Sports
Photos: No. 8 Eastview Football Can't Hang With Lakeville North
The Lightning trailed 22-14 at halftime, but the host Panthers went on a roll in the second half for a 42-17 win in the South Suburban Conference football season opener.
Feeling disrespected by a preseason poll, the Panthers came in with a chip on their collective shoulders and scored a 42-17 victory over eighth-ranked in the season opener for both teams Thursday in Lakeville.
“We got ranked No. 5 in the South Suburban,” said Lakeville North head coach Brian Vossen. “And I felt like we were extremely overlooked. We finished second in the conference last year.
“It’s not the last one though, because there’s still three teams ranked ahead of us,” Vossen added. “...[I]t’s not going to be easy. I think this conference is dang good. And so I look forward to the challenge. But I’m happy with tonight.”
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Lakeville North rolled up 409 yards in total offense, led by senior quarterback Trey Heid. Heid completed 19 of 23 for 224 yards and a touchdown, and ran five times for 30 yards and a another score.
“They’re a great team,” Eastview coach Kelly Sherwin said of the Panthers. “That quarterback, he’s just dangerous. They’ve got a lot of skilled guys and they protect him well. It’s the type of deal that even when the pocket collapses, he can make plays out of it.
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“That’s a tough team to play,” Sherwin added. “Unfortunately for us we’re going to see a lot of teams [like that]. We’re going to see the same thing next week in . We’re young; we’re going to get better."
After fumbling away a possession near the Eastview goal line early in the game, Lakeville North went up 13-0 on an eight-yard run by Heid, and then a 20-yard interception return for a score by senior cornerback Zach Creighton.
Eastview cut the margin to 13-7 on a 27-yard pass from Ryan Reger to Kenyon Phillips with 10:14 to play in the second quarter. The two teams traded touchdowns before the Panthers went up 22-14 on a Heid 31-yard field goal to end the first half.
The Panthers controlled Eastview after the break, rolling to three straight touchdowns while holding the Lightning to a 25-yard field goal by Sam Fluegge. Brandon Morgan scored on two short runs, followed by an eight-yard run by Isaac Sandberg.
Lakeville North rushed for 185 yards, led by Morgan who had 12 rushes for 83 yards and two touchdowns and Sandberg who had 11 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Eastview had 179 yards rushing and 102 passing for a 281 total.
It doesn’t get any easier for Eastview (0-1) next week, as the Lightning hosts fourth-ranked Lakeville South at 7 p.m. Sept. 9.
Lakeville North (1-0) plays at at 7 p.m. Sept. 9.
