Eden Prairie 20, Edina 17: Eagles avoid being stung

While this year's version of Eden Prairie has not been as dominant as its teams from the past two years, one thing has not changed: Eden Prairie still hasn't lost a football game since 2005.

The Eagles, the top seed in Class 5A, Section 6, trailed at halftime but came back to defeat fourth-seeded Edina 20-17 to advance to the section finals against Hopkins, which knocked off Minnetonka in the other semifinal in this loaded section.

"It was win or go home," said Eden Prairie running back Gage Shaeffer, who ran for two touchdowns in the third quarter, including an 85-yarder that gave the Eagles a 13-3 lead. "None of us were ready to go home."

That makes 38 consecutive games in which the two-time defending state champion Eagles have gone home winners. But this one wasn't easy.

A field goal late in the first half gave Edina a 3-0 lead into the break, giving star quarterback Anders Lee and the upset-minded Hornets confidence. But Schaeffer's strong running put Eden Prairie back in command, and Edina never again had a possession in which it could take the lead.

"I was proud of our defensive effort," Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant said.

Edina, meanwhile, will be left to savor its effort -- and to lament its missed chances. The Hornets drove inside the Eagles' 10 three times in the game and came away with only three points on those possessions.

And on the defining drive of the game, after Edina had cut Eden Prairie's lead to 13-10, the Hornets committed three huge penalties that gave the Eagles 35 yards on the way to a touchdown.

A late turnover and Edina touchdown with a little more than two minutes left made the finish interesting, but Eden Prairie recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.