Game recap: Wayzata

Two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Caden Wick to receiver Jaxson Barrett were the difference as the Prior Lake Lakers defeated the Wayzata Trojans 21-17 on Oct. 6 at Wayzata High School.

The win for the Lakers (2-4 Overall, 1-4 Metro West) over the Trojans (1-5 Overall, 1-4 Metro West) could loom large for seeding purposes as both teams reside in Section 6AAAAAA.

Prior Lake got on the board first on the opening drive of the game when running back Hunter MacGillivray took a handoff from Wick at the Wayzata 48-yard line, sprinted through the Trojans defense, down the Prior Lake sideline and into the end zone for the Laker touchdown. Kicker Mason Storlie’s extra point was blocked to keep the score 6-0 Lakers with 8:56 left in the first quarter.

The teams then exchanged punts on their next few drives into the early portion of the second quarter.

Wayzata then put together a 14-play 82-yard drive that took up most of the third quarter but the Laker defense stood tall near the Prior Lake 10-yard line and forced the Trojans to settle for a field goal. The kick was good, making the score 6-3 Lakers with 4:26 left until halftime.

The teams went three-and-out and punted on their few possessions, giving the ball back to the Trojans in the closing seconds of the first half.

The Trojans moved the ball near midfield in the final seconds but a pass on fourth-and-1 at the 45-yard line fell incomplete as time expired in the half.

Wayzata drove down the field on the opening possession of the second half with a 12-play 63-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Trojans a 10-6 lead with 6:32 left in the third quarter.

The Lakers were forced to punt on their next possession.

Prior Lake’s defense then forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and then gained great field position when lineman Jide Abasiri blocked Wayzata’s punt attempt to set the Prior Lake offense up near the red zone.

However, the drive came to a halt when the Lakers were stopped short of the goal line on a toss play to Barrett on fourth-and-goal in the closing second of the third quarter.

The Laker defense forced a punt on the next possession and it looked like Prior Lake would gain possession near midfield but the punted ball went through Barrett’s arms and Wayzata jumped on the loose ball to regain possession.

A few plays later, Wayzata connected on a long pass down the middle of the field for a 36-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 17-6 lead with 8:30 left in regulation.

Back-to-back double-digit runs by MacGillivray and Barrett moved the ball near the Trojans red zone on the next possession.

A few plays later on third-and-10 at the Wayzata 24-yard line, Wick dropped back and fired the ball deep to a wide-open Barrett, who caught the ball in the end zone on a corner route for the Laker touchdown. Running back Levi Eiter then took a handoff and rumbled in for the two-point conversion to make the score 17-14 Trojans with 6:07 left in regulation.

Prior Lake’s defense then forced a three-and-out and a short punt set the Lakers up already in Wayzata territory at the 38-yard line.

Then, on fourth-and-8 at the 36-yard line, Wick took the snap, scrambled to his right and threw down the middle of the field to Barrett, who caught the ball near the 10-yard line and galloped into the end zone. Storlie’s extra point was good to give Prior Lake a 21-17 lead with 2:56 left in regulation.

A long pass on fourth-and-8 for the Trojans on the next possession fell incomplete thanks to great coverage by cornerback Luke Loehlein, giving the ball back to the Lakers to try to run out the clock.

MacGillivray then plunged ahead for the first down on a third-and-1 to allow the Lakers to take a knee and run out the clock, securing the 21-17 Prior Lake win.

Statistically, Wick completed 4 of 8 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

MacGillivray led the way on the ground with 13 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown while Barrett added 11 carries for 80 yards.

Barrett was also the only receiver to catch a pass with four catches for 85 yards.

MacGillivray was also the top tackler for the Lakers with 16 tackles. Loehlein had 11 tackles and linebacker Jason Green had 10 tackles. Abasiri had six tackles and a blocked punt.

Week #7 Preview: Woodbury

The Lakers will welcome the Woodbury Royals to Dan Patch Stadium for Senior Night and the final regular season home game on Oct. 13 at 7pm.

It could be the final game at Dan Patch Stadium for many of the Laker seniors as playoff seeding is up in the air and Prior Lake may not have a home playoff game depending on how the final couple weeks of the season play out for both the Lakers and their Section 6AAAAAA foes.

Prior Lake and Woodbury haven’t met on the gridiron since the section final of the 2016 season, a 19-12 Prior Lake win at Dan Patch Stadium.

This year’s Woodbury Royals (4-2 Overall, 3-2 Metro East), led by longtime coach Andy Hill, are ranked 10th in the latest Class 6A Rankings. The Royals are coming off a 17-14 win over Forest Lake last week. Woodbury also has wins over East Ridge, White Bear Lake and Roseville while losing to Stillwater and Mounds View.

Woodbury’s offense is led by talented quarterback George Bjellos. Bjellos has completed 79 of 136 passes this season for 1,127 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Running back Isaiah Tisdale leads the rushing attack with 124 carries for 657 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Receivers Charlie Jacobson, Liam Frommelt and Quentin Cobb-Butler are Bjellos’ top targets through the air. Jacobson has 23 catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns. Frommelt has 18 catches for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Cobb-Butler has 14 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown.

Notes

Kickoff at Dan Patch Stadium on Friday is scheduled for 7pm.

It is Prior Lake’s senior night and final regular season game.

Also, Brad Bulver, a longtime PLSAS teacher, coach and football filmer was recently diagnosed with ALS. The Bulver family now lives in Edina and needs your help as they transition their home and lives to support Brad. Please donate as you are able in support of a longtime Laker! You can donate at the following link: https://t.co/kd3RZQZws4

PL Lakers Live will be streaming the game at the following link:

https://gametimemn.com/pl-lakers-live/

Follow @plhsfootball, @pllakers, @PLHSLakers, @PLLakersLive on Twitter for updates and links to the streams throughout the season.

Be sure to check back next week for a recap of the Woodbury game and a preview of the matchup against Buffalo.

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