Woodbury’s Isaiah Waltes runs up the field against Mounds View during a 50-yard fumble return in the first half on Friday, Sept. 21. The Royals defeated the Mustangs 24-7. Photo by Paul Patane, SportsEngine
Woodbury quarterback Jake Wenzel (left) carries the ball through a swarm of Mounds View defenders on Friday, Sept. 21. Wenzel threw two touchdown passes in the Royals’ 24-7 win over the Mustangs. Photo by Paul Patane, SportsEngine
Quarterback Jake Wenzel missed wide receiver Zach Ames on a few pass attempts during Woodbury's 20-17 victory Sept. 14 over Cretin-Derham Hall.
This week they established a goal: Don't let it happen again.
Wenzel completed touchdown passes of 43 and 57 yards to Ames in the second quarter Friday night, helping make the difference in a 24-7 win against Mounds View. The successful connection between the two did not happen by accident. Instead, it was a week's worth of work.
Mounds View quarterback Cole Stenstrom is taken down in the backfield against the Royals at Woodbury on Friday, Sept. 21. The Mustangs lost 24-7, dropping their record to 2-2 overall. Photo by Paul Patane, SportsEngine
Jake Wenzel connected with Zach Ames for two touchdowns Friday as Woodbury shook off a slow start to cruise past Mounds View 24-7.
The Royals, ranked No. 10 in the Class 6A Associated Press statewide poll, fumbled on their first two possessions of the game, but used the next three to take control. Woodbury (3-1, 2-1) scored three consecutive touchdowns, including Ames’ receptions of 43 and 57 yards. Wenzel added a 3-yard keeper to give the Royals a 21-0 lead at halftime.
Ames caught five passes for 159 yards in the Woodbury win.
Mounds View (2-2, 0-2) twice held possession inside the Woodbury 30-yard line in the first quarter but never converted. Woodbury forced a fumble recovered by Isaiah Walters.
Nate Farm produced Mounds Views’ only points of the night, scoring on a 2-yard run in the third quarter.
The Mounds View defense forced five turnovers: Farm, Hunter Kascht, Mike Louderback and AJ Hunt each recovered fumbles and Ben Kettelhut added an interception.
The MN Football Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only.