Prior Lake's first offensive play this season started from its own 2-yard line at Shakopee and ended in disaster.
This after coach Matt Gegenheimer, who in 13 seasons elevated the Lakers into a perennial top-10 team through strong defense and a run-heavy offense, went a different direction by hiring Mark Esch as his offensive coordinator in February. Esch's wide-open spread attack won two Prep Bowl titles at Mankato West and Gegenheimer believed such a scheme would mesh with Prior Lake's growing stable of skill players and increase the Lakers' potency.
Summer practices offered promise. So as quarterback Colin O'Connor, his three receivers and veteran running back took the field Thursday evening of last week after Prior Lake received the opening kickoff, players and coaches anticipated success.
Instead, the Sabers got a safety. Lakers running back Spencer Shaver was tackled in the end zone.
"I'm thinking, 'Did that really just happen?' " Gegenheimer said.
The miscue became a footnote in Prior Lake's 41-8 victory. O'Connor effectively ran Esch's spread offense, completing 11 of 23 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 100 yards and two scores on 11 carries.
"We weren't able to settle in on that first series the way you'd like to but after that, things were good," O'Connor said. "I enjoyed the options I had, the offensive line stepped up and everyone played well."
Spread offenses have grown in popularity in the past decade for two reasons: More players throw and catch the football better, and more passing draws more athletes to football. Gegenheimer, who ran the wing-T formation through much of his tenure, brought Esch onboard with those factors in mind.
