The Prior Lake football team held its ground defensively against the state's No. 1-ranked team.

But it was a different story on offense. Penalties and turnovers slowed down the Lakers in a 24-0 home loss Sept. 15 to perennial power Eden Prairie (3-0 overall).

Prior Lake (1-2) hung in there after getting behind 14-0 after the first quarter. But the Lakers couldn't make any big plays on offense, especially in the red zone.

The Lakers will try to get back on track Sept. 22 at home against No. 5 Minnetonka (3-0) at 7 p.m. The Skippers earned a 28-21 win at home over No. 2 Maple Grove in Week 3. Prior Lake lost 9-6 at Maple Grove in Week 2.

Meanwhile, against Eden Prairie, the Lakers got the first break of the game and it happened before kickoff. Eden Prairie senior cornerback Benny Sapp III, who will play for the University of Minnesota next year, injured his knee in warmups. Sapp is considered one of the best defensive backs in the state and he also plays some at receiver.

The Eagles were missing three defensive starters, but still the Lakers had trouble scoring. Prior Lake did move the ball at times behind the running of senior backs Preston Jelen and Jordan Johnson.

In the second quarter, the Lakers marched down the field after recovering a fumble and had 1st-and-10 at the Eagles' 16-yard line. But the drive stalled.

In third quarter, Prior Lake again marched down the field and had 1st-and-10 at the Eden Prairie 12-yard-line, but back-to-back illegal motion penalties ended that drive.

The Lakers had nine penalties in the game with a combined eight of them being illegal motion or offsides on the defense. That's not the recipe to beat a team like Eden Prairie.

Eden Prairie had two interceptions in the fourth quarter that led to 10 points. The first one set up a 30-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead with just under five minutes to play. The second one was a pick six that went 40 yards for game's final score.

On the Lakers' first possession of the game, the they muffed a punt snap, giving the Eagles' 1st-and-goal from the 3-yard line. A couple plays later, the Eagles scored on a 8-yard touchdown pass.

Eden Prairie made it 14-0, taking advantage of a short field and scoring on a 1-yard run. 

Prior Lake's defense played strong most of the game. But if the Lakers are going to beat top-ranked teams going forward, they'll have to limit the penalties and turnovers and make some plays through the air. 

To see more photos of the Lakers, click here.