman at the 1-yard line as time expired in the first half to keep the Orioles within a touchdown. 

The Orioles (1-1, 1-1) carried that momentum into their opening drive in the second half. 

After a few Champlin Park (2-0, 2-0) penalties, and a 21-yard run from Jacobe Jackson, Kenneth McKenzie scored his fourth touchdown of the season to set up the game-tying extra point, which was converted successfully. McKenzie led the Orioles’ offense with 98 total yards. 

The tie was short-lived, however, as DJ Myles came up with the game-winning score all by himself. Myles blocked a punt, recovered the ball and ran it into the end zone from 20 yards out to retake the lead for Champlin Park. 

Myles was also a part of the Rebels' stout defensive effort. The unit allowed a paltry 126 total yards in the game.

Osseo’s Kenneth McKenzie (4) storms into the end zone late in the third quarter against Champlin Park. The Orioles fell to the Rebels 14-7 in Osseo. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Osseo’s Kenneth McKenzie (4) storms into the end zone late in the third quarter against Champlin Park. The Orioles fell to the Rebels 14-7 in Osseo. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

MN Football Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only.

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