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Waconia outlasts Robbinsdale Cooper at TCO Stadium
Robbinsdale Cooper senior QB Joe Russell, one of the better QBs in the metro, rolls out against Waconia. Russell threw for 294 yards and two scores in the game. He has tossed for 546 yards on the season and five touchdowns.
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN
Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football
Max McEnelly had more than 230 all-purpose yards as Waconia outlasted Robbinsdale Cooper in front of a large crowd in the Minnesota Vikings Prep Spotlight game held at TCO Stadium Sept. 10.
McEnelly scored two touchdowns to help lead the Wildcats over the Hawks 20-14.
After a scoreless first quarter, Robbinsdale Cooper scored first when senior quarterback Joe Russell connected with senior wide receiver David Connors. An extra point by senior placekicker Leo Garcia made it 7-0
But the Wildcats rallied for two scores before the end of the half for a 14-7 lead. At the 7:04 mark sophomore QB Austin Randall hit senior wideout Sam Koppi for a 38-yard score. Tanner Micke drilled the extra point for a 7-7 tie.
Then, with Cooper driving, Waconia came up with a huge turnover when Koppi picked off a Russell pass at the Cooper 44-yard line. McEnelly carried the ball several times eventually scoring on a 15-yard run with 1:27 left. Another Micke extra point gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead.
Waconia also received the ball at half time and didn’t waste much time as McEnelly raced in from 47 yards out for his second score of the game and a 20-7 lead with 11:36 to play in the third quarter.
Both defenses held each other at bay the rest of the quarter until Cooper broke a big play at the 10:35 mark of the fourth quarter. Russel connected once again with Connors, this time on a 79-yard score. Garcia’s kick brought the Hawks to within a touchdown.
The Hawks had a chance to tie the game or take the lead midway through the quarter when they put together a strong drive from their 25-yard line all the way to Waconia’s 8-yard line. They were first and goal when a holding call brought them back to the 18-yard line. After two incomplete passes they connected on a 10-yard gain to set up a 4th and 8 from the 8-yard line. But Gage Mueller and Jorge Toledo sacked Russel for a loss and change of downs. Waconia suc-
Waconia’s Sam Koppi snares a one hander in the Wildcats 20-14 win over Robbinsdale Cooper in front of Cooper’s Jaxon Howard. Koppi had a touchdown catch and an interception in the game.
cessfully ran out the clock to seal the 20-14 win.
The Wildcats improved to 1-1 on the season while the Hawks fell to 1-1. The Wildcats had lost to Robbinsdale Armstrong 23-17 in the season opener. Cooper had defeated Orono 43-27 in the opener. Waconia will play Orono Friday, Sept. 17 while Cooper will host Robbinsdale Armstrong.
This week’s Prep Spotlight game at TCO Stadium is Class 5A match-up between St. Thomas Academy (2-0) and Cretin-Derham Hall (0-2).
Up Next: Vikings Prep Spotlight Friday, Sept. 17 Cretin-Derham Hall vs. St. Thomas Academy 7 p.m. TCO Stadium
Waconia players celebrate with their fellow students at TCO Stadium after winning the Minnesota Vikings Prep Spotlight game 20-14 over Robbinsdale Cooper. This week St. Thomas Academy will take on Cretin-Derham Hall at TCO Stadium as the second installment of the Prep Spotlight Game. The Vikings are in their third season of hosting high school games at their training facility. The game is co-sponsored by Twin Cities Orthopedic.
Thankfukl to be alive, Waseca’s coach honored by Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings, who honor a high school coach of the week each week, bestowed that honor to Wendland. The school will receive a $1,000 from the Vikings/NFL in his name as the Vikings Coach of the Week.
“The community of Waseca has always been strong and supportive - and when people are in need, you will always find a sea of blue standing together ready to help. We appreciate our families and staff and everything you do for each other, our schools and our children. Waseca always has strength in numbers! So please continue to pray for Coach Wendland and his family, and thank you for your support already towards his recovery. We’re rooting for you, Coach! You are #wasecastrong.”
“I kind of complained when they told me I couldn’t go home,” Wendland said in an interview witht he Mankato Free Press. “The doctors said, ‘Do you realize how many people survive cardiac arrest if they’re not in the hospital?’ I said, ‘Half?’ They said it was less than 1 percent.”
Waseca head coach Brad Wendland started to feel dizzy towards the end of their season opener against St. Peter. The Bluejays were on their way to a victory when Coach Wendland took a knee in the final seconds.
“It happened over the course of a few seconds,” Wendland told KEYC News. “I thought this doesn’t feel very good. I’m just gonna take a knee here for a second, and then when it passes, I’ll comeback up and go on with whatever. That’s the last thing I remember.” Wendland, 48, collapsed. Team trainers and medical personnel rushed to his aid.
Two Mayo Clinic Athletic Trainers and a nurse who was in the stands sprung into action. After chest compressions on Wendland were unsuccessful, they used an AED device which shocks the heart back into action.
According to a report from KSTP. com, restarting a heart using the AED is rare. But it worked for Wendland, who became conscious and started breathing again.
He was rushed to the hospital for further treatment and is expected to recover.
Wendland has since returned home, but will take a month off from teaching. He hopes to return to coaching
soon. When speaking with doctors, he found out just how lucky he is to be alive.
Waseca Schools postedthe following on their Twitter
