A game of inches
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Football is a game of inches. That phrase is a tired cliché that sports lovers love to use when describing their favorite sports. As overused as it is, sometimes it is correct. A couple of inches short of the Eden Prairie goal line, the Eagles forced a game-changing turnover late the first half of their game against the Rosemount Irish. The fumble rolled into the end zone, and the Eagles jumped on it, and instead of being down 7-3 late in the first half, they took that turnover and turned it into an 80-yard touchdown drive to give them a 10-0 lead going into halftime.
Going into the game, I think everyone figured it would be a tight, defensive battle between the two Minnesota high school football powers. In a game like that, mistakes are often more important than big plays. While both teams did make mistakes, none turned the game around like that fumble. It is not fair to do, but if the game had to be boiled down to one play – that was the play that had the biggest impact on Eden Prairie’s 13-3 win.
The Eagles’ offense started strong. They picked up a pair of first downs on the ground, and then, facing third and long, quarterback Nick Fazi Nick Fazi 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN completed a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Gross. On third and short, Fazi made a clutch throw to Jermell Taylor for another first down. The Irish defense bowed up inside the ten-yard line and forced the Eagles to settle for a 27-yard Cole Nelson field goal.
The score would remain 3-0 for most of the rest of the first half. What would become the theme of the night, both defenses were outstanding. Eagles’ linebacker Adam Mertens stuffed an outside run to force an opening drive punt for the Irish. Rosemount’s Miles Townsend Miles Townsend 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2022 State MN broke up a screen pass to force an Eden Prairie punt.
The running and throwing of Rosemount quarterback Vincent Pyne Vincent Pyne 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Rosemount | 2022 State MN keyed the Irish’s best drive of the first half. Just inside the twenty, Rosemount’s Jayden Washington Jayden Washington 5'8" | 185 lbs | ATH Rosemount | 2022 State MN made the best run of the game. He was hit in the backfield but bounced off the tackle to the outside. Then he cut back inside, broke another tackle, and picked up seven yards when it should have been a three-yard loss. On his next carry, Washington looked like he was going to put the Irish ahead. Still, as he dove tor the goal line, defensive back Cade Hutchinson punched the ball out of his hands – causing the ball to roll into the end zone where Eden Prairie defensive lineman Will Schreiber Will Schreiber 6'2" | 200 lbs | DL Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN recovered the fumble – resulting in a touchback.
“That was a huge play,” Eagles’ linebacker Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN said. “Cade came in and was clutch. He hit the ball out and set the momentum for the rest of the game.”
Coming off the momentum swing of the fumble, Eden Prairie put together their best drive of the game. The offense had moved the ball in the first half, but outside of the opening drive, could never sustain anything. Their last drive of the first half would change that. Running back, Javon Palmer-Pruitt converted a second and long by picking up thirteen yards and a first down. Running back, Toby Frost picked up a first down up the middle. On their second trip into the red zone, Fazi scrambled around the corner and hurdled into the end zone with 18 seconds to play in the first half.
Up two scores, the Eden Prairie defense continued to play tough. They forced a punt on Rosemount’s first possession of the second half. Pyne and Washington keyed the Rosemount offense as they made their second trip into the red zone. Like they did all game, the Eagles’ defense stood tall. Schreiber’s penetration forced the Irish runner backward, allowing his teammates to make the tackle. Then on third and short, defensive tackle Zack Gau stuffed an inside run forcing a short field goal. The kick cut EP’s lead to 10-3.
“Obviously, we are a tough team,” Larson said. “The defense stepped up and played our game.”
With time running short, the Irish defense desperately needed a stop. Rosemount thought they had it when they stopped the Eagles short on a third-down near mid-field. Eden Prairie faced a similar situation earlier in the game, and they tried to throw a quick pass to the outside. In the first half, it was open, but they failed to connect. With a similar down and distance – but the stakes much higher late in the game – the Eagles tried the same type of play. This time, Fazi got the quick pass out to Luc Bouchard, who was all alone. The senior’s catch and run covered 15 yards. In position to put the game away, the Eagles fumbled the snap – giving the Irish life near mid-field.
The Eagles’ defense would respond. Gau sacked the quarterback, and two plays later, corner Logan Gareis Logan Gareis 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN was in man-to-man coverage and knocked down a deep pass to force a punt.
Not able to muster much consistency on offense since the last drive of the first half, the Eagles’ offense started to click at the perfect time. A time-consuming run-heavy drive got the Eagles back in field goal range. Nelson, a captain on the soccer team and is playing his first year of football, connected on his second short field goal of the game. With a 13-3 lead and less than four minutes to go, it was all the Eagles would need. The defense would give up some yards, but a Rosemount fumble would give the ball back to the Eagles, who could run out the clock and preserve the win.