WAYZATA, Minnesota - Expectations were high for the Section 5 final in AAAAA as 9-0 Wayzata hosted the 9-1 Champlin Park Rebels. Each team came into the Halloween match-up with a strong running attack and stifling defense. Wayzata would prove to have the better of each after a 45-15 dismantling of Champlin Park.

Wayzata would waste no time in establishing the tone for the game as MSBN Player of the Game Kevin Potas knocked the ball loose from Champlin Park Quarterback Ben Duncan on the Rebel 20 yard line. Potas finished the night with 3 sacks and several tackles to go along with his game breaking fumble. The Trojans pounded the ball in the end zone with a 1 yard touchdown run from Kevin Knight with 9:34 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Wayzata found the end zone once again with Kevin Knight with his 2nd 1 yard touchdown run. Knight finished the game with a 29 yards rushing. Wayzata would control the line of scrimmage all night with a powerful offensive line that opened massive holes for the running game.

Champlin Park struggled to establish the running game, a surprising event after averaging 245 yards a game rushing coming into the Section Final. The passing game was also dysfunctional for the Rebels as pass protection and drops plagued Champlin Park all evening. Rebel QB Ben Duncan struggled to get into a rhythm running and passing as Wayzata's defense had him accounted for on each play. Brandon Marquardt found very few rushing lanes with an aggressive Trojan defense swarming the backfield on each snap.

After a Chris Kroeten 2 yard touchdown run early in the 3rd quarter, AJ Tarpley intercepted a tipped pass deep in Rebel territory. Garrett Englehardt would score his lone touchdown on the evening on a 4 yard run. With the help of a dominant offensive line, Englehardt finished the evening with 154 yards and a score.

Champlin Park would finally get on the scoreboard with 46 seconds left in the 3rd quarter after a Ben Duncan 6 yard touchdown run. Duncan would also get in the end zone for a quarterback keeper for the 2 point conversion.

Chris Lindsey would score the final touchdown for the Wayzata Trojans with a 3 yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, but David Stranghoener finished the night 5 of 6 on extra points. Stranghoener had plenty of leg on a 32 yard field goal in the 2nd quarter, but missed a few feet left of the uprights.

Dorien Hill finished the game for Champlin Park breaking to the end zone on a 41 yard trot past the Wayzata 2nd team defense to end the game 41-15.

Champlin Park's season ends with a 9-2 record and a Northwest Suburban Conference title.

Wayzata, now 10-0, awaits the winner of Buffalo and St. Cloud Tech game on Saturday for the opening round of the State Tournament.

MSBN Players of the Game:
Wayzata: Kevin Potas
Champlin Park: Brandon Marquardt