Quantcast
skip navigation

Timely interceptions help Prior Lake to first victory over Maple Grove

By MATT STEICHEN, Special to the Star Tribune, 09/07/18, 9:15PM CDT

Share

The Lakers' 29-11 victory included Noah Benson’s 18-yard interception return for a touchdown and another pick-off by Will Jones near the goal line to thwart a Crimson scoring drive.


Prior Lake junior Parker Ellis hauls in a pass for a touchdown against Maple Grove. Ellis' first quarter reception gave the Lakers an early 7-0 lead over the Crimson. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine


Parker Ellis

Facing a back who rushed for 387 yards last week, the Prior Lake defense was ready.

The fifth-ranked Lakers kept Maple Grove senior standout Evan Hull between the tackles most of the game Friday, and when they got their hands on him, they didn’t let go. The Lakers held Hull to 100 yards on 35 carries en route to a 29-11 victory at Dan Patch Stadium. It was the program’s first-ever victory over Maple Grove.

“We knew going in their offensive line is good and their back is really good,” Prior Lake coach Matt Gegenheimer said. “We were focused on sustaining our effort and being consistent in our tackling. We knew we could control them if we did that.”

With their ground game bottled up, the seventh-ranked Crimson were forced to throw the ball. That played right into the hands of the Lakers, who intercepted two passes. Senior linebacker Noah Benson caught the first one and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown that put Prior Lake up 13-0 in the first quarter.

Laker wide receiver Parker Ellis book-ended the game with touchdown receptions, one from starting quarterback Colin O’Connor in the first quarter and one from backup Nate Raddatz in the fourth.

“Our passing game is amazing now. We’re spreading the field out a lot more instead of just running it up the middle all the time,” Ellis said. “We studied [Maple Grove] on tape a lot, so we knew we could open up our offense.”

MATT STEICHEN


Prior Lake quarterback Colin O'connor scrambles for positive yards in the second quarter against Maple Grove Friday night. The Lakers defeated the Crimson 29-11. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

First report

Fifth-ranked Prior Lake used two timely interceptions to control the momentum in its 29-11 victory over seventh-ranked Maple Grove on Friday at Dan Patch Stadium.

Noah Benson’s 18-yard interception return for a touchdown put the Lakers up 13-0 early in the first quarter. The Crimson were on the verge of tying the game early in the second half, but defensive back Will Jones picked off a pass near the goal line to preserve the lead.

Laker wide receiver Parker Ellis bookended the game with two touchdown receptions, one from starting quarterback Colin O’Connor in the first quarter and one from backup Nate Raddatz in the fourth.

Coming off a 387-yard, four-touchdown effort last week, Maple Grove running back Evan Hull scored the Crimson’s lone touchdown from nine yards out and ran in the ensuing two-point conversion to make it 13-8 early in the second quarter.

Check back later for more on the game.


Maple Grove senior Evan Hull looks for running room in the first quarter against Prior Lake. The Crimson fell to the Lakers 29-11. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Football Hub Headlines