Rosemount coach Jeff Erdmann's phone was silent for most of the week. Nobody from the media contacted him, wondering about his team's chances to beat No. 1-ranked Edina in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
That was a sure sign, Erdmann told his players, the Irish were being underestimated. And few things motivate football players more than being disrespected.
So Rosemount, its players confident and carrying a massive chip on their collective shoulders, proved the doubters wrong, upsetting the Hornets 14-10 Thursday at the Metrodome.
"Nobody thought we'd win this. Not one member of the media called me to talk," Erdmann said. "We know what kind of team we have. We might be undersized, but we'll always play you tough."
After a season in which they played the upstart underdogs, Edina (9-2) found out what it was like to be the hunted instead of the hunter.
"I think we were a little tight and they came in with nothing to lose," Edina coach Reed Boltmann said. "They weren't supposed to get this far. You see how kids react when they start to get confident. [Rosemount] played a great game."
Rosemount's defense set the tone, harassing Edina quarterback Mark Handberg repeatedly and making Marley Allison, the Hornets' wonderful wide receiver, a non-factor. Handberg spent much of the game running for safety, unable to find receivers downfield.
Edina managed to scratch out a 10-0 halftime lead, but Rosemount had made every minute uncomfortable. That paid off in the third quarter, when the Irish broke out a passing game that had rarely been seen.
