Things have gone so smoothly for Maple Grove this postseason, one had to wonder what would happen if the Crimson faced a little adversity.
Now we know. The Crimson are still the best team in Class 6A, even when things don’t always go their way. Thanks to Chuck Langama.
Maple Grove struggled with Shakopee’s physicality and trailed the Sabers late in the third quarter. But senior running back Langama put the Crimson on his shoulders, running for a pair of 40-yard scores after halftime to lift the Crimson to a 26-14 victory and into next Friday’s Class 6A championship game against Minnetonka.
The game featured immediate bombshells.
Shakopee fumbled the ball on the opening kickoff, Maple Grove recovering at the Sabers 22. On the first play from scrimmage, Langama ran off right tackle and outraced the Shakopee defenders to the end zone.
Maple Grove (12-0) led 7-0 with just 11 seconds gone off the game clock.
Shakopee (10-2) replied with the perfect answer. Kickoff returner Emmanuel Taye, who had lost the ball on the previous kick, more than made up for it by pinballing off Maple Grove tacklers and going 99 yards for a touchdown.
The game was 25 seconds old and already the score was 7-7.
