Eden Prairie wins the battle of unbeatens

After scoring on the game’s first drive, undefeated Eden Prairie would not get into the end zone again until the fourth quarter. Within that time, the undefeated St. Michael-Albertville Knights would build a 14-7 lead. The Eagles’ defense and special teams would keep EP in the game long enough for the offense to get the upper hand on the Knights’ defense. Seventeen straight second-half points gave the Eagles the victory and an inside track on a number one seed in this season’s abbreviated playoffs.

Eden Prairie wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On the second play of the game, EP quarterback David Warren-Mitchell found Johnny Hartle down the seam for a 71-yard touchdown. The limited fans had barely enough time to settle into their seats before the home team had a 7-0 lead.

STMA’s offense didn’t hit the big strike, but they answered back with a methodical drive that mixed the run and pass. The Knights tied the game with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jack Drobinski Jack Drobinski 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB St. Michael-Albertville | 2021 State MN to Jack Hulting.

After the teams would trade punts, Eden Prairie punter and defensive back Connor Reynolds Connor Reynolds K Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN bailed his team out by fielding a poor snap, running to the outside, and getting off a punt – saving his team at least 40 yards of field position.

Instead of having the ball in the red zone, STMA started near mid-field. After converting on a fourth and short with a quarterback sneak, EP’s defense made back-to-back big plays. Leif Benson sacked Drobinski, then Tyler George Tyler George LB Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN made an open-field tackle on a screen pass forcing a punt.

Backed up to the one-yard line, EP was able to get some breathing room by picking up a couple of first downs but could only get out to around the 30-yard line. Reynolds made his second great play as a punter. This time, he made a one-handed stab of a snap the was well over his head. Reynolds pulled it down and got off a nice kick – this time, possibly preventing an STMA touchdown.

STMA would still get the next touchdown – the first was due to Drobinski’s arm, the second – his legs. A quarterback draw was wide open, and the senior quarterback sprinted into the end zone from 57-yards out.

Down 14-7 to start the second half, the Eagles’ defense turned the tide. STMA was nearing the red zone, but Eden Prairie’s Noah Ekness picked off an STMA slant pass. The Eagles would convert the turnover into points. Although the Knights’ defense would stiffen, the Eagles would turn to Reynolds – this time for points. The senior calmly split the uprights from 37 yards away – cutting the lead to 14-10.

Like they did the entire second half, the Eagles’ defense gave up some yards but made plays when they needed it.

With the defense carrying the team for three quarters, the offense finally kicked into gear. Warren-Mitchell found success – not so much with his arm – but with his feet. His scrambling ability and the called runs were huge in the second half. So too was the inside running of Javon Palmer-Pruitt.

“We started to pound the ball. Javon had a great second half,” Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant said. “He ran hard. We needed to do that. They were taking away the outside stuff and taking Hartle away.”

Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were faced with a third and nine from the STMA 24. An end-a-round by Hartle would set up a fourth and one. STMA looked like they would get the ball back when they seemed to stuff Palmer-Pruitt in the backfield, but the junior powered his way to a huge first down. They would retake the lead the next play with a Palmer-Pruitt touchdown run.

“We just keep pushing,” Palmer-Pruitt said. “In the second half, I kept moving my feet, higher knees, and kept pushing.”

Trailing for the first time since the first quarter, STMA gambled and tried to convert a fourth and one. Drobinski faked a handoff and tried to run around the corner, but Benson made the defensive play of the game – stuffing the quarterback in the backfield.

With a short field, EP would essentially put the game away with eight minutes to play. All night, Warren-Mitchell was trying to find wide receiver Cade Kramer Cade Kramer 6'2" | WR Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN down the sidelines. Outside of drawing a pass interference penalty, Kramer was held off the stat sheet – until the fourth quarter. Kramer finally got position on the defensive back and hauled in a 24-yard touchdown catch to give the Eagles some breathing room.

“You’ve got to keep going to it because Cade is too good,” Grant said of his senior receiver.

STMA would threaten late, but like they had the entire second half, the Eagles’ defense stood tall late – sealing the 24-14 win and an undefeated 6-0 season.