Maple Grove football fans watching their team risk a second collapse in as many weeks might have missed the turning point happening on the Crimson sideline.
After a blowout beginning, Maple Grove overcomes Centennial in high school football
Maple Grove used a long drive and a special teams contribution to win after giving up a 20-point lead.
September 15, 2023 at 3:40AM
Head coach Matt Lombardi said he put his arm around junior running back Chuck Langama for a chat "while the disaster was happening" in the third quarter Thursday against Centennial. "We had a talk, and I said, 'Go be the guy.' He gave me a confident look, not a panicked look."
Langama scored three of his four touchdowns in the final quarter of a wild 41-28 comeback victory for the defending Class 6A state champion Crimson (2-1) against the visiting Cougars (2-1).
"He said I couldn't get tired, and I said, 'Yes, Coach,' " Langama said after the game, clutching a container of miniature chocolate chip muffins, a postgame treat from the grandparents of teammate Michael Wagner. They have been making the goodies for Langama since he was in sixth grade — regardless of his performance.
After Thursday, Langama deserved a lifetime supply.
"He really embraced the challenge, and I was really proud of him," Lombardi said. "There were a lot of tough yards running inside. He kept things moving forward."
An interception by sixth-ranked Centennial turned into a go-ahead touchdown drive in the third quarter. Maple Grove, which had led 20-0, now trailed by a point. Crimson fans were experiencing déjà vu after last week, when their team blew a 17-0 lead in an eventual loss at Champlin Park.
Determined to write a different ending, Maple Grove embarked on a 13-play drive that started midway through the third quarter and ended with a Langama fourth-quarter touchdown run.
"We will know in the coming weeks," Lombardi said when asked if the drive could be a symbol of maturity for a team with 10 sophomore starters — the youngest team of his coaching career. "We've got a long way to go, but tonight was a good win over a good Centennial team."
Centennial coach Mike Diggins said his team learned a hard lesson at Maple Grove.
"The players found out you have to come into a game ready and you can't get behind 20-0 and expect to win," Diggins said. "Maple Grove went through it last week and we went through it tonight."
