The Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles have carried a huge burden all football season, and they carried it right into the Prep Bowl Friday, Nov. 25. The untimely deaths of several young people in the area, and the July tornado in Watkins, have all taken a huge toll on local morale. Even more profoundly, though, the team of young men were playing for Jake Foehrenbacher who died of an aneurysm last Spring. Many of the players had Jake?Äôs number 27
shaved into their hair before the semifinals. Their helmets all year have had a ?ÄúJF?Äù sticker on the back, so Jake has been with them the whole way.
The Eagles won the semifinals last week, rather handily, defeating Maple River 46-13. But they met their match in the Caledonia Warriors Friday at the US Bank Stadium. It turned into a grudge match, in a sense. The Eagles had defeated Caledonia for the State Championship back in 2005, a historic loss that still burns Warrior coaches, the loss that halted Caledonia?Äôs run for a ninth title. Since then, Caledonia has won six state titles.
The Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles played for the State Championship in Class 2A football Friday afternoon, Nov. 25, at US Bank Stadium. Their only other time in the Prep Bowl was 2005. They faced a strong Caledonia both times. Eleven years ago, the Eagles emerged victorious, handing the Warriors a painful loss.
This year, the tables turned and the Eagles would leave with a second-place State trophy. Staff photo by Jean Doran Matua.
The Warriors scored quickly, and a lot, and ultimately stormed right through the Eagles with a final score of 61-12.
Caledonia scored a touchdown on an 18-yard pass just two minutes into the game. Another touchdown, on a 39-yard pass, followed just two and a half minutes later. A third TD, on a 3-yard pass, put Warriors ahead 20-0 in the first quarter. Three more touchdowns in the second quarter (on a 3-yard pass, 1-yard run, and 13-yard pass) ended the first half at 40-0.
But the Eagles did not give up, or give in, even after two more TDs by Caledonia (a 4-yard run and a 10-yard run).
Down by 54 points, Reese Jansen tossed to Matt Schindler who caught the 31-yard pass and nearly tripped into the end zone. Jacob Streit?Äôs extra-point kick was blocked, so the Eagles were kept to 6 points. Their first score was with 28 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Eagles’ first touchdown was a 31-yard pass to Matt Schindler.
In the fourth quarter, Caledonia scored again, on a 1-yard run. The Eagles faced a 61-6 defeat with less than three minutes left in the game. Ethan Moore scored on a 55-yard pass from Jack Bates. (Eric Fodstad?Äôs rush failed.) The final score was 61-12 in just over two and a half hours of play.
The Warriors and Eagles had a comparable number of offensive plays in the game, 63 for Caledonia and 58 for Eden Valley-Watkins. EV-W tallied 326 total offense yards to Caledonia?Äôs 523; 172 passing and 154 rushing for EV-W compared to Caledonia?Äôs 328 and 195. EV-W had 21:09 possession time compared to Caledonia?Äôs 26:51.
Eddie the Eagle waves to the TV camera. The game was broadcast on Channel 45; a DVD of the game can be purchased at prep45.com. These and other photos are available in the photo gallery at tricountynews.mn.
Individually, QB Reese Jansen had 12 completed passes for a total of 117 yards, resulting in one of the team?Äôs two touchdowns. Jansen also ran for a total of 72 yards on the game. Greg Lux received four times for a total of 42 yards; Matt Schindler received three for 51 yards; Jamison Kuechle received three for 17 yards; Jacob Streit received two for 7 yards; and Ethan Moore received once for that 55-yard touchdown pass from Jack Bates (on Bates?Äô only completed pass for the game). Schindler also punted six times for a total of 199 yards, 40 yards running, and 71 yards in kick returns. Jacob Streit had 2 kickoffs for a total of 88 yards, and Adam Foehrenbacher had one for 54 yards.
No doubt many were hoping for a fairy-tale ending where the Eagles continue their winning run all the way to State Champion. State runner-up is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering they faced a faster and better ?Äì at least on Friday ?Äì team.
Great job, guys. You?Äôve made everyone proud.
The Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles can pose with their runner-up trophy with their heads held high. Only the second EV-W football team in history to make it to the Prep Bowl, they can stand proudly with the 2005 State Championship team. The above photo was taken just moments after their 61-12 loss to powerhouse Caledonia. Staff photos by Gaylen Bicking and Jean Doran Matua.