Photo by Paul Trende
It was the definition of a trap game. Class AA #2-ranked Caledonia (3-0, 4-0) entered its week five matchup with Dover-Eyota (0-2, 2-2) coming off a huge win over #5 Cannon Falls in week four. The Warriors week six matchup is #3 Chatfield in one of the state’s best AA rivalries. A lesser foe after a big win before a huge game (also during said lesser foes homecoming). Plus, the Eagles were fresh off a 27-25 loss to rival St. Charles, a team the Warriors beat 47-6. Trap. And Dover-Eyota sprung it nicely, for almost three quarters. The Eagles played ball control in the first stanza, running 33 offensive plays to the Warriors 16. D-E made the red zone their first three possessions. A fumble stopped the first. The third was ended on 4th and goal at the two. The only points of the first half were scored on the Eagles’ second drive, a 14-play, 80-yard trek that ended on 4th and inches with a Levi Williams quarter-yard TD run. D-E led 6-0 at the half out-gaining Caledonia 194 to 111. The Eagles stopped the Warriors first two second half drives. Williams then threw a bomb toward Bolton Thesing. Cal corner Fischer Wait was in position and deflected the ball but it fortuitously ended up in Thesing’s arms and he housed it for an 83-yard TD reception. Suddenly, with 5:10 left in the third, D-E led 13-0. Caledonia’s next drive was also stifled. Their last of the third quarter took advantage of a short field and the comeback was on. The Warrior trenches started taking control. Caledonia took just four plays to cover 41 yards. Ethan Stendel’s fumble, then score a 14-yard TD run, put Caledonia on the board late in the third, D-E still up 13-7. After an Eagle three-and-out and a 20-yard punt, the Warriors again had a short field. They went 37 yards in six plays. Owen Denstad’s 3-yard TD run, plus his PAT kick, gave Caledonia its first lead, 14-13, with 7:29 to go. D-E then went three-and-out again. It was their third straight after taking a 13-0 lead. The Warriors had a longer field, but a superb, shifty, and agile 55-yard Denstad run set Caledonia back up in D-E real estate at the 19. Four plays later, Denstad capped the drive with an 8-yard TD run. The PAT was botched. Caledonia led 20-13 with 1:39 left. But D-E got just one first down with their final drive. Williams was forced from the game due to an injury. His backup Jacob Cornell was intercepted by Stendel to cap the contest. The Warriors escaped by a 20-13 final. Caledonia’s boys up-front controlled the trenches in the second half. They ran for 197 yards while passing for just two. Both Denstad (22-187, 2 TDs rushing) and Stendel (16-85, TD rushing, 3-11, 34 yards passing) were at or over the 100-yards in the stanza (before Stendel took two lengthy kneel-downs). And after trailing 13-0, the Warriors defense surrender 21 yards on 14 Eagle offensive plays. Mason Banse was credited with team-best 12 tackles. In week six, it will be #2 in Class AA Caledonia (4-0, 5-0) hosting #3 in Class AA Chatfield (3-0, 5-0).