Eden Prairie's defiant defense never buckles against Edina

Edina repeatedly drove into Eagles territory but came up empty each time.

October 18, 2018 at 6:14AM
Eden Prairie linebacker Collin Penn (5) dove into the endzone for a touchdown in the second quarter. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com Eden Prairie Hosted Edina for the last regular season game at Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minn., on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
Eden Prairie’s Collin Penn reached the end zone with a dive in the second quarter of the Eagles’ 21-0 victory over Edina on Wednesday. Eden Prairie scored on its first two possessions and went on to win its sixth consecutive game. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Collin Penn wasn't worried. Even though Edina had been having moderate success moving the ball, the Eden Prairie linebacker/occasional running back knew his defense had the perfect plan to stop the Hornets.

The Eagles shut out Edina 21-0 to finish the regular season with six consecutive victories.

Eden Prairie scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the game, then stood firm in the face of repeated Edina forays into Eagles territory. The Hornets' first five drives ended inside the Eden Prairie 40-yard line, with nothing to show for them.

"We came prepared," Penn said. "We weren't worried. Our defense played well, we got some turnovers. We felt like we had the game all along."

The first half was Eden Prairie at its most efficient. The Eagles turned back Edina on the game's opening possession, dropping Jake Boltmann for a 10-yard loss on fourth-and-6 from the Eden Prairie 28-yard line.

"That was the biggest play of the game," Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant said.

A 62-yard, 10-play drive followed, culminating in a 13-yard scoring pass from Cole Kramer to Matt Sherman.

The next drive was almost identical, after Eden Prairie forced Edina to turn the ball over on downs in its territory. The Eagles marched for another touchdown, this time scoring on Penn's 4-yard dash to the end-zone pylon.

The Eagles led 14-0 at halftime and had only had three possessions, the last for only one play before time ran out.

In the second half, Edina continued to move into Eden Prairie territory, only to come away empty. The Hornets didn't punt until 7:19 was left in the game but never seriously threatened to score, either. J.D. Cowan, a converted wide receiver playing his first game at defensive back, ended two Edina drives with interceptions.

"That was the plan," Eden Prairie linebacker Quentin Matsui said. "Bend but don't break."

Grant chalked it up to preparation.

"We watched a lot of film," he said. "We knew what they wanted to do. Seven games into the season, you don't sneak up on anybody."

Eden Prairie's Collin Penn (5) celebrated their 21-0 win over Edina with teammate Eden Prairie center Zach Miranda (54), left, after the game. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com Eden Prairie Hosted Edina for the last regular season game at Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minn., on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
Penn, right, celebrated the victory with teammate Zach Miranda after the game. Edina moved the ball on Eden Prairie’s defense, but could not score. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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Jim Paulsen

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Jim Paulsen is a high school sports reporter for the Star Tribune. 

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