EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - Class 5A, Section 6 Championship...

Eden Prairie wins a close one tonight in an epic battle against the #2 seed Minnetonka.

The Skippers struck 1st in this game when they intercepted a pass from Eden Prairie QB Grant Sheffer (Charles Webb on the interception) in the 2nd Quarter. Minnetonka was held and punted, but the EP return man fumbled the ball and the Skippers recovered on the Eagle 19 yard line. 4 plays later, Jr. kicker Vinni Lettieri put one through the uprights with 5:46 left in the 1st half. Both teams were held and punted, playing the field position game and time expired with the Minnetonka Skippers holding a halftime lead of 3-0.

In the 2nd half, Eden Prairie started things off by using approximately 7 minutes of the clock on a nice, sustained 12 play drive but missed a field goal of 34 yards by kicker Sam Rosol who pushed it low and left. The teams again wrestled for field position the rest of the 3rd and the majority of the 4th Quarter until the Eagles took possession on their own 43 and 12 plays later scored the only touchdown of the game with a 17 yard run off the left side by Andrew Larson with 3:42 remaining in the contest. The extra point by Sam Rosol hit the left upright and the Skippers were down 6-3 looking to tie or go ahead. What resulted, however, was an interception on the 1st play by Eden Prairie defender Derek Soderberg giving the ball back to Eden Prairie on the Skipper 30 yard line. Minnetonka used all their timeouts in an effort to stop the clock for one more try, but Eden Prairie was able to run off clock by picking up 1st downs in 8 plays. On 4th down Eden Prairie turned the ball over to Minnetonka on the Skipper 12 yard line with :45 seconds left. On the 1st play, QB Joe Martinson was picked off by Eagle Linebacker Drake Michaelson to solidify the hard-earned victory.

Final Score 6-3, Eden Prairie.

Players of the game:
Eden Prairie: RB Andrew Larson
Minnetonka: K Vinni Lettieri

Eden Prairie advances and plays Anoka on 11/11/2011 in the State Quarter-final.