Lakeville South Wins State Title Game In Nail Biter

MINNEAPOLIS — Lakeville South capped off a perfect 13-0 season by winning the Class 6A championship game Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium after quarterback Camden Dean scored on a long touchdown run with just over three minutes left in the game to sink Maple Grove.

The Crimson drove down the field trying to respond and reached Lakeville South's 26-yard line before coming up just short on a fourth-and-10 play in the final minute of the game, Jim Paulsen of the Star Tribune reports.

That turnover on downs gave Lakeville South its first official Class 6A state championship a year after it settled for an unofficial title when the coronavirus pandemic derailed school sports.

The first half of Friday night's title game was dominated by defense, with the score locked at 0-0 at halftime, according to statistics from MN Football Hub.

The Crimson found the end zone first, when junior quarterback Jacob Kilzer connected with fullback Tanner Albeck for a 24-yard touchdown halfway through the third quarter.

Lakeville South tied the game several minutes later after a 28-yard touchdown run by Dean, statistics show. Dean capped Lakeville South's comeback and championship win with a 52-yard touchdown run at the end of the fourth quarter.

Though Dean finished the game with just 13 passing yards, he chose his moments to slice through the Crimson defense on the ground, racking up 109 rushing yards and both of Lakeville South's touchdowns on eight carries, according to statistics from MN Football Hub.

Lakeville South's running back corps — led by Ian Segna, Carson Hansen and Josh Jacobson — added 163 rushing yards on 41 carries.

Zach Juckel, Owen McCloud and Mikai Stewart were among the game's defensive standouts for Lakeville South.

After the game, Maple Grove coach Matt Lombardi applauded his team's defensive efforts — saying they "played their hearts out" — and admitted Dean "made a really good play" to score and win the championship for Lakeville South, the Star Tribune reports.