Sports

Wayzata beats Rosemount on field goal in second overtime

The visiting Trojans had a better kicking game than Rosemount and, in the end, that was the difference in their season opener.

By Jason Gonzalez

August 30, 2013 at 5:16AM

Rosemount’s Nate Sackett lost his helmet and the ball, but not before scoring on a two-point conversion against Wayzata in the first quarter. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Wayzata had the better kicker Thursday night but not much more. The Trojans, ranked second in the metro, survived 24-21 in double overtime over Rosemount after Irish kicker Brandon Ekeren missed a field goal wide left.

Trojans kicker Clay Elmore was perfect on two extra points and the winning 29-yard field goal in the second overtime. Jannik Frederiksen converted Wayzata's first extra point.

Outside of these legs, Rosemount and Wayzata — both 2012 Class 6A state semifinalists — looked like two similar teams. Both programs' lines were resilient. The offenses operated on similar schemes. The one obvious difference was kicking.

"When I have the opportunity, I try to do what I can," said Elmore, the Trojans' calm kicker. "I wasn't nervous."

His teammates couldn't say the same. Running back Joey Kolpin pulled at Elmore's jersey while explaining how unsettled he was as the kicker lined up for the game-winning chip shot. Kolpin is used to having the game and the ball in his own hands. Kolpin rushed for 43 yards as part of a three-man running game the Trojans used against the Irish.

Austin Gordon rushed for 51 yards and Tanner Bedard led the Trojans with 133 yards and one touchdown.

Bedard's 19-yard touchdown run pulled Wayzata within a point with 7:49 left in the fourth quarter. Elmore tied it moments later.

"Their defense was like a rock, but Coach told me I just had to keep chipping away at it. When I scored that TD, I cracked that rock," said Bedard, who had a 39-yard run in the drive. "That put us in a good position emotionally and spiritually."

That quick Wayzata scoring drive changed the game's tempo. Both teams had slowly moved the ball throughout the first three quarters or otherwise quickly traded possessions. Rosemount went ahead 14-7 but missed the extra point before Wayzata scored to tie it within two minutes.

Another Bedard — younger brother Trevor — had three interceptions in his first varsity start. The Trojans intercepted Rosemount quarterback Jackson Erdmann four times.

Tanner described his brother as shell-shocked after the victory and told Trevor, "That's how you play with the big boys."

Wayzata celebrated the win by rushing the field after Rosemount's missed field goal ended a hot and muggy night.

Rosemount led 8-7 at halftime. The Irish gave the Trojans a gift in the final minute of the half when defensive back John Birkholz tipped Andrew Reding's pass into the hands of Brandon Lingen in the end zone.

The Trojans' usual advantage of bigger linemen wasn't a factor in the season opener. Coach Brad Anderson said his team lacked the size it has become known for and Rosemount took advantage of its absence.

"We just ran up the gut and power-housed them," Rosemount's Dimitri Williams said after rushing for 46 yards. "If we would have made extra points, it would have been different."

Grant Jackson scored a pair of touchdowns for Rosemount and Jackson Erdmann rushed for one.

Wayzata’s Andrew Reding threw a touchdown pass to Keante Johnson in the second quarter. But a field goal ultimately decided the two-overtime game. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)