Wayzata 41, Champlin Park 15: Trojans offense blizes past Rebels

David Joles, Star Tribune

Champlin Park’s Zerrick Fuller brought down Wayzata receiver Nolan Odland (8) in the second quarter of Friday night’s section final, won by the Trojans 41-15.

After taking advantage of a Champlin Park fumble for an early lead, the Trojans cruised to their eighth state tournament berth.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: November 1, 2008 - 8:54 AM

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Dramatics? None needed this time around.

A year after Wayzata used a late blocked punt to defeat Champlin Park for the Class 5A, Section 5 football championship, Friday night's rematch wasn't nearly as close. Depending on which sideline you were on, however, it was just as exciting.

Wayzata dominated the bulk of the game. It held a 35-0 lead in the third quarter before ultimately taking a 41-15 victory to claim its eighth state tournament berth.

"Looking at film, I thought they were the best team on tape we saw all year," Wayzata coach Brad Anderson said. "And I still think they're a very good team."

Everything "worked well for us," he said. "We played really well, and I'm really happy for our players who set out at the beginning of the season to make it back to the state tournament again."

Instead of jumping out to a big lead like it did last week over Osseo, Champlin Park on Friday found itself on the other end.

It all started with a costly mistake.

The Rebels (9-2) fumbled on the game's first play, giving the Trojans the ball on the 20-yard line after just 14 seconds. Five plays later, Wayzata (10-0) had the lead thanks to a 1-yard touchdown run by Kevin Knight, his first of two in the opening half.

From there, the rout was on.

Wayzata scored 58 seconds apart in the third quarter. Chris Kroeten barreled in from 2 yards out to make it 21-0 before an A.J. Tarpley interception on the ensuing Rebels drive set up a 4-yard score by Garrett Engelhardt.

When it was all over, Wayzata had racked up 368 yards on the ground to just 35 through the air.

"We kind of set the tone for the game right away with that first play," Champlin Park coach Mike Korton said. "But hats off to Wayzata. They came out and played hard and came at it."