Edina vs. Eden Prairie: Recap and Top Performers

It was as good as it gets on Friday night. Minnesota Big School football, Friday Night Lights, a crisp, early fall evening, and two of the best teams in the state going head-to-head in an early season heavyweight slugfest. PrepRedzoneMN was lucky enough to attend the 6A matchup between the Edina Hornets and Eden Prairie Eagles, and with serious state title implications on the line, Edina took control and cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the state. However, it wasn't always smooth-sailing for the Hornets, and Eden Prairie is far from out of the hunt. Check out the Recap and Top Performers from Friday's Big School showdown and the biggest game in Minnesota's Week 2 schedule, below.   --   Game Recap   Set on a backstage of a cotton candy skyline and a beautiful fall Minnesota night, Edina's Kuhlman Field was filled to capacity, the student sections of both teams were rowdy, and the Hornets gigantic band was in midseason form, firing up the crowd and both prep football teams on Friday night in Edina. Eden Prairie received the opening kickoff and did was EP teams always do, eat up clock, enforce their will in the running game, and eat up chunks of yardage. Led by senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='641134' first='Elijah' last='Rumph'] (6'1, 200 lbs), who looked fantastic and battled his tail off all night long, the Eagles marched their way deep into Edina territory on the opening drive of the game, but inside the Hornets' 30, two incompletions on third and fourth down turned the ball over and got the Edina defense fired up and confident. However both teams went three-and-out in the ensuing series. Edina found themselves back with the ball, but superstar multi-sport junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='592125' first='Mason' last='West'] threw an INT on a post route deep downfield, where it was picked off cleanly by Eden Prairie safety Max Kukla for a momentum-building turnover. However, nothing came of it, West more than bounced back, and the score remained 0-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.   The home team Hornets really got good in the 2nd, beginning with the first drive of the quarter, using quick game, slants, and screens to march down the field and eventually find paydirt. WRs [player_tooltip player_id='212361' first='Jabari' last='Strader'] (2026, 6'1, 185), Cal-Berkeley commit [player_tooltip player_id='234833' first='Meyer' last='Swinney'], and TE [player_tooltip player_id='743267' first='Jake' last='Bock'] all had big catches in the drive, forcing missed tackles and moving the chains, and 2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'] scored the first points of the ball game from seven yards out. 9:59 left in the half, Edina-7, Eden Prairie-0. The two traded drives before Edina retained possession again, where Strader once again made use of space and moved the chains on a couple of big catches, and Bjorgaard converted an important 3rd down to get deep inside EP territory. The West to Swinney connection hit home again, as a deep slant that hit Swinney in-stride led to some missed tackles and another TD for Edina. 14-0 Hornets with 4:49 to go in the half. The Hornets weren't done either, as a rowdy student section, feeling confident after watching their boys flex their muscles, began to chant "overrated" far too early into the game, which was answered by a "daddy's money" chant by the Eagles. A fumbled snap by EP gave Edina the ball back, where the [player_tooltip player_id='234833' first='Meyer' last='Swinney'] show really got going. An explosive YAC gain by Swinney on a simple screen forced more than a couple missed tackles, getting him down to the EP 8, and a fade to the Cal-Berkeley commit finished the drive for another score with 35 seconds left in the half. 21-0 at the end of two in Edina.   The Hornets wasted no time getting back going to start the second half, as West found Swinney on a beautiful deep fade for an electric 85-yard TD reception less than a minute into the 3rd quarter, jolting the energy at Kuhlman Field up to 11 and getting the score to 28-0. Things were firmly in control of the home squad by then, with the Hornets student section confidently chanting "overrated", but Eden Prairie did manage to find paydirt in the 3rd quarter on a 40-yard catch-and-pass from 2026 Eagles QB [player_tooltip player_id='592123' first='Jackson' last='Bakkum'] to senior WR Max Lorenson. End of three: Edina-28, Eden Prairie 7   [player_tooltip player_id='234833' first='Meyer' last='Swinney'] scored on another endzone fade in the fourth, and Eden Prairie put together a gritty late drive that culminated in a [player_tooltip player_id='591981' first='Braden' last='Minta'] catch-and-run for six, and at the end of the ball game we had a final score of 35-14 in favor of Edina. Assertive, dominant win by the defending 6A state runner ups.. This is the best I've seen Edina ever look and I think the Hornets firmly sit atop of the 6A rankings in Minnesota, along with Maple Grove. What a win by Edina High School.   Top Performers   Game MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='234833' first='Meyer' last='Swinney'] (Edina) 2025. WR. 6'3, 210 lbs.   Dominant and electric performance by one of the best players in the state. Swinney's speed, burst, balance, and silkiness made him a weapon in the open field, and along with his 6 receptions for 197 yards and 4 TD performance, the Cal-Berkeley commit forced nearly double-digit missed tackles and had the Eagles back-seven looking silly throughout the night. Swinney got better as the game went on, thrived under the bright lights and big-play pressure/opportunity, and was dangerous and productive to all three levels of the field. His length, ball skills, and route-running, combined with the 6'3, 210 lb. frame, present a matchup nightmare and physically dominant skillset that is one of - of not thee - hardest to guard in Minnesota. Obvious P4 talent on full-display on Friday night. Easy choice for the game, and Week 2, MVP.   Hornets   [player_tooltip player_id='924336' first='Sawyer' last='Jezierski'] - 2026. DT. 6'4, 265 lbs. - The Hornets now-junior 3T didn't attend any of the regional camp stops we made it to this summer, so this was my first exposure point to the junior, and I came away very impressed. Facing double-teams from one of the best OL in MN, Jezierski was a constant, disruptive presence all four quarters whose motor never stopped humming and production never wavered. Great get-off, lead in his hands, was able to identify, adjust, and shed blocks to force TFLs in the run game, has legit pass-rush skills and created sacks/pressures in passing situations, and was playing with a hair-on-fire play style and effort level. He was running down loose ball carriers far downfield, chasing the QB to the edge, and is a big, strong kid who can enforce his will on the gridiron. Looks like a D1 3T as a junior and should pick up some serious steam on the recruiting trial once regional FCS and FBS schools get wind of him. Great showing on Friday night.   [player_tooltip player_id='1255886' first='Evan' last='Gilder'] - 2026. LB. 6'1, 210 lbs. - Another Hornets junior defender who raised their stock thanks to an in-person performance, Gilder was playing and tackling like a mad man on Friday night. Excellent play recognition, speed, and physicality at the point of attack, Gilder was a sideline-to-sideline presence who made some splash plays defensively and posted somewhere in the ballpark of 20 tackles on Friday night. The kid was everywhere, and was a 3-down LB who did a great job of negating positive gains post-contact. Smooth, strong, physical, and smart, Gilder did a great job of strengthen his claim as one of the top LBs in 2026, a title that is still very much up for grabs.   [player_tooltip player_id='512112' first='Liam' last='Holmberg'] - 2025. Safety. 6', 200 lbs.   The Minnesota State-Mankato offeree was the hardest hitter on the night and popped off some serious collisions throughout the ball game. Did a great job of cleaning up loose ball carriers and spillover gains, was a dominant presence at the contact point, and was fun to watch fly around the field from the defensive backfield. Great 1v1 tackler and does his best work around the box, but did show up in pass defense and was a consistent performer throughout the night.   Stephen Bunce - 2025. OL. 6', 265 lbs.   A four-year starter for Edina who is a beast in the trenches, Bunce was an obvious leader on the Hornets 2024 team and the heart & soul of their OL, which paved the way for so much success on Friday night. Technically-sound, tough, and mobile, Bunce had a tough assignment against the Eagles iDL but more than held his own, and his leadership and stability were noticeable and significant in the Hornets win.   [player_tooltip player_id='212361' first='Jabari' last='Strader'] - 2026. WR. 6'1, 185 lbs.   A big-time transfer from Benilde-St. Margaret's, Strader's impressive size, reliable hands, and overall athleticism were an asset on Friday night, and he got better as the game wore on. Strader was a handful after the catch, using a combination of lower body strength, balance, and quickness to force a ton of missed tackles on the night and pick up big chunks of yardage after the catch. Ran some good routes, but really capitalized on the "get him in space and let him do his thing" mentality. Loved watching his athleticism and playmaking ability in-person and up-close this Friday.   [player_tooltip player_id='819442' first='Trillion' last='Sorrell'] - 2025. DB/WR. 6'1, 165 lbs.   The South Dakota State CB commit was as advertised on Friday night. An excellent performer during this past summer's camp grind, Sorrell transitioned the momentum into Friday nights well, shutting down his side of the field defensively and making some plays in the passing game as a wide receiver. Sorrell had a beautiful snag to convert a third down that was unfortunately called back in the first half that really highlighted his outstanding length, coordination, and hands, but his athleticism was already well on display throughout the night against Eden Prairie. Obvious eye-catcher and arguably the stickiest corner in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.   [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'] - 2026. 6', 210 lbs.   Solid night for the junior RB, who also plays hockey and baseball for Edina. Good vision, patient runner, and ran behind his pads, Bjorgaard converted big first downs when needed and fought for every inch gained on Friday night. Big shoes to fill from last year's Edina rushing attack, but Bjorgaard looks up to the challenge.   [player_tooltip player_id='743267' first='Jake' last='Bock'] - 2025. TE. 6'6, 230 lbs.   One of the most underrated prospects in all of Minnesota, Bock, who is a part of a loaded Edina passing corps, didn't get his number called as often as I'd like it to have been on Friday, but he made the most of his opportunities when presented. Strong blocker, and was dynamic after the catch. Used a good combination of strength and quickness to pickup extra yardage after the catch and for his offense. He's going to be talked about a lot this fall.   Ryan Zentner - 2025. OL. 6'3, 240 lbs.   A new name to my radar, Zentner reminded me of the Edina OL I grew up playing against as a young Southwest Laker. Big, physical, and with a nasty streak. If he smells blood in the water or weakness, it's on. Zentner, along with the entire Edina OL, was fun to watch on Friday night.   Eagles   [player_tooltip player_id='641134' first='Elijah' last='Rumph'] - 2025. RB. 6'1, 200 lbs.   First time seeing RB1 in Minnesota, and he lived up to the hype. The centerpiece of the Eagles offensive attack, Rumph possesses good vision, runs behind his blocks, and has outstanding contact balance. His quick-twitch muscles were on display as well, as he forced tackles in space with some quick feet and suddenness, but the ability to absorb, eat, and work through multiple tackle attempts in a carry, all while staying upright and continuing to pump the legs, was very impressive. This kid does not go down easily, is obviously athletic, and had a good day against some loaded boxes on Friday night in the loss. Still uncommitted, he needs more recruiting attention right now.   [player_tooltip player_id='284019' first='Gavin' last='Walden'] - 2026. DT. 6'3, 250 lbs.   The best defender on the Eagles and arguably the top performer of the Eden Prairie team from Friday, Walden was an absolute force in the middle of the DL for Eden Prairie. I got to see this kid at the Gophers camp this summer, where his broad shoulders, heavy hands, and brute strength were on full display, and Walden was playing like a maniac on Friday night. Great get-off and first step, effective in his power rushes, showed some lateral quickness and ability, and was physically dominant at the point of attack, Walden was a massively important assignment for the Hornets to try and handle, and they were barely able to succeed. Tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks were all on the menu for Walden on Friday, and despite constant doubles, he was thriving. I also loved how he came up as the lone tackler on a couple of rundowns to clean up loose ball carriers on Friday night, with his nonstop motor powering him far downfield to save his defense from extra gains. Another undoubted D1 3T on our hands in the 2026 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='234879' first='Aaron' last='Kroese'] - 2025. DB/Returner.   On the smaller side, Kroese made up for it with splash-play athleticism, as he produced some explosive returns and defensive stands throughout the night for his Eagles. He had some good reps in 1v1 coverage, had a big-time hit coming up to fill on a screen, popping the WR and jarring the ball loose for a physically impressive PBU. Took some licks guarding Swinney 1v1, but continued to fight, stay mentally strong and engaged, and battle against a P4 receiver.   [player_tooltip player_id='641145' first='James' last='Anderson'] - 2025. DB/LB.   Eye-catcher physically, and was a needed and steady presence in the defensive backfield for Eden Prairie.   Max Kukla - 2025. DB.   Made a beautiful read on the INT of hearleded West, Kukla was instinctive and rangy from the safety spot.   Matthew Ivey - 2025. LB.   Undersized, however, Ivey was a dog in the tackling department and was a physical presence and impact player when he put the pads on an opponent. Ivey reads, reacts, and triggers on the ball with obvious pace, and he goes 100% into contact with exciting results.   [player_tooltip player_id='1289991' first='Jake' last='Gau'] - 2026. OT. 6'6, 285 lbs.   A can't-miss, gargantuan presence on the edge of the LOS for Eden Prairie, Gau had a solid day blocking and flashed some strong reps and upside throughout the night of competition against the Eagles.   [player_tooltip player_id='591981' first='Braden' last='Minta'] - 2026. TE. 6'5, 225 lbs.   Minta was leaner and longer than I expected, which is a good thing, as he looked and played like a true TE on Friday night. One of the players I was most excited to see play, he lived up to the hype, as he took a ton of offensive reps throughout the ball game and was the Eagles' best target in the passing game. Scored a TD on a solid catch-and-run at the end of the game and reeled in a reception before that, and was strong and technical as a blocker, moving mass against some impressive Edina defenders and checking boxes as a blocker. Hard to miss his size, talent, and versatility.   Max Lorenson - 2025. WR.   Also a standout hooper for the Eagles, Lorenson was a significant threat in the EP passing attack, scoring a TD on a deep reception down the seam and showing some deep-play speed. Could have had another TD on the night too, if it wasn't for a tough drop.

It was as good as it gets on Friday night. Minnesota Big School football, Friday Night Lights, a crisp, early fall evening, and two of the best teams in the state going head-to-head in an early season heavyweight slugfest. PrepRedzoneMN was lucky enough to attend the 6A matchup between the Edina Hornets and Eden Prairie Eagles, and with serious state title implications on the line, Edina took control and cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the state. However, it wasn't always smooth-sailing for the Hornets, and Eden Prairie is far from out of the hunt. Check out the Recap and Top Performers from Friday's Big School showdown and the biggest game in Minnesota's Week 2 schedule, below.