Eden Prairie running back Elijah Rumph had a standout performance, rushing for 155 yards on 23 carries and scoring a touchdown in the second quarter, as the Eagles dominated Prior Lake 40-13 in their home opener at Aerie Stadium on Thursday night.
The Eagles, ranked No. 7, were eager to bounce back after a disappointing loss to then-No. 2 Edina just six days earlier. The Thursday night kickoff provided them with an opportunity to quickly erase that setback.
Head coach Mike Grant noted the challenges of a short week, saying, “A three-day week is not ideal because you’re still trying to learn and get better.” However, the players were eager to return to the field, with senior linebacker James Anderson expressing that they had been ready to play long before Thursday.
The Eagles’ success came from a strong defensive performance and a powerful ground game, which collectively accumulated 306 rushing yards. Junior quarterback Jackson Bakkum completed 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards, focused on correcting mistakes and maintaining detail-oriented practice.
The offensive line played a crucial role in the team’s performance, dominating the line of scrimmage and allowing both Rumph and senior running back Jeremy Fredericks, who rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns, to excel.
Eden Prairie’s defense also shined, tallying 27 first downs and holding Prior Lake to a mere 1-of-8 on third-down conversions. After leading 20-13 at halftime, the Eagles began the third quarter strong with a crucial interception by senior safety Max Kukla, which led to an immediate touchdown.
The Eagles’ unyielding defense kept Prior Lake scoreless in the second half, adjusting well to earlier problems and executing their game plan effectively. Bakkum connected with junior receiver Cooper Fahning for an 11-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, increasing the lead to 33-13. A final touchdown by Santosh Bommareddy sealed the game at 40-13.
Looking ahead, the Eagles are preparing for their next game against Shakopee, a team ranked sixth with a 3-0 record. Grant emphasized the importance of continuous preparation against strong opponents, and the team is focused on maintaining their winning momentum.