Shakopee gets gritty, works its way past Blaine in matchup of highly ranked football teams

Shakopee coach Ray Betton isn’t going to fool anybody. He is going to beat you with a punishing ground attack.

Seniors Zach Docteur and Emmanuel Taye each ran for two touchdowns as the Sabers, ranked second in Class 6A, ground out a 29-20 victory over No. 8 Blaine on Thursday afternoon at Bengal Stadium in Blaine. It was the regular-season finale for both teams.

Taye opened the scoring for the Sabers (7-1) with an 11-yard run in the first quarter and added a 56-yard burst in the third quarter. Docteur scored on a 45-yard run in the second quarter and on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Senior quarterback Sam Shaughnessy ran for one touchdown and threw for another for the Bengals (5-3). He ran for 148 yards on 26 carries and completed nine of 20 passes for 107 yards. Senior running back Muizz Fowoshere added a 12-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter.

In other Class 6A games Thursday:

Lakeville North 42, Burnsville 0: Senior quarterback Riley Grossman threw three touchdown passes and senior running back Jonathon Parris ran for two scores as the No. 5 Panthers (7-1) scored 42 points in the first half in beating the Blaze (0-8). Grossman threw 7- and 18-yard touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Ayden Forsgren and a 2-yarder to senior tight end Sebastyen Fries to start the onslaught. Parris scored on runs of 4 and 31 yards.

Mounds View 37, St. Michael-Albertville 0: Mitchell Olson, a senior running back/safety, ran for two touchdowns and returned an interception for another, leading the Mustangs (6-2) past the Knights (3-5). Olson scored on runs of 3 and 55 yards before taking an interception 33 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Eden Prairie 42, Woodbury 13: Senior running back Elijah Rumph ran for four touchdowns, two in the first quarter on runs of 12 and 32 yards, setting the tone for the No. 7 Eagles’ ground game in a win over the Royals (2-6). He added scoring runs of 19 and 34 yards after halftime. Senior running back Jeremy Fredericks broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter for the Eagles (5-3).

East Ridge 21, Rochester Mayo 14: Senior Cael Viesselman scored on a 3-yard run with 1 minute, 29 seconds remaining, lifting the Raptors (5-3) over the Spartans (2-6). Mayo tied the game eight minutes earlier on senior quarterback Calder Sheehan’s second touchdown run, a 37-yarder. He opened the scoring with a 12-yard run.

Farmington 48, Coon Rapids 6: Jonah Ask ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in the first half, leading the Tigers (5-3) past the Cardinals (0-8). The senior quarterback scored on runs of 2 and 5 yards and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Brock Wyandt midway through the first quarter. Wyandt opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Lakeville South 20, Champlin Park 13: Senior running back Bo Bokman scored on a 1-yard run with 3:21 remaining, breaking a 13-13 tie and giving the Cougars (5-3) a victory over the Rebels (3-5). Senior running back Connor Cade scored the Cougars’ first two touchdowns on runs of 7 and 8 yards.

Prior Lake 23, Buffalo 0: The Lakers (4-4) concluded the regular season with a three-game winning streak, shutting out the Bison (5-3). Senior running back Levi Eiter rushed for two touchdowns, scoring on runs of 1 and 40 yards.

White Bear Lake 21, Osseo 17: Senior running back Porter Cleary ran for all three of his team’s touchdowns as the Bears (3-5) edged the Orioles (2-6). Cleary scored on runs of 1, 1 and 16 yards.