YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
The Eagles took control in the first half, going up 33-0 on Kennedy. Even defensive end Willie Mobley got in on the scoring.
Even after his team started the season 3-0, Bloomington Kennedy football coach Dave Frisell was a realist. He told the Star Tribune last month he was thinking to himself, "As long as it's not Eden Prairie or Cretin-Derham Hall, I believe we can move the ball on people."
Friday night at Bloomington Stadium, Frisell's thoughts came true as Eden Prairie took a 33-0 halftime lead and rolled to a 54-14 Lake Conference victory. The victory guarantees Eden Prairie at least a share of the conference championship.
"That's huge," said Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant, whose teams have now won 13 conference championships in his 16 years as head coach. "It's hard to do, and it's something we've been talking about."
In the first half alone Eden Prairie busted nine plays of 10 yards or more, eight on the ground.
As usual, the conference leaders spread the ball around well. Eight different players scored in the game, including Willie Mobley's first touchdown of the year. The 6-2, 265-pound Division I defensive line recruit reported in on offense on the second play of the second quarter and caught a 5-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Grant for the score.
Mike Grant said Mobley could have the best hands on the team.
"I don't know about that," a smiling Mobley said. "I just want the ball. I'll play center; I'll even kick."
On defense, Eden Prairie allowed Kennedy (5-2) just eight plays past midfield in the first half: five incomplete passes, a 2-yard pass completion and two punts. Kennedy quarterback Evan Aber, who entered the game averaging 237 yards passing per game, completed just six passes for 37 yards in the first half.
The second half wasn't much better.
It started with an Aber interception at the Eden Prairie 36, which led to a 62-yard touchdown run by Matt Swanson, his seventh of the season. He led Eden Prairie with 123 yards rushing.
Kennedy did strike on its next drive, a pretty 25-yard catch by Hakeem Bourne-McFarlane. The game, though, was well in hand. Eden Prairie went with backups the rest of the way.
"They're incredible," Frisell said after the game. "They're the best team I've seen in a long, long time. We saw it on film, and I think if we don't let things snowball on us, maybe we have a chance."
Brian Stensaas bstensaas@startribune.com
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