Trojan football falls in first round of playoffs

Coach Jake Norby's first season as head football coach at New Prague High School came to a close Tuesday, Oct. 24, as the Trojans went on the road and lost to Waconia 31- 7 in the first round of the Section 2AAAAA football playoffs. Last week, the Trojans hosted No. 8-ranked Owatonna and lost to the Huskies by a 49-0 score.

The Trojans finish the season with a 2-7 record for the second straight year. Waconia advances and will play at No. 1-ranked Chaska at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. The other semifinal in the section has No. 6-ranked Mankato West at Chanhassen.

Wildcats 31, Trojans 7 Both teams scored on their first possession, with Waconia scoring on a 21-yard pass. The Trojans’ Connor Scharf blocked the extra point - his fourth of the season - and the Wildcats led 6-0.

The Trojans answered, with Eli Parker capping a drive with a 2-yard run. Jacob Wetschka’s point gave the Trojans a 7-6 lead.

But Waconia would answer with another touchdown. The big play was a 61- yard pass to the Trojan 2- yard line that set up the score. A two-point conversion put the Wildcats up 14-7.

In the second quarter Waconia scored on a 47-yard pass to make it 21-7, and they would add one more on an 18-yard pass to make it 28-7 at the half.

The only scoring in the second half came on a 27- yard field goal late in the third quarter, as the Trojan defense was able to get more pressure on the Wildcat quarterback and also broke up a few pass attempts.

"We gave up a few too many big plays early in the game," Norby said after the game. "They adjusted to what we were doing defensively early and it took us a while to catch up."

He said he was pleased with the effort the team had shown the last few weeks. "We had a lot of sophomores and juniors get some playing time, and that’s going to be big for us next year. But to get this program going, the work is going to have to start in the weight room."

He said he is proud of the effort the seniors put into the season. After the game, he spent a few minutes with the seniors as a group, giving each of them a hug and thanking them for their contributions to the program.

Waconia outgained New Prague 317-166. New Prague had the edge in rushing yards, 121-83, but Waconia had 234 yards passing to the Trojans’ 25.

Mitch Callahan was the Trojans’ leading rusher with...

To see more on this story pick up the October 26, 2017 print edition of The New Prague Times. 

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