Week 1 Recap: Shakopee

Sophomore Dylan Bair and senior Zach Wick each returned interceptions for touchdowns on back-to-back defensive plays in the second quarter as the Prior Lake Lakers rolled to a 42-12 victory over Shakopee Aug. 31 at Dan Patch Stadium.

The first interception occurred when the Sabers attempted a swing pass to the right of the Laker defense but Bair read it perfectly, stepping in front of the pass and returning it 75 yards for the Prior Lake touchdown.

On the very next defensive snap, Wick jumped a slant route, intercepted the pass and brought it back 32 yards for the score.

“Both of those plays were huge,” Prior Lake coach Matt Gegenheimer said. “They changed the whole momentum of the game.”

Offensively, the Lakers struck first when senior running back Jordan Johnson scored on a 3-yard run to cap off a nine-play opening drive that included two third down conversions.

The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, making the score 6-0 Lakers with 7:31 to go in the first quarter.

The Sabers answered back with a touchdown of their own early in the second quarter on a fade pass to the back corner of the end zone but Prior Lake blocked the extra point to keep the game tied 6-6.

However, after the Lakers went three-and-out on the next possession and were forced to punt, the Lakers got the back-to-back defensive scores from Bair and Wick, giving them the 20-6 lead they would take to halftime.

Shakopee’s defense intercepted junior quarterback Russ Tanner’s pass in the third quarter, setting the Sabers up to cut into the Prior Lake lead.

The Sabers scored a 31-yard touchdown on the following play but a bad snap on the extra point attempt kept the Laker lead at 20-12, which was the score after three quarters.

Prior Lake extended the lead exactly three minutes into the fourth quarter as junior quarterback Colin O’Connor connected with senior wide receiver Tanner Wermerskirchen from 13 yards out to make it 26-12 Lakers.

Senior running back Preston Jelen put the game out of reach when he sprinted down the sideline and scored from 31 yards out with 5:37 to go in the game, 34-12 Lakers.

Senior running back Joey Casey also scored for the Lakers on a 4-yard run following a long Jelen punt return in the closing minutes.

Jelen led the Lakers in rushing with 86 yards on 13 carries while Johnson had 31 yards on 14 carries.

“Preston’s stat line doesn’t tell the whole story,” Gegenheimer said of Jelen. “I think by watching the game you realize how special that kid is and what a weapon he can be for us down the stretch.”

Tanner finished 2 for 11 with 46 yards and an interception while O’Connor was 3 for 5 with 31 yards and a touchdown.

Wermerskirchen had three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Lakers were led by senior cornerback Jordan Olson who had 10 tackles and an interception as well as senior defensive lineman Zach Whaley.

On the other side

In the offseason, Gegenheimer moved from working with the defense, the side of the ball he coached for 17 seasons, to the offense where he is now calling plays in 2017.

“Our offense just needed a breath of fresh air,” Gegenheimer said. “It’s a big deal for me, as the head coach, to be part of the offense.”

Gegenheimer feels that the move is easier because of his strong confidence in defensive coordinator Tom Menke.

While coaching offense is new for Gegenheimer, he sees his past experience as an advantage.

“It’s been a fun transition but it’s definitely a challenge because it’s something I’ve never done before,” Gegenheimer said. “I think one thing that has been in my favor is I know what a defense is trying to do, I know how to adjust, how to manipulate things and show defenses things that I didn’t like to see as a defensive coordinator.”

The next opponent: Maple Grove

On Friday Sept. 8, the Lakers will head north to take on Maple Grove.

Prior Lake enters the contest ranked 8th in the state while Maple Grove is ranked 5th.

“We believe Maple Grove is one of the better teams in 6A and that’ll be a good measuring stick for us to see where we are as a football team.” Gegenheimer said. “I have no doubt they are going to be a well-coached, tough team… they play fast, they play physical and you know their defense is going to fly around and make things happen.”

The Crimson defeated Osseo 28-7 in Week 1.

Offensively, Maple Grove was led in the opening game by quarterback Curtis Haugen who finished 7 for 10 for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Crimson running back Evan Hull rushed for 129 yards on 19 carries while running back Joe Raymon had 9 carries for 19 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide receiver Jake Kampsula led the Crimson with the 3 catches for 73 yards.

Prior Lake fell to Maple Grove in Week 7 last season 28-27 behind a late touchdown by eventual Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and current Wisconsin Badger basketball player, Brad Davidson.

“We played a really good game last year and they got us in the end,” Gegenheimer said. “I think our kids are excited to play games like this so it should be fun.”

Notes

Kickoff at Maple Grove on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m.

If you can’t make it to the game, you can watch the online video stream with Ben Tressel and John Wahlstrom.

Follow @plhsfootball, @pl4lstreaming and @pllakers on Twitter for updates.

Be sure to check back next week for a recap of the Maple Grove game as well as a preview of the Week 3 matchup against Eden Prairie.

Taylor Smith can be reached at tay1@me.com or on Twitter at @taysmith2013.