It was our most complete game on defense all year hands down.”

Park head coach Rick Frylund

Junior wide receiver Manny Vargas hit the highlight reel at the beginning and at the end. In between the Park Wolfpack won the defensive battle and thus the war in an 18-10 victory at Eastview Friday in the regular season finale.

Vargas scored the first touchdown of the game on a 75-yard punt return, then scored the last touchdown on a 23-yard pass from senior quarterback Esten Erickson in the victory.

“It was our most complete game on defense all year hands down,” said Park head coach Rick Frylund. “Our defense delivered stop after stop and put our offense in a great position with field position to take advantage of the opportunities we had against a very stingy Eastview defense.”

Next up for the Wolfpack is a Class 6A, round one game at top-seeded and seventh-ranked Shakopee (7-1), with a 7 p.m. start on Friday, Oct 20. Shakopee’s only loss this season was a tough 14-10 defeat at the hands of Prior Lake.

Park started off strong Friday, kicking off and then holding Eastview on defense. Eastview punted and Vargas gathered it in at the 25-yard line and proceeded to race through the Lightning defense to score.

Park then took a 12-0 lead in the second quarter on a 15-yard pass from Erickson to Kalab Miftah.

Eastview then closed to 12-10 with a field goal and a touchdown pass of their own.

The third quarter was scoreless thanks in part by a key deflection by Kellen Simmons in the end zone to end the third period.

Vargas and Erickson connected on a 23-yard pass and an 18-10 lead in the fourth quarter to salt the game away.

It was a satisfying and much needed win for the Wolfpack after a season of tough losses. Park closed the regular season with a 2-6 overall record and went 2-2 in the Metro-Maroon division.

Both teams defensively dominated the action. Park allowed just 193 yards to Eastview. While Eastview held the Wolfpack to 137 total yards. The Wolfpack held the Lightning to 3 yards a carry average and allowed just 4 of 15 successful conversions on third down.

Park, meanwhile, had just 82 rushing yards and 55 passing yards, but hit the big plays early and late when it counted.

Erickson completed 6 of 10 passes for 55 yards and two scores. Olumide Aluko ran the ball 18 times for 72 yards with a long of 11. Vargas led the receiver corps with 3 catches for 27 yards and the game-clinching touchdown.

Both teams also were penalty prone. Park was whistled 9 times for 122 yards in penalties, Eastview 8 times for 99 yards.

Senior linebacker Gabe Przekurat had a big night defensively with four solo tackles, three assists, a sack and two tackles for losses. Ricky Santos Jr. had nine tackles and a tackle for loss. Simmons had seven total stops, Nolan Sease six, and Leam Hieserich five.

“Kudos to LaTavian Scott for knocking down the final heave at the end, Ricky Santos for making a number of tackles on defense, Gabe Przekurat for his role on offense and defense, Kellen Simmons for his work on the defensive and offensive lines, and Leam Hieserich for his phenomenal performances on each side of the football as a lineman,” Fryklund noted. “Manny Vargas not only had a great punt return for a TD, but he made one heck of a one-handed grab in the end zone for a receiving TD also.”

The five Metro-Maroon teams were hammered in the state playoff first round, facing the No. 1, No. 2, No. 7, No. 8 ranked teams, plus a 6-2 Mounds View squad.

Friday night’s scores
Park 18, Eastview 10
Coon Rapids 24, Roseville 14
St. Michael-Albertville 43, Hopkins 0

Metro Maroon final standings
Conf. Overall
Roseville 4-0 4-4
Coon Rapids 3-1 4-4
Park 2-2 2-6
Eastview 1-3 2-6
Hopkins 0-4 0-8

Friday’s section first round playoffs
Park (2-6) at No. 7 Shakopee (7-1)
Coon Rapids (4-4) at No. 1 Moorhead (8-0)
Eastview (2-6) at No. 2 Champlin Park (8-0)
Roseville (4-4) at No. 8 Blaine (7-1)
Hopkins (0-8) at Mounds View (6-2)