MINNETONKA – Eden Prairie senior running back Greg Morgan led the Eagles with four rushing touchdowns as the visitors rolled past Hopkins 41-7 on Wednesday night in a showdown of the second- and fifth-ranked squads in Class 5A.
No. 2 Eden Prairie used a suffocating defense and a potent ground game to shut down the Royals’ high-powered offense, holding it scoreless until the game’s final minutes. Hopkins tallied less than 30 yards of total offense in the first half. After the game, EP coach Mike Grant said he couldn’t have been more pleased with his team’s effort, congratulating his players in a post-game huddle for “knocking the hell out of ’em.”
“We couldn’t be happier. … Because Hopkins, if you watch them on film, they can really put on the points. They really have a good offense,” Grant said.
The Royals (5-2) had averaged 37 points a night through their first six games.
Hopkins gets ready to snap the ball during Wednesday's game against Eden Prairie. (Photo by Steve Morris)
“We had a great, great effort,” Grant said. “I thought we really were business-like in our offense.”
The Eagles rode a well-balanced offensive attack to pour on the points, taking a 21-0 first-half lead and never looking back. Morgan wasn’t alone, as sophomore Andrew Larson finished with 12 carries for 122 yards, including an Adrian Peterson-style break-away TD run where he hurdled a defender before outrunning a sea of blue for a first-quarter score.
Morgan found the end zone four times, and standout Gage Shaeffer added 67 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Remaining humble, Morgan credited his offensive line, noting the unit played some of its best football of the season.
“We have a great offensive line out there,” Morgan said. “They blocked really well out there and opened up the holes for the running backs.”
The victory, Eden Prairie’s seventh in seven tries, all but assures the Eagles of a No. 1 seed for the Section 6-5A Playoffs.
While Eden Prairie was celebrating a win, the Royals were left scratching their heads as their offense, trying to fend off EP’s robust blitzing attack, sputtered for most of the game.
Hopkins plays at Irondale next week to end the regular season.
Eden Prairie, which has been ranked second in 5A all season, braces for another talented foe in Eastview.
“All we are doing now is thinking about Eastview,” Grant said.
Ditto for Morgan and the rest of his teammates as they prepare for a postseason run and a shot at playing in the Metrodome for a state title.
“I am really excited about the playoffs now,” Morgan concluded. “This game was huge for us building momentum, and I think we have a great shot at getting to state.”
Comments: