On Friday, third-ranked Prior Lake played No. 6 Shakopee at Dan Patch Stadium in a Class 6A football matchup the lived up to its billing, with the Lakers emerging with a 24-16 victory over the Sabers.
Playing key roles for Prior Lake in the victory were a pair of players who've committed to the Gophers for their recruiting Class of 2023: defensive lineman Martin Owusu and offensive lineman Greg Johnson.
Lakers coach Matt Gegenheimer sees Owusu as a player who's transformed himself by adding 40 pounds.
"Everybody was a little hesitant [in recruiting] because they didn't know if he was a D tackle or a D end," Gegenheimer said of the 6-3, 280-pound Owusu. "Once the Gophers saw that he was 280 pounds, they knew he could play D tackle for them. He's done a tremendous job in the weight room and physically changed his body, turning into a man."
Through two games, Owusu, a three-star recruit and the No. 5-ranked player in Minnesota in the 2023 class, has eight tackles and two sacks.
"He's an obvious force out there," Gegenheimer said. "He had some inconsistencies as a junior that are not there anymore. Every play, his motor is better, his strength is better, his speed is better. He's been destructive the first couple games."
Johnson, a three-star recruit who's ranked No. 3 in the 2023 class, has helped the run-heavy Lakers rush for 480 yards and eight touchdowns in two games, with their backs averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
"He's almost 300 pounds, but he's a lean 300 pounds," Gegenheimer said of the 6-5 Johnson. "The Gophers really figured out Greg's a pretty special talent. He's a big, physical, nasty 'O' lineman that just loves to block and hit people."
