I think our run game, the offensive line I know, was definitely a high point.”

Park senior lineman Noah Bearth

We’ve got to keep fighting. We cannot just give up. I feel that if we didn’t give up, we definitely would have won that game.”

Park senior Brett Salmonson

New colors, an exciting new stadium, new innovative safety helmets for the Wolfpack and an old Suburban East Conference rival all unfolded Thursday in the season opener at TCO stadium.

The result was a little familiar, however, as East Ridge took a 40-21 victory from a game Park team.

Park will now go for a bounce-back win against visiting Burnsville on Friday at Wolfpack Stadium. Burnsville opened the season with a 29-18 loss to Rochester Mayo. A year ago, Park had one of its best victories of the season against Burnsville, winning 35-14.

Last Thursday, however, it was old rival East Ridge. The Raptors are once again expected to be one of the better 6A teams in the state this season. And while the Raptors didn’t disappoint, the Wolfpack had their moments as well, especially during the second quarter.

“That offensive performance in the first half was a lot of fun obviously with what coach (Tim) Walton was able to do, with how he sees the space and put athletes in a position to be successful was impressive,” said Park head coach Rick Fryklund. “You could tell we had them on the ropes a little bit defensively.

“We’ve got fix some of our defensive stuff,” Fryklund added. “So, our kids gave great effort and they were physical, but the thing that we didn’t do in order to beat this team tonight is we were not disciplined to the point where we needed to be to beat them.”

Park closed to 17-14 on a Brett Salmonson 15-yard run in the second quarter. But East Ridge came back with a key scoring drive of their own, taking a 24-14 lead with less than minute to play right before the half that took more than a little out of the Wolfpack’s sails.

“That definitely hurt us,” said Park senior Brett Salmonson. “I feel like it was a huge momentum swing. I feel like we had some momentum and it just swung right over and we couldn’t really get over it. Next week we’ve got to get back in the lab, have a great practice week, come back, beat Burnsville at home.”

East Ridge scored twice in the third quarter to grab a 38-14 lead and extinguish any Park hopes of a rally.

Park got on the scoreboard just once in the second half, on a late 6-yard touchdown from Ben Pederson to Samuel Tchougo.

Park has traditionally struggled against East Ridge. The last three times the two teams played were all lopsided wins by the Raptors -- 49-0 in 2014, 55-20 in 2013 and 41-17 in 2011. This time, it felt, however, that the two teams were much more evened matched.

East Ridge quarterback Tanner Zolnosky was named to the Star Tribune’s preseason Dream Team and showed why at times Thursday. He passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2022. Zolnosky completed 17 of 23 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Park defenders picked off a pair of his throws, however and the Wolfpack defense forced him to scramble several times.

The East Ridge offensive line, led by 6-6, 270-pound Kansas signee Kene Anene, controlled the smaller Park defenders up front at times, but only at times. Park also didn’t have a weapon like East Ridge kicker Luke Ryerse, who had a 21-yard field goal and routinely booted the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs, averaging 60 yards on seven kickoffs and 37 yards on two punts.

East Ridge took a 10-0 lead to start the game, leaving Park partisans wondering if the rout was on. It definitely wasn’t. Park’s Skyler Morgan caught a 31-yard pass from quarterback Miskir Esayas to get the Wolfpack on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Following another East Ridge touchdown, Park closed the gap to 17-14 late in the second period and it was the East Ridge fan’s turn to get nervous.

But that Raptors touchdown just before the half changed the game’s complexion.

Park was led offensively by senior Salmonson, who stepped up and had a strong running game with a touchdown and 114 yards on 22 carries.

“Tonight, I feel like everyone tried their best, but we did not execute our assignment and after we got down a couple touchdowns, I feel we gave up as a team and we cannot have that,” said Salmonson. “We’ve got to keep fighting. We cannot just give up. I feel that if we didn’t give up, we definitely would have won that game.”

Park running back/middle linebacker and emotional leader Taran Blasy suffered an early ankle injury and missed most of the game.

“He’s a heck of a player,” said Fryklund. “Very impactful. Losing him was obviously a bummer. But his backup -- we basically put one linebacker in the middle and then we brought in another linebacker, Keon Moody, who’s a sophomore, getting his first lives reps at TCO. He did great, and then Lucas Moreno-Osterhout, taking over his spot, he did his job every time. That was great to see him step up like that.”

Junior quarterback Esayas completed 18 of 27 passes for one touchdown, with one interception for the Wolfpack.

Esayas spread the ball around the yard well, hitting five different receivers. Senior Morgan caught had 10 receptions for 71 yards and a score. Sophomore Sam Tchougo has three catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, including a 52-yard catch and run.

Park outgained East Ridge in almost every offensive category: 383 to 312 in total yards, 236 to 181 in passing yards, 147 to 131 in rushing yards, 74-55 in total plays and 21-17 in first downs. Turnovers were also pretty even, three by Park to two by East Ridge and both teams had just five yards in penalties.

“I think our run game, the offensive line I know, was definitely a high point,” said Park senior lineman Noah Bearth. “We had a few bad plays, but I think overall we executed those run plays very well.”

Defensively, 18 Park players either got a tackle or an assist. Salmonson had two tackles and five assists. Caleb Conley had two tackles, two assists, a sack and a tackle for a loss. Keon Moody had one tackle and six assists.

Improving from week one to two is the next goal for Park’s players.

“We’ve got to work on the mental toughness in practice and not beating ourselves up as much,” said senior wide reiver/defensive back Adam Tait. “We’ve got to watch the film and learn from it and just carry that on to the next game because this one’s in the past.”