Fourth ranked and top-seeded Shakopee showed why its ranked so highly Friday in a 44-14 win over visiting eighth-seeded Park in round one of the Class 6A state football playoffs.

The Shakopee Sabers jumped out to a 29-0 lead after one quarter, led 42-0 at the half and cruised home with the win.

Shakopee used big plays all of the first half to overwhelm the Park defense. The Sabers scored the first six touchdowns of the game, including a 42-yard run, a 72-yard interception return, a 61-yard touchdown pass, a 1-yard score, a 19-yard run and finally a 46-yard touchdown pass.

“Shakopee was just as good as advertised and I would suspect that they will be going on a run in the playoffs here as they are just such a solid team top to bottom in all phases,” said Park head coach Rick Fryklund.

Park scored twice in the third quarter, first on a 43-yard pass from senior quarterback Esten Erickson to senior wide receiver Kaleb Mistah, and then on a 3-yard run by junior running back Olumide Aluko.

Shakopee ended the scoring with a safety in the fourth quarter.

Shakopee (8-1) will host fourth-seeded Maple Grove (5-4) in the next round. Maple Grove defeated fifth-seeded Andover 42-14 Friday.

Park ends the season with a 2-7 record.

As to the season, Fryklund noted: “As I said before, we had a large amount of guys in their first year as a varsity starter, or in their first year of varsity football and they played with in a way that makes our whole community proud. I want to give kudos to our seniors for their leadership. They selected for their motto, what is, will be. They exemplified this because they were determined, gritty, and committed to showing up each and every day, and each and every week to play so hard for each other, for always playing so hard, so consistently, no matter the circumstances.

“Kudos to the many young sophomores that we started who earned their spot and showed they belong (Myles Colbeth, Leam Hieserich, Carson Fritsche, Nolan Weisbrod and Alex Ball,” Fryklund added.

As expected it was a rugged night for members of the Metro-Maroon division. In addition to Park’s loss, Roseville, Coon Rapids, Eastview and Hopkins all lost decisively to ranked teams.

No. 1 Moorhead 64, Coon Rapids 29
No. 2 Champlin Park 52, Eastview 0
No. 4 Shakopee 44, Park 14
No. 5 Blaine 41, Roseville 6
No. 9 Mounds View 42, Hopkins 7

In other first round games, East Ridge lost to No. 7 Centennial 35-29 and Woodbury fell to St. Michael-Albertville 28-0.

Park must replace 20 seniors next season, including key players in quarterback Erickson (109 of 197 completions for 1,146 passing yards and seven touchdowns) and top receiver Manny Vegas (25 receptions for 346 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and Kalab Miftah (34 receptions for 405 yards and four touchdowns).

Defensive losses include linebacker/running back Gabe Przekurat (42 tackles, four tackles for loss), defensive back Nolan Sease (50 total tackles, one interception, two fumble recoveries) and linebacker Demetrius Stewart (41 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery).

Returning, however, will be a host of experienced players, including linebacker and season tackle leader Richardo Santos (78 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss), top rusher Aluko (566 yards, four touchdowns) and versatile running back Myles Colbeth (200 rushing yards, 222 receiving yards for five touchdowns).