LAKEVILLE, MN - The Lakeville North Panthers (2-0, 2-0 South Suburban Conference) and the Apple Valley Eagles (0-2, 0-2 SSC) both played to Overtime finals in Week 1 of the 2010 HS Football Season. The 3-point margins of victory in each of those games made for two opposite emotional outcomes for the Panthers and Eagles. Apple Valley led 14-0 over Prior Lake in Week 1, but lost in OT 17-14. And Lakeville North “walked off” on a field goal to win over Eastview 3-0. Because of those finals, each team had work to do in the South Suburban Conference to improve on their Week 1 performances, though the Panthers earned a victory.

This game started very similar for Apple Valley, when they went out to a 16-0 lead thanks to a 5-yard Touchdown by Senior Running Back Steve Maxwell, a 25-yard Field Goal by Senior Kicker Tom Obarski, and a 42-yard Interception return for a TD by Senior Linebacker Alex Johnson. All of this scoring happened within the first thirteen minutes of the contest and it looked as if the Eagles were going to run away with the game.

The Panthers struggled on offense through the entire 1st Quarter and actually switched Quarterbacks for a few series’ in the 2nd Quarter. Junior Quarterback Trey Heid started the game for North, but was replaced by Sophomore QB Zach Creighton, who came in to the game inspired and offered a spark to the offense. Two of Creighton’s three drives under center led to 35-yard Field Goals by the replaced Heid, who handles kicking duties for the Panthers. This ended the 1st Half with Apple Valley leading 16-6.

The 2nd Half saw the home team dominate play on both sides of the ball as the Panthers scored three 3rd Quarter Touchdowns. Senior Safety Al Erickson Intercepted a Kent Egan pass and returned it 39-yards to paydirt and gave North their first TD of the season. It was Erickson’s third INT of the season and the Panthers trailed 16-13. With this momentum, Trey Heid retook the reigns for the Panthers and began to take charge offensively. Heid connected with Senior Wide Receiver Tyler Brekke for a 41-yard TD reception as well as scampered in a 5-yard TD run to put the Panthers comfortably upfront 27-16 on the last play of the 3rd Quarter.

Apple Valley tried a late charge, when Tom Obarski connected on another 25-yard field goal with 0:11 seconds remaining in the 4th Quarter to make it 27-19. The Eagles still needed eight points to tie and Obarski successfully executed an Onside Kick to give them a chance. But a Kent Egan pass to Senior Tight End Matt Heschel did not go for a first down and the final whistle blew on the 2nd game of the season and again the Apple Valley Eagles let a 14-plus point 1st Quarter lead slip away.

With the victory, Lakeville North moves to 2-0 overall and in conference play and will travel to Bloomington, MN next Friday to take on the Jefferson Jaguars. Apple Valley falls to 0-2 overall and in the SSC and will host Lakeville South next Friday on MnSportsNetwork.com.

Players of the Game:
Apple Valley - K Tom Obarski - 2 FGs, 1 XP, 3 Touchbacks, Onside Kick
Lakeville North - QB/K Trey Heid - Two 35-yd FGs, 3 XPs, 41-yd TD Pass, 5-yd TD run