My Top Five Games of 2019
Everyone does their end of the year lists – right? So, to wrap up 2019, I thought I would look back at the games I was fortunate enough to cover for northstarfootballnews.com either live or thanks to the continued support of the High School League (DRIPPING sarcasm) – via the internet. I came up with five games that stood out – to me – over the rest. So, without further ado, I present to you the best games I saw during the 2019 season.
Week 1 – Eastview over Minnetonka
Going into the season, I thought this game might figure in more into the 6A playoff picture. As it turned out, Eastview started strong but faded at the end of the season, and the Skippers lost a ton of close games and never got much of anything going during an obvious down year for Tonka. All of that could wait as both teams started the season off with a bang.
The Eastview Lightning trailed 17-7 on their home field in the fourth quarter but back to put themselves in a position to win the game with one play. When Lightning quarterback Max Sherwin – in his first career start – threw a fade to wide receiver DJ Barber in the right corner of the end zone, the senior receiver pulled in the ball and kept his feet in bounds to give the Lightning the 21-17 win.
Sherwin could barely hold back his tears after the dramatic comeback. Growing up as the son of Eastview head coach Kelly Sherwin, I am sure he had been dreaming of this type of a moment all his life.
On the receiving end of the pass was Barber, whose critical drop in the first half gave the Skippers a chance to get a touchdown right before the half. The Skippers took advantage – tying the score right before the half. Barber saved his best for last. With 1:20 left in the game and down by three, Sherwin found Barber down the middle of the field. Barber made a juggling catch setting the Lightning up inside the five-yard line. Four plays later – with less than ten seconds to play – Sherwin connected with Barber again for a touchdown and the 21-17 win.
Week 5 – Wayzata over Eden Prairie
Coming off three straight mediocre seasons, the Wayzata Trojans were off to their best start since 2015. Undefeated, they traveled to undefeated Eden Prairie – a team they had not beaten in six years. A win over EP would cement the Trojans as the team to beat in 6A. The game itself was short on drama as the Trojans’ defense dominated the Eagles up front en route to a 17-7 victory. The rivalry – one of the best in the state before EP’s recent dominance – was back. It was an electric atmosphere and a packed house – everything you want in a high school football game.
It was also an eye-opening performance by the Trojans’ defense who had been very good the first four games of the season but seeing them – especially their defensive line – was eye-opening.
After dominating the first three quarters of the football game, the Trojans suddenly found itself on the ropes. After taking a 14-0 halftime lead, Eden Prairie scored in the third quarter to cut the lead in half, and for the first time, all game had momentum and some juice on offense. They had moved into Trojans’ territory early in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans’ stud defensive lineman made two plays in a row to turn a promising drive into a punt.
During the defining sequence of the game, Demro stuffed a run between the tackles on second down and then blew up an end-around attempt. The senior captain’s back to back tackles for loss forced an Eagles’ punt and took all the juice out of the Eagles’ offense.
Week 6 – Lakeville South over Lakeville North
Speaking of a long time between victories, Lakeville South had not beaten cross-town rival and defending state champion Lakeville North since 2011. Their rivals to the north had won eighteen straight games overall. This game was dominated by South – winning the game 34-19 – but watching the Cougars’ kids get that monkey off their back was great to watch. Losing to your rival – your friends you grew up with – that many times and to finally get a win, had to be a relief.
To add to the Cougars’ issues going into the game, they were not far removed from the drama with their former head coach. On the field, the South offensive line and running game dominated from the first snap. A sixty-yard touchdown run by Johnny Shabaz on the opening drive set the tone, and the Cougars never looked back. Shabaz scored twice and totaled 130 yards on just 14 carries. Running behind that dominating offensive line, the Cougars ran for over 300 yards and averaged over six yards per carry against a defense that was one of the best in the state. Up until the South game, the Panthers’ defense had not yet to give up twenty points.
Playoffs 1st round – Howard Lake Waverly Winsted over Concordia Academy
Speaking of breaking long losing streaks – one of the biggest shockers of the entire season took place in round one of the playoffs. The first week of the playoffs is usually the toughest to find a competitive game to watch. Like this game, Concordia was seeded second in the section and was playing an HLWW program that had not won a game all season. In fact, they had not won a game since October 24, 2017.
The Lakers played a perfect first quarter. They had the ball three times, and they scored three touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, they pitched a 1st quarter shutout. Although the Lakers would not score again until the fourth quarter, their defense was solid and stepped up in critical situations to allow just one Beacons’ score in a 26-7 victory.
The reaction of the players and especially the seniors, is a big reason why I felt this game should make the list. Senior offensive lineman Cody Dickhausen summed up what the win meant to the players.
“(This victory) is amazing. I won a game in my sophomore year, but we didn’t win a game last year, and this is our first win this year,” Dickhausen said. “This band of brothers that came together – to see the happiness on everyone’s faces – means everything.”
4A Finals – Rocori over SMB
Just like I started the season at Eastview, I ended the season with another one play for it all scenario. This time – instead of only a season-opening victory – it was for a state championship.
SMB had to come from behind with a touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Then, with the game in its first overtime period, SMB had already scored to take a 21-14 lead. With Rocori facing 4th and goal from the 15-yard line, SMB’s defense was one play away from a state championship. Rocori quarterback Jack Steil – who, along with his quarterback counterpart Jalen Suggs put on a show the entire game – had other ideas. Steil rolled to his right and threw into the end zone. Teammate Jayden Philippi hauled in the pass to pull the team to within one point. The Spartans had no intention of seeing a second overtime. Steil – out of a swinging gate formation threw a perfect pass – just out of the reach of Suggs – to Andrew Anderson for the winning two-point conversion and a 22-21 overtime win.