Mason West leads Hornets from 28-7 deficit to 42-41 win

Mason West’s hockey career will have to wait another couple weeks.

The senior quarterback who returned to play football his senior season despite being a first-round NHL draft pick in June threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns to lead Edina to a 42-41 win over favored Minnetonka. He also ran for another key score as the Hornets mounted an epic comeback to defeat their storied rival at U.S. Bank Stadium Thursday.

Edina trailed 28-7 as Minnetonka’s Mr. Football finalist Caleb Francois ran for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. But Francois suffered an injury late in the game and missed the Skippers two final possessions.

After Edina took a 42-28 lead thanks to several long completions by West that led to a 35-point swing, Minnetonka QB Caden Gutzmer put together two consecutive successful drives, connecting with Charles Simonson on a 9-yard score and then leading the team downfield where Quinton Restrepo scored from six yards out to make it a 42-41 game with just under two minutes to play.

The Skippers opted to go for two and Francois re-entered the game and lined up in the backfield, prompting Edina to call a timeout. Would he get the ball? Was he sent in to be a decoy or to pass block?

After the teams lined up Minnetonka called yet another timeout. The game had come down to this moment. Edina was two years removed from playing in the Prep Bowl in 2023 when they lost 28-27 to Centennial. Minnetonka was a year removed from losing 28-21 in the finals to Maple Grove in 2024.

Minnetonka lined back up with Francois once again in the backfield. Gutzmer took the snap out of the shotgun and handed to Francois who ran to the right where he was met by a gang of Edina defenders and was tackled well short of the end zone.

With still time on the clock, the Skippers tried on onside kick, but Edina maintained possession and Chase Bjorgaard was able to run for a first down to clinch the epic come-from-behind win for the Hornets.

The game was a tale of two halves. Francois dominated the first half, scoring on runs of 12, 41 and 4 yards. Gutzmer also connected with Parker Burckhardt on a 67-yard score as the Skippers built themselves out to a 28-7 lead. It appeared the Skippers would run away with it.

But the Hornets scored twice in the final 3:18 of the half. Bjorgaard capped off a long drive with a 2-yard TD run and then West helped orchestrate another drive with some key completions, the last being a 19-yard strike to Jabari Strader to make it a 28-21 game at the half.

The Hornets then scored the next three touchdowns to lead 42-28. West hit a striding Sammy Stephenson for a 71-yard touchdown, then scrambled in from 10 yards out for another score early in the fourth quarter. He then hit Strader once again form 44 yards out with 8:55 left.

At that point it appeared Minnetonka’s chances were slim, especially after Francois was seen being treated on the sideline.

But Gutzmer stepped up in a big way, making key completions in key spots and ultimately putting them on the doorstep of a return trip to the Prep Bowl. But it wasn’t to be as the defense, who struggled to stop Francois all night, was able to stop him when it mattered most.

Francois finished with 255 yards rushing on 33 carries and three touchdowns. Gutzmer finished 14-for-24 for 205 yards. He connected with eight different receivers with Burckhardt leading the way with three catches for 93 yards.

Bjorgaard may have been overshadowed by West, but he turned in a gritty performance with 103 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. West completed 16 of 25 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for another 13 yards, including his 10-yard TD run. Strader led the receivers with seven catches, 119 yard and two touchdowns.

Edina improved to 8-4 while Minnetonka fell to 9-3.

The Hornets will play the winner of Lakeville South and Moorhead next Friday in the Prep Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium. Lakeville South defeated Edina 30-28 on Oct. 3 and Edina lost 51-44 to Moorhead in the final regular season game on Oct. 15.

Whoever they draw should make for a great Prep Bowl in Class 6A.

Full Game Stats: https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025-fb-aaaaaa-sf-edina-minnetonka.pdf