Football State Tournament, 2022: Quarterfinals, Day 1
Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2022 - 10:30 PM
Two losses marred Eden Prairie’s record when it began the 2022 Class AAAAAA tournament. There was a Week 4 loss to Rosemount on Sept. 22 and two weeks later, a 31-14 setback to Shakopee. The Eagles hit the reset button for the playoffs and atoned for one of those losses on Thursday, Nov. 10 and have put themselves in position to tackle the other.
Eden Prairie, one of the top four seeds when the 32-team playoff began, recorded a 28-12 victory over Shakopee in the quarterfinals at Park Center High School. The victory sends the Eagles (10-2) into the semifinals next Friday against Rosemount at U.S. Bank Stadium. Rosemount advanced with a 27-0 victory over Centennial in another quarterfinal at Stillwater High School.
Things looked grim at first for Eden Prairie in its rematch with Shakopee. The Eagles fumbled twice in the first quarter, one which led to Shakopee taking a one-touchdown lead. But Eden Prairie responded by scoring on four consecutive possessions. Luca Ratkovich gave Eden Prairie a 9-6 lead at the half on a 37-yard field goal. The Eagles extended that by then scoring on their first two possessions of the second half.
Eden Prairie sealed the victory on an 8-yard run by Devin Jordan with 51 seconds remaining in regulation.
Rosemount quarterback Landon Danner threw for a 25-yard touchdown and ran 43 yards for another TD to send the Irish (11-0) into the semifinals. Jake Schimmel also had a short TD run. Rosemount’s first touchdown came courtesy of Lucas Klinkner, who returned a blocked punt 21 yards early in the first quarter.
In other quarterfinal games:
- Hutchinson raced to a 60-22 victory over Stewartville in the Class AAAA quarterfinals at Lakeville South. Stewartville had surrendered just 55 points all season.
- Watertown-Mayer scored 20 unanswered points in the first half en route to a 34-20 Class AAAA victory over Watertown-Mayer at Hastings High School.
- New London-Spicer also went on a scoring spree with 18 unanswered points in an 18-14 victory over Milaca in a Class AAA game at Elk River.
