Eagles fall to undefeated Shakopee

Two teams built on running the football collided in Shakopee on Friday night. 

Mike Grant’s Eden Prairie Eagles, ranked No. 6 in the Star Tribune’s Metro poll, had generated 770 yards over their first three games of the season before heading into a meeting with undefeated and fifth-ranked Shakopee.

The Eagles had held opponents to 277 yards on the ground in the first three games of the season. Unfortunately, Shakopee eclipsed that mark over the course of four quarters on Friday, running up 313 yards rushing in an impressive 28-7 win.

Much of that production came from Sabers running back TJ Clark, who finished with 126 yards on 19 carries to give Shakopee its fourth win of the season.

“They just ran the ball really well,” Grant said afterward. “And so they played a great game, and we’ve got to play better. That’s all I can tell you. These are top-five-level games. You just have to play better against these teams.”

Shakopee opened the scoring on its first offensive series. Zach Docteur’s 22-yard run capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive to give the Sabers an early 7-0 lead.

The Eagles bounced right back on their first offensive series. 

Eden Prairie’s Braden Cole returned the ensuing kickoff 26 yards, giving the Eagles a short field at the 50-yard line.

Eagles running backs Jeremy Fredericks and Elijah Rumph took turns carrying the ball, moving the Eden Prairie offense within striking distance.

Rumph’s 8-yard run on third down gave the Eagles a first-and-goal at the Shakopee 9-yard line.

Two plays later, quarterback Jackson Bakkum’s pass to Fredericks fell incomplete, but Fredericks took a late hit on the play.

The personal foul on Shakopee gave the Eagles a first-and-goal at the 3-yard line.

“I was a little (angry) that I got cheap-shotted like that,” Fredericks said afterward. “So that anger and wanting to help my team helped push me.”

On the ensuing play, Fredericks dove in for the touchdown. Zac Weismann’s extra point tied the game 7-7 with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Fredericks finished with 49 yards on 10 carries.

The Eagles covered 50 yards in 11 plays on the scoring drive, but unfortunately, it was the only time all evening they would find the end zone. 

Eden Prairie turned the ball over on downs on its next offensive series. 

The Eagles gained possession again before the end of the half when senior linebacker Isaiah Hazecamp intercepted Shakopee’s Judah Forsberg.

The play was made possible by pressure from linebacker James Anderson, who upended Forsberg as the Sabers’ quarterback was releasing the ball.

The Eagles took possession on their own 19-yard line with 58 seconds remaining in the second quarter but were unable to move the ball before the half ended with the score tied at 7.

“We had fumble snaps, dropped balls that were on pitches,” Grant said. “You can’t fumble snaps. And you can’t drop a pitch, and that’s a drive killer.”

Eden Prairie’s offense stalled on its first offensive series of the second half. Shakopee took possession at its own 22-yard line following Cole Stern’s 40-yard punt.

The Eagles’ defense could not contain the Shakopee ground game, giving up consecutive third-down conversions to the Sabers. 

Then Clark broke loose on first down from the Eden Prairie 41-yard line, covering the distance for a touchdown and a 14-7 Shakopee lead.

The two teams traded possessions before Clark scored again midway through the fourth quarter, this time with a 1-yard plunge capping off a 4-play, 46-yard drive.

The Eagles’ offense stalled at midfield on the following series and was forced a punt with under five minutes to play.

On Shakopee’s next possession, the Sabers’ Emmanuel Taye raced 79 yards down the right sideline on his way to a Sabers touchdown, putting the game out of reach.

“They were a very good team,” Anderson said. “And I think we thought we were better than what we were, and it showed tonight that we’ve got to try a little harder.”

The Eagles were led on defense by Hazecamp, who notched seven tackles, while junior linebacker Luke Henry followed up with six.

“It was a tough one to let get away,” Henry said afterward. “We’ve just gotta step it up a bit.”

Offensively, Bakkum completed 7 of 12 passes for 25 yards. Receivers Max Lorenson and Cole Stern each hauled in two catches.

Rumph, who led the Eagles with 75 yards rushing on 14 carries, came away frustrated with the offense’s inability to generate scoring.

“It’s all obviously disappointing,” he said. “But me and the guys, we talked, and I promise you something will change about this, and we will not let something happen again.”

With the defeat, the Eagles fall to 2-2 on the season, while Shakopee improves to 4-0.

“We just have to play better,” Grant said. “Last week we played that great game, and this week we didn’t. So we just got to get more consistent.”

Eden Prairie’s next game is Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Wayzata at Aerie Stadium.