With 85 percent of the overall votes, Prior Lake is the Week 4 winner of Northstar Football News’s Team of the Week, sponsored by the Minnesota National Guard.

The Lakers earned the honor by spoiling previously undefeated Lakeville North’s homecoming last Friday.  They used ten first quarter points, including a 10-yard scamper by running back Andrew Owodunni, to gain an early advantage in front of a packed house in Lakeville.

Then, the Lakers depended on a stout defense the rest of the game to keep the hosts from coming back to escape with a 10-7 victory.

The win pushed Prior Lake’s record to 3-1 and re-entered Head Coach Matt Gegenheimer’s squad in the discussion as a possible Prep Bowl contender in Class 6A.  It also marked the third consecutive regular season decision over North, including the second straight in Lakeville. 

On the evening, the Lakers surrendered a paltry 154 yards of total offense to the hosts and harassed Panthers’ quarterback Drew Stewart the entire game, causing the junior to turn the ball over on four occasions.   Payton Anderson was the beneficiary on three of the Panthers’ giveaways, notching two picks and a fumble recovery from his defensive back position.

Jahmal Johnson led the Prior Lake front seven, notching two sacks and a forced fumble along with a couple more quarterback hurries.  Josh Dysthe also had huge role in shutting down the North offense for the Lakers, who were playing without star linebacker Alex Hart. 

Prior Lake handily won the vote over Bemidji and Crosby-Ironton, making them the fourth metro area team to take home the Minnesota National Guard Team of the Week honor. 

The Lakers, which are in a stretch of three consecutive road tilts, now play Apple Valley this Friday looking to keep their South Suburban championship hopes alive.