Wayzata 23, Champlin Park 21

Wayzata senior linebacker Jeff Schuette entered Friday night's Class 5A, Section 5 championship game with one-third of his team's sacks and 40 percent of the fumble recoveries.

The Trojans missed those numbers, but the game-winning play on defense was executed to perfection anyway.

Less than two minutes after Wayzata tied the score 21-21, Champlin Park was forced to punt from its own 25-yard line. Trojans senior Eric Lee lined up over the center, came in untouched and blocked the punt through the end zone for a safety.

"I had a couple chances earlier in the game," Lee said. "And I went up to Schuette after that one and said that was for him."

The Trojans hung on for the 23-21 victory and a return trip to state after winning the Class 5A title in 2005.

Schuette spent the game on the sidelines because of a knee injury suffered in practice. Trojans coach Brad Anderson said he does not know if his defensive leader will be well enough to play in next week's state quarterfinal.

But he did know this: 44 points combined by these two teams was unexpected.

"I didn't think we'd get the better half of that," total, Anderson said. "Our defense when it had to turned the tide, made some plays."

Champlin Park's first drive lasted three plays for minus-2 yards. The Rebels' next drive ended with a Wayzata interception returned 35 yards by Riley Bredesen for a 14-0 lead.

Before the Rebels' 85-yard drive that ended with a Jeff Ross-to-Nate Dudgeon 20-yard touchdown score with 37 seconds remaining in the half, Wayzata had outgained the Rebels 144-5 in the game.

Champlin Park, though, kept things rolling in the second half. The Rebels made it 14-14 by the time 9:29 remained in the third quarter with a 43-yard touchdown run by Rodney Sanders. After a Wayzata three-and-out, the Rebels used the exact same play on the ensuing drive, this time ending in a 53-yard run by Brandon Marquardt for a 21-14 lead.

Wayzata, after missing two field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter, then tied the game again on a 30-yard touchdown run by Jauhem Byrd with 2:40 to play in the quarter -- his second of the game -- before the dramatic block.

Brian Stensaas • bstensaas@startribune.com