Lakeville South wins the battle of unbeatens
The Lakeville South Cougars had the ball four times in the first half of their top five showdown with the Prior Lake Lakers. Those four drives resulted in four touchdowns and 29 points. The vaunted Cougars’ running game was unstoppable in the first half. Not only did they score every time they had the ball, but the Lakeville South offense also didn’t even have a negative play in the first half. Their worst play was an incomplete pass on the half’s final drive – they completed two others on the drive that helped set up the final touchdown of the half.
Without the defense making a stop, you might think the Lakers would be getting blown out on their home field, but that would not be the case. The Lakers trailed 29-21 on the back of two long touchdown drives of their own and a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Both defenses played better in the second half, but this was an offensive show from beginning to end as the Cougars from Lakeville South would stay undefeated with a 49-35 victory.
With both teams know for their running games, it was bound to be a tough night in the trenches, and neither team disappointed. It was a battle of the tight three-man backfield, inside trapping running game of the Cougars against the multiple pre-snap motions and multiple formation-changing running attacks of the Lakers.
The Lakers struck first behind a strong inside running game to move the ball out near mid-field. That is when Joseph Krouse got loose on an end-around for a 55-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 Lakers’ lead.
The Cougars would come right back with a long touchdown run of their own. Carson Hansen scored on an off-tackle lead play. The run covered 50 yards.
After forcing a punt, South went right back to work with a successful inside trap game. The center and guard would double team the nose tackle, and the off-side guard would pull and kick out the defensive tackle. That would not only open the hole inside but would also allow the tackle to get a piece of the linebacker. Faced with a fourth and four, the Cougars gave the ball to Garrett Savard, and he was able to move the chains. Savard would cap off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run to give the undefeated Cougars a 14-7 lead.
The lead would last about fifteen seconds of game time. Krouse got great blocking and only had to make one man miss during his 93-yard kickoff return touchdown. Unfortunately, that just gave the ball right back to the Cougars’ offense.
South’s Josh Jacobson picked up a key first down on a third and short to set up his 8-yard touchdown run – on third and goal – later in the drive.
After converting a 4th and short, with 1:33 to play in the half, Prior Lake looked like they were going to head to halftime in a tie ball game, but in one of the big turning points of the game, Lakeville South drove the length of the field in just over a minute to go into halftime with a 29-21 lead.
South went away from their three running back, two tight end formation and spread it out. They used a quick outside passing game to move down the field without using much time off the clock. Hansen broke two tackles near the line of scrimmage and found open field. He would cross the goal line after a 27-yard run. A two-point conversion would take the Cougars into halftime ahead 29-21.
The defenses played much better in the third quarter. They both forced punts on the first possessions for each team. South took advantage of a short field when Prior Lake fumbled near mid-field. A mix of run and pass got the Cougars back inside the ten-yard line, and Hanson would do the rest, from seven yards away.
Down two scores, Prior Lake would make it a one-score game two more times – late in the third quarter and then again late in the fourth quarter, but both times, South would have an answer on offense – including Hansen’s fourth touchdown of the game.
The 49-35 victory move Lakeville South to 3-0. They come home to play cross-town rival Lakeville North (1-1) next Friday. Prior Lake falls to 2-1 and will travel to St. Michael-Albertville (3-0).