The numbers were not pretty for the Minnetonka Skippers following their game against Wayzata on Wednesday, Oct. 21. They completed only 5-of-16 passes for 35 yards and ran for only 94 yards on 33 carries. But the only number that mattered at the end of the game was three - as in points.
Minnetonka place kicker, senior Zach Siemens, made a 22-yard field goal in overtime for the game's only points to give the Skippers a 3-0 triumph.
The Minnetonka victory means that the Skippers, Trojans and Hopkins Royals will all share the Classic Lake Conference championship with identical 3-1 records.
"Our kids have really been looking forward to this. They like to compete and I'm really proud of them," Skippers head coach Dave Nelson said. "They've just been hanging in there, practicing hard and playing hard. It's a huge night for us."
The game went into overtime tied at zero as the entire game was played between the 20 yard lines with the exception of three plays.
The Skippers got the ball first in overtime at the Wayzata 10-yard line. After two carries by senior running back Dre Thompson netted five yards, an incomplete pass in the end zone forced the Skippers to kick a field goal.
After Siemens split the uprights on the 22-yard field goal attempt, it was the Trojans' turn to take over at the Minnetonka 10-yard line.
The Trojans handed the ball to senior running back Chris Kroeten on their first two plays, but ended up losing a yard back to the 11-yard line.
On third down, Trojans quarterback Sasha Doran tried to find senior A.J. Tarpley in the end zone, but Minnetonka sophomore defensive back Charles Webb stepped in front of the pass for a game-saving interception.
Webb is the only sophomore in the Skippers' starting lineup.
"They trust me enough to put me in the game and I just saw [Tarpley] going on that out and I followed him and came up with a good play," Webb said.
Both teams had trouble taking care of the football as they battled cold and wet conditions.
The Skippers drove as far as the Wayzata 27 yard line late in the second quarter, but that drive was halted when quarterback Tom Ahrens was intercepted by Wayzata's Jack Vettel.
The Skippers had another drive stopped in Wayzata territory with 27 seconds remaining in the first half due to a fumble.
Wayzata also had a late turnover in the first half as Doran was intercepted by Minnetonka's Larry Rice with 20 seconds remaining.
Ball security issues continued in the second half. The Skippers had the ball down to the Wayzata 25-yard line late in the third quarter, but a fumbled exchange between Ahrens and Thompson foiled the drive.
The Trojans had the best chance to score a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when they recovered a muffed punt at the Minnetonka 19-yard line.
After three plays gained only six yards, the Trojans lined up for a 30-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked.
"We had the field goal chance and the timing looked bad," Trojans head coach Brad Anderson said. "I didn't see if it was the snap, the hold, or just the kick, but the bottom line is we have to make that field goal because it's one we usually make."
The Trojans were close to moving into field goal range again with under a minute to go in regulation but a fumbled snap gave the ball back to Minnetonka with 19 seconds remaining.
Thompson led the Skippers in rushing with 70 yards on 18 carries. Dan Carney had two receptions for 23 yards.
Kroeten finished with 24 carries for 69 yards. Doran completed 9-of-19 passes for 67 yards and two interceptions. Adam Gooley led the Trojans in receiving with four catches for 46 yards.
Missing from the stat sheet was junior running back Aaron Roth, who is out for the remainder of the season with a broken ankle he suffered in the Trojans previous game against Wisconsin Rapids.
"I don't know if you can measure how much we missed him," Anderson said. "At this point in the year everybody is going to miss a few guys. You have to be ready to step up when your number is called. This is a chance for someone else to step into those shoes."
Despite the loss, the Trojans (7-1) still received the No. 1 seed in Section 5-5A and a bye into the semifinal round. The Trojans will play the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between the No. 4 seed Osseo and the No. 5 seed Robbinsdale Cooper at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
"The nice thing is that it gives us a chance to work on some stuff," Anderson said.
The Skippers (6-2) will enter the section playoffs playing their best football of the season.
After starting the season 1-2, the Skippers won their last five games. The team's defense has been especially impressive as they have given up only 12 points in the last four games including three shutouts.
"They're amazing - they are playing so well right now," Nelson said of his defense. "To get back-to-back shutouts against two great teams is unbelievable."
The Skippers have a tough row to hoe, however, in the section playoffs. They enter the Section 6-5A tournament as the No. 3 seed behind No. 1 seed Eden Prairie and No. 2 seed Hopkins.
The Skippers will open section play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 when they host No. 6 seed Chaska.
