Edina springs a surprise, handles Eden Prairie in Class 6A football semifinal

Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant has coached long enough that he knows inherently how to assess a game.

After Edina thoroughly outplayed his No. 1-ranked Eagles and won a Class 6A semifinal 28-7 on Friday, Grant was succinct and to the point, not bothering with buts or ifs.

"Edina just played really, really well," Grant said. "I wish I could give excuses, but they just played outstanding football. Edina just executed tonight."

Edina (9-3) qualified for the Prep Bowl for the first time in team history.

Much of the pregame chatter was about what many saw as Eden Prairie's seemingly unencumbered path to a state championship.

Edina might have been missing the pedigree of Eden Prairie, but the Hornets, winners of seven straight coming into the game, saw things a little differently.

"We know that the guy next to us is going to give everything they have, every single play, and that kind of builds," Hornets defensive back Owen Kemper said.

Edina showed right away it had no intention of being the latest victim of another relentless Eden Prairie march to victory.

After stopping Eden Prairie (11-1) on downs the first time the Eagles had the ball, the Hornets embarked on a long, statement drive, going 72 yards in 10 plays and taking a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard scoring pass from quarterback Mason West to Sonny Villegas.

They extended the lead to 14-0 when Trill Sorrell caught West's second touchdown pass of the game. Sorrell had helped Edina begin the drive with an interception.

"We felt if we got ahead, we could get them out of their game and get them doing something uncharacteristic of their routine game," Edina coach Jason Potts said.

Edina bumped its lead to three touchdowns, 21-0, when workhorse running back John Warpinski scored on a 3-yard burst with just nine seconds to go in the first half.

Edina increased its lead to 28-0 when West hit Swinney in the corner of the end zone on third-and-13, West's third touchdown pass of the game.

Eden Prairie managed a 13-yard scoring run by Jeremiah Fredericks in the second half but was never able to embark on one of its trademark time-sucking drive.

Instead, it was Edina, riding the legs of Warpinski, that ran clock. He finished with 192 yards rushing for Edina, while West, a sophomore playing like a veteran, threw for 170. Edina finished with 351 yards of total offense.