NFN Team of the Week Nominees: Week 2
Adam Rossow
Detroit Lakes – W, 36-30 over Perham
The Lakers and Yellowjackets produced a first-half shootout and second-half defensive grind, but it was Josh Omang's team emerging with the victory, and The Paddle, with the six-point win.
Detroit Lakes scored on each of its first four possessions in the contest, including Reed Mace's 35-yard reception from Max Gunderson that gave the hosts a 28-16 lead in the second quarter. Perham, behind Jenson Beachy's 456 passing yards and three touchdowns, would take a 30-28 halftime lead that would last until the final quarter.
Gunderson then led a 63-yard scoring drive, which he punctuated with a touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion pass to Jake Bettcher to put the Lakers ahead for good.
Jordan – W, 45-26 over Fairmont
Down 20-0 after the opening quarter, Jordan exploded for 45 of the next 51 points to defeat the fourth-ranked Cardinals in Fairmont in a matchup of top-10 teams in Class AAA.
Junior quarterback Bryce Sievers shook off two early interceptions and combined for 305 total yards (196 passing, 109 rushing) and three touchdowns to lead the Hubmen. Ryan Samuelson was on the receiving end of both touchdown passes. The 6-foot-3 junior finished with five catches for 127 yards and the two scores.
Senior Noah Schmitt led the Hubmen defense with two interceptions. Jordan's win was the second over Fairmont in three matchups during the last year, which included a state quarterfinal victory.
Lakeville North – W, 14-0 over Eden Prairie
Lakeville North finally did it.
The Panthers had never beaten Eden Prairie since the Lakeville school district was split into two high schools (North and South) in 2005. That changed on Friday night at about 9:15 p.m., when the Panthers 14-0 shutout win over the Eagles was complete.
A pair of Brian Curtis' third-quarter touchdowns provided all the offense North needed to get the win. The Panthers defense took it from there, limiting Eden Prairie quarterback Cole Kramer to just 125 yards passing and a completion percentage of only 44 percent. Senior Will Mostaert led the defense with eight tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Minneota – W, 47-0 over Dawson-Boyd
Minneota and Dawson-Boyd have played some classic games over the past decade in southwest Minnesota, but Thomas Hennen and the Vikings offense made sure Friday's contest was not one of them.
The top-ranked Vikings scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters rolling to a 47-0 road win over the Blackjacks. Hennen was the catalyst on almost all of them, running for two scores and throwing for two more. His 78-yard connection with Cole Sanow gave Minneota a five-touchdown lead early in the third quarter. The win was the 65th in the last 67 games for Chad Johnston's program.
St. Paul Humboldt – W, 34-19 over St. Paul Como Park
Just two years ago, the Hawks were playing a junior varsity schedule because of a lack of upperclassmen players. On Thursday, they defeated St. Paul Como Park for their first win over a St. Paul City Conference school since 2010 per the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen.
Humboldt rebounded in a big way after being blown out against Spectrum in Week 1. Quarterback Darnell King led the charge with 156 yards passing and another 113 rushing, with three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Junior Emilio Urbina added a 57-yard interception return for touchdown for the Hawks, which equaled their win total from 2017 with the victory.
