“For the future, we look forward to seeing the continued development of our young players that logged significant minutes for us this year.”

Park head coach Rick Fryklund

Game notes

Park finished 3-6 for the second straight season. It was a tough four game ending streak for the Wolfpack, which finished the season with four consecutive losses after starting the year 3-2.

Sixth-ranked Maple Grove ended Park’s 2023 football season with a 53-21 victory Friday in the 2023 Minnesota Class 6A football tournament.

Maple Grove (7-2) jumped out to a 15-0 lead after one quarter and led 36-7 at the half. The Crimson went up 50-7 in the third quarter before Park rallied with a pair of late scores.

“Maple Grove is obviously a first-class program,” said Park head coach Rick Fryklund. “I was proud of the seniors on our 85^th team in the history of the program to see this season through and fight until the end.  They were a great group to coach.”

Park trailed 29-0 in the second quarter before quarterback Ben Pederson got the Wolfpack on the scoreboard with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Morgan.

Maple Grove used a powerful ground game to subdue the Wolfpack, rushing for 290 yards and five touchdowns.

Ben Pederson went most of the way at quarterback for the Wolfpack, completing 9 of 19 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Miskir Esayas was 0-for-2 throwing.

Pederson connected with Ben Andrews on a 21-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 50-14.  Brett Salmonson then capped the scoring for Park with a fourth quarter run of 3 yards to make it a 50-21 game.

Morgan led Park in receiving with six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Senior running back/defensive back Salmonson closed his Park football career with another standout performance. He rushed 25 times for 97 yards and a touchdown, while also leading the Wolfpack with 21 tackles, including 11 solo stops.

Senior linebacker Taran Blasy had nine tackles and a fumble recovery. Kody Moody had six tackles for Park, Zach Carr had five tackles and Keon Moody four.

Park rushed for 144 yards and passed for 131 for 275 total yards Friday. Park had three turnovers and Maple Grove two.

Park will lose 21 seniors off this team but return a host of juniors and sophomores that saw extensive action this fall.

“For the future, we look forward to seeing the continued development of our young players that logged significant minutes for us this year,” said Fryklund.

Key players eligible to return for the Wolfpack next season include offensive lineman Sebastian Mendez, wide receivers Dom Batts and Dom Dean, running back Andrews, quarterback Esayas, defensive linemen Jairus Boston, linebackers Aikens and Moody and defensive backs Carr, Bryan Wright and Jacob Czarnota.

GAME NOTES: Park finished 3-6 for the second straight season. It was a tough four game ending streak for the Wolfpack, which finished the season with four consecutive losses after starting the year 3-2.

Park is 16-26 overall since the 2019 season. The 2019 season was also the last time Park won a section game was a 27-12 win over Bloomington Kennedy.