Edina vs. Eden Prairie: New Names, Team Defense, Top Performers

Minnesota's Week 3 brought PrepRedzoneMN to the western suburbs for some good ol' Minnesota Big School football and a traditional Classic Lake Conference rivalry between Eden Prairie and Edina. The hosting Eagles, one of the more pleasant surprises in the 6A ranks in terms of competitiveness, are an upstart bunch with experience in key positions as well as a ton of youth, while Edina is senior heavy and home to arguably the best QB in the state in 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='592125' first='Mason' last='West'], a well-noted first round draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as some real-deal playmakers on both sides of the ball, not to mention Iowa Hawkeyes DT commit [player_tooltip player_id='924336' first='Sawyer' last='Jezierski']. Eden Prairie, then 1-1, was coming off a tough loss in Week 2 to #1 ranked Maple Grove, while Edina came into the ball game rolling off a 2-0 start with big wins over fellow Classic Lake Conference rivals Wayzata and Hopkins. PrepRedzoneMN has your exclusive recap, as well as the notes Top Performers, as well as some heavyweight New Names, below!   --   Game Recap   Nothing like Friday Night Lights and Big School football. A rocking band, two raucous student sections, and packed bleachers on both sides of the gridiron, aided by a beautiful red and pink sunset and skyline, and you have the combination for a heckuva start to your weekend. Eden Prairie vs. Edina was a physical, hard-fought affair that began stuffing the scoresheet early, as the hosting Eagles got going early with a Justice Bates (2026, HB, 5'11, 225 lbs.) TD run from two-yards out, then forcing a couple Edina punts, and then once again driving down the field, capping the scoring drive on a goal-line fade from senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='592123' first='Jackson' last='Bakkum'] (6'1, 185) to Montana State DT commit [player_tooltip player_id='284019' first='Gavin' last='Walden'], who is getting a ton of run on offense in 2025 as a TE/FB/HB hybrid. Boom, 14-0 Eden Prairie going into the second quarter.   However, Edina is feisty, and technically ranked higher going into the ball game, and they responded and found some form behind the arm of West and the powerful contact balance of 2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'], but finished the drive with one of the best catches you'll see all season, as West found a streaking [player_tooltip player_id='1612777' first='Sammy' last='Stephenson'] - one of the breakout performers of the 2025 season - who caught the ball midair and on top of a helpless Eden Prairie cornerback for one of the best catches I've seen while covering high school football. 14-7 Eden Prairie. The Hornets continued to make things interesting, overcoming an INT by West to force a fumble forced and recovered by 2028 6', 190 lber. Lincoln Page. Then, after a grueling redzone series, Bjorgaard capped the drive to bring the game within an extra point, finishing the score through a massive hit by Eden Prairie's Mak Anderson. However, Edina fumbled the PAT, and Eden Prairie retained the lead 14-13 with 4:24 left in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles were stocked with their own answer, as sophomore sensation and breakout RB star [player_tooltip player_id='1893142' first='Owen' last='Konrad'] dazzled the rowdy home crowd with a beautiful display of foot speed and burst, exploding through the well-made Eden Prairie hole, making the safety miss with a twitchy cut, and then bursting through the third level to outpace the pursuing DBs. This kid is legit. Edina answered on a beautiful post route from senior University of Jamestown commit [player_tooltip player_id='212361' first='Jabari' last='Strader'], who West hit in stride, but missed the 2pt conversion on a fade attempt, and we went into halftime 21-19 in favor of the home team.   Although it was looking like Game of the Week status at halftime, the remaining two quarters of the ball game were all Eden Prairie. After the two teams traded possessions for most of the third quarter, with both QBs throwing INTs, Eden Prairie used a grueling, physical, ferocious nearly-double-digit, run-only brawl of a scoring effort almost exclusively inside Edina's red zone, with [player_tooltip player_id='284019' first='Gavin' last='Walden'] scoring his second TD of the ball game (not bad for a DT), on a 5-yard smash mouth carry into the end zone. 28-19 Eden Prairie going into the 4th quarter.   The Eagles continued to pour it on in the 4th, using a 20-yard TD carry from junior two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='1665895' first='Windlan' last='Hall'], as well as a 34-yard TD pitch & catch from senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='592123' first='Jackson' last='Bakkum'] to 2026 North Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id='591981' first='Braden' last='Minta']. 40-19 Eagles, at home, in Week 3 of the 2025 Minnesota regular season. Although the Hornets were ranked higher than the Eagles coming into the ball game, Eden Prairie's lone loss was to Maple Grove, shifting the QRFs used in team rankings, so I don't think this was an upset. EP is back to their old form and is an undoubted Top 5 6A squad in Minnesota. Edina, in my mind, is on the outside looking in, sitting somewhere between 6th and 10th in Class 6A. Lot of football left still, folks!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Edina-at-Eden-Prairie-Week-3-Minnesota-2025.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1892461" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Edina at Eden Prairie Week 3 Minnesota 2025</figcaption></figure>   Top Performers & New Names   Game MVP:   [player_tooltip player_id='1893142' first='Owen' last='Konrad'] (Eden Prairie) 2028. RB. 5'8, 165 lbs.   Sophomore sensation Konrad is a burgeoning superstar at Eden Prairie, with his gridiron exploits the latest on a growing list of accolades on his athletic resume. A decorated hockey player who is also quite the baseball player on the diamond, Konrad is a sensational little tailback with excellent foot speed, vision, burst, and twitch. A lightning-bolt of a 5'8, 165 lber. Konrad was dynamite behind the massive Eden Prairie offensive line, exploding through the hole and into space, where his nimble feet and quick cuts made some eye-catching moves on free defenders in the hole and at the second and third level of Edina's defense. Great vision, set up defenders well 1v1, had the long speed to outpace pursuers down the sideline, and was tough. I saw the 165 lber. truck a couple larger defenders in impressive fashion, and he was durable and showed off good endurance, never taking his foot off the brake through four quarters of action and visibly taking advantage of a haggard Edina defense later into a quarter. A first-year starter still in the first month of his sophomore year, you're going to be hearing a lot more about this young man these next three years. Buy stock now!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/epboyshockey/status/1919586292104417559 </div></figure>   Top Performers/New Names   [player_tooltip player_id='284019' first='Gavin' last='Walden'] (Eden Prairie) 2026. 6'2, 250 lbs. DT/HB. Committed to Montana State   Montana State's bulldozer of defensive tackle commit [player_tooltip player_id='284019' first='Gavin' last='Walden'] has added some incredible versatility to his game, catapulting himself into a legitimate two-way weapon with the continued production that could possibly land him a Mr. Football finalist nod, as well a couple more Eden Prairie wins. In addition to his catching TD, rushing TD, and boatload of crushing, gap-opening blocks, Walden was a beast on the defensive side of the ball, forcing himself into the backfield with regularity, as his combination of get-off, strength, and balance were too much for Edina's OL to handle at times. Montana State got a monster.   #5 [player_tooltip player_id='1665895' first='Windlan' last='Hall'] (Eden Prairie) 2027. RB/DB. 5'10, 160 lbs.   Hall was a two-way dynamo for the Eagles, as well as one of the biggest breakout performers on the Eden Prairie 2025 roster and possibly the Minnesota 2027 recruiting scene overall. A tough RB with a mean stiff-arm, good contact balance, and an overall well-rounded skillset for the RB position, Hall was also a sticky cornerback who made some impressive PBUs on hard-to-cover routes throughout the game. He made an excellent break on the ball in the third quarter on a WR screen that he nearly took to the house if he hadn't dropped the rock, and the 160 lber. was more than willing to stick his head into run support, took a ton of reps throughout the ball game and showed off solid endurance, and was a major force and asset in the Eagles 2025 squad. At the next level, I like him as a defensive back, but he's a heckuva three-phase weapon for heavyweight Eden Prairie with a ton of good football left in front of him.   [player_tooltip player_id='1695494' first='Taylor' last='Hussong'] (Eden Prairie) 2028. DT. 6'1, 240 lbs.   A new name to the PrepRedzoneMN radar, 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1695494' first='Taylor' last='Hussong'] is a rising stud as a first-year starter on the Eden Prairie defensive line. With a thick, compact build that is reported to measure in around 6'1, 240 lbs., Hussong has a natural leverage advantage, heavy hands, and is a force in the middle of the Eagles defense, especially in run defense. Good get-off, heavy hands, and a strong motor, Hussong was able to create penetration throughout the evening of competition, earned some good 1v1 wins, and was able to throw his weight around effectively against 6A competition. Can't wait to get this kid on the rankings!   #99 [player_tooltip player_id='1555622' first='Jayden' last='Bates'] (Eden Prairie) 2029. DE. 6'4, 215 lbs.   Easily the Freshman of the Year in Minnesota, freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='1555622' first='Jayden' last='Bates'] - the #1 Biggest Winner of the 2025 Summer Camp SZN thanks to his performance and ensuing offer from the Minnesota Gophers at their prospect camp - is not only starting for Eden Prairie in his first year of high school football, he's competing and producing like an All-Conference pick. Incredibly long and lean, with his black #99 Eagles jersey displaying a significant amount of room to fill in, Bates continued to flash throughout four quarters of the ball game, highlighted by a TFL turned forced fumble in the third quarter that was one of the final nails in the coffin of the Hornets comeback attempt. Bates, whose get-off and play speed were hard to notice, showed loose hips, an effective and developing pass rushing skillset, and a heckuva motor that would not stop chasing down and bothering [player_tooltip player_id='592125' first='Mason' last='West'] in pass rush settings. He had a great rep where he retraced and chased down an Edina RB on an attempted dumb, a handful of QB hurries in pass rushing 1v1s, and the quickness and balance that really gets you excited about his pass rushing future. This is one of the best young prospects I've seen come out of Minnesota in a while.   [player_tooltip player_id='1612777' first='Sammy' last='Stephenson'] (Edina) 2026. WR. 6'2, 195 lbs.   Edina's WR1, 2026 6'2, 195 lb. splash-play weapon Stephenson was up to his usual big-play ways on Friday night, taking the top off the defense on multiple occasions, begging QB [player_tooltip player_id='592125' first='Mason' last='West'] to chuck it deep early and often in Eden Prairie. Stephenson had the no-doubt play of the night in his outrageous Sportsenter Top 10-worthy snag right on top of a helpless Eden Prairie defender to drag his Hornets right back into contention in the ball game, and he also showed off his route-running skills on a couple of beautiful deep comebacks that required timing and nuance against some athletic EP DBs. Additionally, Stephenson was bullying DBs downfield as a run blocker, and was playing with a physical, competitive edge that you want to see from a true WR1. Don't blink, this kid is one of the breakout stars of 2025!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/OJW_Scouting/status/1966662490453934431 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='924336' first='Sawyer' last='Jezierski'] (Edina) 2026. DT/OT. 6'3, 265 lbs. Committed to the University of Iowa   University of Iowa defensive tackle commit Jezierski was fighting his butt off in the trenches on Friday night against Eden Prairie, playing on both sides of the line of scrimmage and playing with noticeable physicality. Battling through a nasty thumb injury, Jezierski's strength at the point of attack, heavy hands, and balance at a mauling 6'3, 265+ was hard to miss in a fully-padded setting, and he was physically dominant on both sides of the ball as both a defensive and offensive tackle. Looked and played like a P4 commit on Friday night.   #98 [player_tooltip player_id='1693230' first='Drew' last='Erlandson'] (Eden Prairie) 2028. 6'4, 215 lbs.   A 2028 who forced himself onto our radar during the 2025 Summer Camp SZN, Eden Prairie's sophomore starting defensive end Drew Erlandson is a name to know in the rising D1 recruiting scene amongst Minnesota's sophomores. Testing and tracking like a future D1 defensive linemen, Erlandson showed off length, quickness, a penetrating first step, and the physicality to hang in the trenches for three downs on Friday night against Edina. The length, room to fill in, hand usage, play speed, and motor all have me excited about his development as well. He gets better and better snap after snap. What a trio of defensive linemen the Eagles have on their hands in 2025!   #15 [player_tooltip player_id='1120625' first='Luke' last='Henry'] (Eden Prairie) 2026. LB. 6'2, 210 lbs.   One of the athletic linebackers in Minnesota this season, as verified by his 2025 Summer Camp SZN performances at a variety of different stops, [player_tooltip player_id='1120625' first='Luke' last='Henry'] is an excellent representation and continuation of Eden Prairie's legacy of linebackers in the 2000s. Catching our eyes with an exciting INT and an explosive TFL, Henry, is big, long, and fast, and he plays with noticeable play speed that reads/reacts/triggers on the ball with impressive ease. Big, athletic, productive, Henry is going to be a steal for someone's 2026 recruiting class.   #12 Luke Elliott (Eden Prairie) 2027. LB. 6'2, 200 lbs.   A new name to our PrepRedzoneMN radar, junior linebacker Luke Elliott passed the eye test with flying colors, and he did a good job of weaving through traffic, avoiding and disengaging from blocks around the box, and winning at the collision points in tackles throughout four quarters of action. Can't wait to see some consolidated film on this kid at the midseason point.   #29 Mak Anderson (Eden Prairie) 2027. SS. 6', 170 lbs.   I love good DB play, and I REALLY love hard hitting defensive backs, making me an easy fan of Eden Prairie's #29, junior SS Mak Anderson. This kid was throwing his body around with reckless abandon, and he really knows how to create hard hits and win at the contact point. Anderson was easily the hardest hitter of the football game, and he was also effective and impressive at tackling in space against a talented Edina tailback. Can't wait to get this kid on the rankings ASAP.   #1 [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'] (Edina) 2026. RB/OLB. 6'1, 215 lbs.   One of the biggest workhorses in the state, as well as one of the best multi-sport athletes in Minnesota, Edina's [player_tooltip player_id='923840' first='Chase' last='Bjorgaard'] was quite fun to watch on Friday night against Eden Prairie. A well-built, eye-catching 6'1, 215 lber. who has put on some serious muscle mass this offseason, Bjorgaard was one tough cookie, asserting himself physically each and every carry of the ball game thanks to his power, contact balance, and vision. Bjorgaard also got serious tick on the defensive side of the ball as an OLB/EDGE, this kid is an animal no matter what position he was playing and is hard to beat physically, or 1v1, no matter the setting. Whether he plays hockey or football at the next level, I'll be eagerly awaiting the announcement.   #23 Xander Rasmussen (Edina) 2026. CB. 6'2, 185 lbs.   Another new name to the PrepRedzoneMN radar, senior CB Xander Rasmussen was one of the swaggiest players on Friday night, and with his long, lean, and muscular 6'2, 185 lb. frame at the cornerback position, it was hard not to think about the damage he could do in a college DB room. Used his length and hands well, solid COD ability for his size, was comfortable playing on an island, and had the speed to carry any and all Eden Prairie's vertically. Rasmussen's size was also an asset against EP's massive 6'7 wide receiver, and he was an asset in the run game defensively as well, doing a good job of holding the edge and playing with proper pursuit leverage, as well as tackling in 1v1 settings effectively. Lot of upside when projecting to the next level, and Edina has a great tradition of DBs in the 2000s.   #57 Tyson Williams (Edina) 2026. OL. 5'9, 190 lbs.   Compared to some of the giants on Edina's 2025 OL, Williams was dwarfed in comparison, but the diminutive offensive center was one tough customer in the middle of Edina's offensive line who held his own against some monstrous Eden Prairie competition. Technically-sound, good hand usage, and tough at the point of attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='592120' first='Ethan' last='Sather'] (Eden Prairie) 2026. OL. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth   The 2026 Minnesota-Duluth OL commit was a road grader on the right side of the Eden Prairie offensive line alongside his monstrous OT counterpart [player_tooltip player_id='1289991' first='Jake' last='Gau']. Sather, thanks to great footwork and overwhelming strength at the point of attack, had some dominant pancake blocks and wins at the line of scrimmage throughout the night, opening gaps and paving the way for his dominant Eden Prairie rushing attack that had it's way with Edina's DL all four quarters. Played with high energy, didn't take his foot off the gas, and was a beast in the run game for Eden Prairie. UMD got a good one!   [player_tooltip player_id='212361' first='Jabari' last='Strader'] (Edina) 2026. WR. Committed to the University of Jamestown   A consistent and effective weapon for Edina's potent passing attack, Strader did a good job at getting open on a variety of routes throughout the evening and was consistently able to win vertically when working to take the top off the defense. Strader, who scored one of Edina's three TDs of the evening, proved himself as a scholarship-level WR on Friday night against some quality defensive back competition. Big, physical, willing to block in the run game and do the dirty work for his offense, and a good route runner. Jamestown got a good one!   [player_tooltip player_id='1635654' first='Cooper' last='Fahning'] (Eden Prairie) 2026. WR. 6'7, 190 lbs.   A big-time sleeper for Eden Prairie, WR [player_tooltip player_id='1635654' first='Cooper' last='Fahning'] is a 6'7 wide receiver who unfortunately didn't get to show off his skillset on Friday night against Edina. The run game was simply working too well, and Fahning was a weapon you simply had to account and game plan for on the perimeter, with an accomplished basketball background an an unfathomable amount of upside at the WR position. Keep an eye on this kid throughout the budding 2025 season.   #61 Hudson Bernarde (Edina) 2026. OT. 6'7, 270 lbs.   Yes, somehow the Hornets had a 6'7 monster OT hidden away on their 2025 roster. The Hornets right tackle, Bernarde had solid bend, long arms that he used to his advantage, and good balance, providing a balanced and exciting skillset for both run blocking and pass protection. Technically-sound, comfortable in his pass set against a speedy and athletic Eden Prairie DE, and the size to make an impact on a college OL room early, Bernarde is a certified SLEEPER in the 2026 class and a potential breakout recruiting star of the 2025 season.   #52 [player_tooltip player_id='1739373' first='Wyatt' last='Perry'] (Edina) 2028. OG. 6'6, 230 lbs.   Well, I couldn't be more excited about sophomore OG [player_tooltip player_id='1739373' first='Wyatt' last='Perry']. While stay babyfaced and carrying the gait of an underclassmen still growing into body, Perry flipped the switch at the snap, playing with exciting physicality and effectiveness at the point of attack while showing off some serious upside overall. Technically sound, Perry used his impressive foot speed, balance, and technique to show off a clean and effective pass set, and with his giant frame was able to move mass and open gaps in the run game. Only an underclassmen, the size already catapults Perry into D1 consideration, but his play absolutely solidified the fact that this kid is a Top 20 2028 right now. So stoked I got eyes on this kid on Friday night. PrepRedzoneMN is always on the hunt for the Next Great Minnesota Offensive Linemen, and we may have one here, folks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1094114' first='Cooper' last='Drake'] (Edina) 2026. DB. 6'2, 190 lbs.   One of the fastest defensive backs in the Great State of Minnesota in 2025, track star [player_tooltip player_id='1094114' first='Cooper' last='Drake'] played his tail off on Friday night against Eden Prairie, popping off some of the best defensive plays of the evening for Edina. Not only did he record an interception, Drake also created some of the biggest collisions and best hits of the ball game, lowering his pads and bringing the POP to Eden Prairie's group of RBs in bone-crunching fashion. Drake played impressively well in a couple of Edina's successful and unsuccessful goal line stands, and he really knows how to throw his weight around at 6'2 190 lbs. A weapon in both run and pass defense, Drake is fun to watch, productive, and owns a decorated multi-sport background to sweeten the pot. Underrated? You betcha!   #30 Bodey Hedlund (Eden Prairie) 2027. FB. 5'8, 180 lbs.   Eden Prairie's fullback was lethal on fullback dives, chewing up big chunks of yardage whenever he got his hands on the rock. With a natural advantage in the leverage department, great balance, and a run-through-your-face attitude at the point of attack, Hedlund helped open some big holes for his fellow RBs, owning the strength to move LBs in the hole and the awareness to execute assignment-sound blocks on the most dangerous defenders. I'm always on the lookout for fullbacks, and we got a good one here. MIAC schools: be warned!   Oscar Broich (Edina) 2026. TE. 6'5, 225 lbs.   The Hornets always seem to have a massive TE on their roster, and senior Oscar Broich is the 2025 continuation of this trend. Broich did well battling in the trenches as a run blocker, and he was looking to take some heads off as an upback on kickoff receive. His length, strength, and physicality were an asset as a run blocker, and he helped open holes and pave the way for some chunk gains with his Edina rushing attack. MIAC, GPAC, maybe NSIC schools, get to know him!   New Names to Know:   #18 Luke Ansems (Edina) 2027. HB. 6'3, 230 lbs., #14 [player_tooltip player_id='1892904' first='Will' last='Grunnet'] (Edina) 2029. QB. 5'10, 170 lbs. backup QB, Lincoln Page (Edina) 2028. LB. 6', 185 lbs. recovered a fumble and earned significant playing time

Minnesota's Week 3 brought PrepRedzoneMN to the western suburbs for some good ol' Minnesota Big School football and a traditional Classic Lake Conference rivalry between Eden Prairie and Edina. The hosting Eagles, one of the more pleasant surprises in the 6A ranks in terms of competitiveness, are an upstart bunch with experience in key positions as well as a ton of youth, while Edina is senior heavy and home to arguably the best QB in the state in 2026 Mason West Mason West 6'5" | 205 lbs | QB Edina | 2026 State MN , a well-noted first round draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as some real-deal playmakers on both sides of the ball, not to mention Iowa Hawkeyes DT commit Sawyer Jezierski Sawyer Jezierski 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Edina | 2026 State MN . Eden Prairie, then 1-1, was coming off a tough loss in Week 2 to #1 ranked Maple Grove, while Edina came into the ball game rolling off a 2-0 start with big wins over fellow Classic Lake Conference rivals Wayzata and Hopkins. PrepRedzoneMN has your exclusive recap, as well as the notes Top Performers, as well as some heavyweight New Names, below!