As has been the case for many years, Lakeville North is at or near the top of Class 6A football.

Eagan continues to inch its way close to that lofty status but couldn’t quite equal the Panthers on Friday in a matchup of top-10 teams that lived up to its billing.

Sam Ripplinger had a game-clinching, 8-yard run with 3:25 remaining that capped a lengthy late drive and top-ranked Lakeville North held off the No. 6 Wildcats 36-33. Ripplinger had two rushing scores and one receiving for the Panthers, who passed for 158 yards and ran for 137.

Up by four, Lakeville North took over in the final minute of the third quarter after Eagan’s lone punt.

Sixteen plays later, Ripplinger scored from the 8. He had 11 carries for 55 yards on the drive that had just one play go for double-digit yardage.

Madden Ison scored from the 11-yard line to get the Wildcats within three with 2:37 left, but the ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful.

Logan Gilbertson ran for 116 yards and two scores for Eagan.

Down 22-18 at the break, Gage Halvorson went around the right side for 30 yards on Eagan’s first drive of the third quarter, but the Panthers countered on a 1-yard run by Ripplinger for a 29-25 lead. One play earlier, Riley Grossman hooked up with Sebastyen Fries for a 32-yard reception.

Relying on a rushing attack, keyed through four games by quarterback Brooklyn Evans and running back Tate Gage, the Wildcats had to do without an injured Gage.

Gilbertson filled in more than adequately with a pair of first-half rushing touchdowns.

Making his first career start, the junior went 60 yards on Eagan’s second offensive play to open the scoring. His 2-yard run early in the second quarter gave the Wildcats a 15-8 advantage.

In between, Lakeville North nicely mixed up the run and pass to efficiently move downfield. Ripplinger caught a 1-yard pass from Grossman to finish the eight-play drive, of which half the plays went for at least 12 yards.

A 10-yard perfectly lofted pass from Grossman — a four-year starter and Minnesota-Duluth commit — to a leaping Fries capped an 11-play Lakeville North drive to tie the game.

Eagan fumbled four times in the first half, losing two. The second was returned 45 yards by Reece Hunt for a 22-15 Panthers’ lead barely a minute after Lakeville North tied the game.

Seth Kolehmainen made a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to get Eagan within 22-18.

Related Articles

Wisconsin high school football: Prescott proves it’s for real with convincing win over St. Croix Central

Powers, surprises and slow starters: Taking stock of many East Metro football teams midway through the regular season

High school football: Week 5 predictions

High school football: St. Thomas Academy uses all three phases to down Mahtomedi

High school football: Robinson’s late touchdown run helps South St. Paul edge North St. Paul