Eden Prairie accepts its gifts

Halloween is still more than two weeks away, but it's safe to say that Wayzata won't experience anything more horrifying than its first half Friday night in a 49-14 loss to No. 1, 6A Eden Prairie.

The Trojans, who credited a renewed concentration on fundamentals for their improvement this season, looked like they were allergic to leather in the opening minutes of the game. They fumbled on their first three possessions, including one on their first play from scrimmage at their own 3-yard line.

Eden Prairie, being gracious hosts, took the Wayzata gifts and turned all three into touchdowns. Dan Fisher scored on a 1-yard run 10 seconds into the game, and quarterback Ryan Connelly scored on end runs of 10 and 12 yards. There was just 3 minutes, 15 seconds gone in the first quarter and Eden Prairie led 21-0.

"I never would have expected that," said Eden Prairie offensive lineman Rob Olson. "But we still had to execute and make the plays."

Think it couldn't get worse for Wayzata? It got worse.

After trading punts, Eden Prairie's Alex Ihrke picked off a Wayzata pass and returned it to the Trojans 10. It was the third time in five possessions that Eden Prairie began a drive inside the Wayzata 20. Fisher bumped the score to 28-0 on a short dive four plays later.

Eden Prairie had the wind at its back in the first quarter and used that advantage to score one more time before switching ends. After forcing a Wayzata punt, the Eagles took over at their own 34 with five seconds left in the quarter. Connelly hit Ray Wilson, who had gotten behind a Wayzata defense that was expecting a run, with a 66-yard bomb for a 35-0 lead as the quarter ended.

Got all that? Let's recap: In barely more than 12 minutes of play, Wayzata turned the ball over five times and Eden Prairie scored six TDs. What was expected to be another memorable battle between the two dominant teams in Minnesota's largest class of football had become a laugher.

"I had a feeling coming into this game that we would play well and win," said Koop, who scored the first touchdown of his varsity career. "But you can't expect to get those many turnovers every game. They're a better team than that."

Wayzata's two touchdowns came on 1-yard runs by running back Tanner Bedard, sandwiched around Eden Prairie's final score, a 19-yard TD reception by tight end Zach Hovey. By then, the outcome had long been decided.

Walking off the field, Trojans players left knowing that the loss was as much a fluke as anything else.

"We know what kind of team we are," safety Steele Berg said. "We hurt ourselves with mistakes, but it's a team game. And I know we're going to come back stronger for this."