Hopkins 24, Minnetonka 21: Royals come back vs. Skippers

David Joles, Dml - Star Tribune

Hopkins High School players celebrated their victory over Minnetonka on Saturday.

Hopkins kicked the winning field goal with only seconds remaining.

By DAVID La VAQUE, Star Tribune

Last update: October 27, 2008 - 12:45 AM

Marcus Williams threw his helmet 30 feet in the air. Scott Lee disappeared inside a mob of teammates. And fans poured out of the visiting bleachers.

Thanks to Williams' table-setting catch and Lee's 20-yard field goal with 6.3 seconds remaining, Hopkins fans could celebrate a 24-21 comeback victory at Minnetonka on Saturday in the Class 5A, Section 6 semifinals.

The Royals trailed 14-0 at halftime as their passing offense was grounded. Quarterback Sean Borman ended the game with 18 completions for 198 yards, with all but 47 of those yards coming after halftime.

Borman appeared to be handing off for a reverse in the fourth quarter, but wide receiver Ben Christopher heaved a 45-yard pass across the field to Williams, who reached the Minnetonka 25-yard line.

"We put that play in this week," Williams said. "When the ball was in the air I prayed I would catch it."

A few plays later, Lee trotted out for the field goal attempt. Two Minnetonka timeouts later, he drilled the ball through.

Williams keyed Hopkins' comeback, scoring on a 11-yard run in the third quarter and adding a 24-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, tying the score at 21 with 1:43 remaining.

He finished with six catches for 101 yards.

Minnetonka running Ismail Karon shrugged off a sore shoulder to rush 41 times for 177 yards and three touchdowns. The Skippers defense held the Royals to a season-low 14 points until midway through the fourth quarter.

Minnetonka beat Hopkins, which will play Eden Prairie in the section final, 45-33 earlier this season. Coach Dave Nelson's Minnetonka squad had been unbeaten (7-0) against Hopkins since his arrival in 2002.