Down by three with 3:32 to play, Chanhassen had an opportunity for a championship drive. Across the line of scrimmage, the Spring Lake Park defense wanted to clinch the school’s first state title in a generation.
Advantage Panthers.
Spring Lake Park made two late defensive stops to beat Chanhassen 24-21 in the Class 5A Prep Bowl on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. It was a true team effort that earned the school its second state football championship but first since 1991.
Pressure from Panthers’ defensive end Jamal Smith forced a third-down incompletion on the second-to-last drive for the Storm. On 4th-and-7 with 1:49 left, the senior Smith nearly got to the quarterback again, but his pressure was enough to force an incompletion.
Up 24-21, any Spring Lake Park celebrations turned out to be premature.
The Panthers subsequently went three-and-out, giving Chanhassen one last opportunity with 1:20 left. The Storm started from their 1-yard line where Calen Truckenbrod’s lofty punt was downed. Nine plays later, the Storm were at the Spring Lake Park 33 with 25 seconds remaining.
A fourth-down pass was intercepted by Cade Skelly and the 13-0 Panthers could celebrate — officially.
Spring Lake quarterback Nolan Roach ran for 162 yards and two scores, and tossed a touchdown. Lemari Brown finished with 58 powerful, between-the-tackles rushing yards and the defense forced four turnovers against a Storm squad averaging more than 32 points per game. Skelly had 15 tackles, eight solo.
Nathan Ramler was 27 of 47 for 240 yards for Chanhassen (11-2). Peyton Ramsey ran for 104 yards.
Down 24-14 late in the third quarter, Chanhassen put together a nine-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Ramsey scoring from the 10 on fourth down 1:24 into the fourth quarter.
Spring Lake Park led by seven at the break, and Sam Wolde’s 25-yard field goal capped a 15-play, 81-yard third-quarter drive to make it 24-14. The trek took 7:37.
A seesaw opening 24 minutes ended with Spring Lake Park holding a 21-14 lead thanks to a late 38-yard touchdown reception by Kaden Konkler and the Panther defense coming up big in the closing minute.
From the Panthers’ 5 with 1:07 left, the Storm lost a yard over the next two plays. Out of a timeout on third down and with 35 seconds left, Ramler dropped back but was pressured by Braden Hemquist. The lineman forced a fumble that was recovered by Isaac Olson.
A 38-yard Roach run gave the Panthers an early 7-0 lead, but Ramler’s 1-yard run evened the game less than three minutes later.
Three plays after Chase Warner recovered a fumble early in the second quarter, Roach scored from 53 yards away for a 14-7 Panthers lead. But, again, Chanhassen responded. This time it was a 16-yard fourth-down touchdown reception by Bush that capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive to tie the game.
Class 3A
Wide receiver/safety Colton Purcell threw a touchdown pass and tied a Prep Bowl record with three interceptions, and Annandale beat Waseca 17-7 in Class 3A for the school’s first football title.
Via a double-pass play, Purcell took a backwards throw from Michael Kovall and found Gabriel Westman behind the defense late in the third quarter. Westman’s 25-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter gave the Cardinals a 10-0 lead.
Kellen Klinger had a rushing touchdown for the Bluejays (12-1).
9-Player
Jamin Metzger threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, and Hills-Beaver Creek routed Hillcrest Lutheran 46-22 for the 9-Player crown.
Brodie Metzger ran for 126 yards and had 99 receiving yards for the 13-0 Patriots, who outgained the Comets 481-258.
Ethan Swedberg threw two touchdown passes for Hillcrest Lutheran (12-1).
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