Grady Recer and Adam Dorsey made huge defensive stops in the final few minutes and Eagan continues to climb the ladder, its latest step a 35-33 win over Lakeville South on Thursday.

Brooklyn Evans ran for 217 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats ran for 399 of their 455 yards to beat the Cougars for the first time since the 2014 postseason.

Lakeville South had 306 total yards of which 266 were on the ground.

The Cougars also had a chance to win late.

Gaven Dean scored from the 8-yard line with 2 1/2 minutes to play to get the Cougars within two. Going for the tie, Dean rolled left but was chased down by Christian Langhorst and upended by Dorsey inches shy of the conversion.

But Lakeville South (1-3), ranked No. 9 in Class 6A, got the needed onside kick.

A pass from Dean to Bo Bokman put the ball at the Eagan 19. Dean then rolled right and threw toward a receiver near the sideline; however, Recer jumped the route and made a diving interception to seal the win and improve No. 7 Eagan to 3-1.

It’s the second straight heartbreaker for the Cougars, who gave up a late touchdown in losing 35-31 to Lakeville North last week.

Eating up the clock was to be the key for Eagan. The Wildcats (3-1) had the ball for 28:42, including a 13-play drive capped by a fourth-down end-around by Dorsey, who starts in the secondary, for a 28-27 lead.

After a three-and-out by Lakeville South, Evans scored on an 82-yard run and a 35-27 lead midway through the final quarter.

Connor Cade scored two touchdowns and he and Jonah Shine each had lengthy touchdown runs in the first half as Lakeville South led 20-7 before a lengthy second-quarter weather delay occurred with lightning in the distance.

Coming out of a 45-minute break, Eagan used up six minutes to get within a score. Evans dashed in from 37 yards out on a busted play to get the Wildcats within six at the break.
Evans scored from the 37 in the third quarter and Madden Ison scored from 58 yards out on a fourth-and-3 to make it 27-21 Wildcats.