Balanced Hornets offense leads
the way in 40-14 victory

by Robert Brent, Let’s Play Football

Edina opened its home schedule Friday night with a rivalry clash against Wayzata in Let’s Play Football’s game of the week. The matchup also served as a celebration of the Hornets’ seniors, a group talented enough to have state-title aspirations.

Before turning their attention to title aspirations, they had to get through the Trojans first.

Team Previews

Edina entered the matchup after winning their opening clash of the season with Hopkins. They won that game 49-21 behind a three-touchdown performance by senior quarterback Mason West.

West, a standout two-sport athlete, made big news when he decided to return to the Edina football team despite being drafted to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Quarterback Mason West often grabs the spotlight, but the Hornets are loaded with talent beyond him. Running back Chase Bjorgaard and receiver Jabari Strader headline a balanced, high-octane offense dangerous on the ground and through the air.

While Edina came into Friday’s matchup off a win, the Wayzata squad lost their opener 44-20 against a highly ranked Andover team (#7 in the state according to the Minnesota Star Tribune).

Wayzata did a good job stopping Andover’s passing attack, allowing just 87 yards through the air on eight completions in 17 attempts. They struggled more against the Huskies’ rushing attack, which ultimately led to the loss.

The Trojans are a mix of experience and younger talent. The team’s starting quarterback, Thor Soukup, is a promising junior, as is one of his main targets on offense: receiver Jaxon Brown. Brown also plays defensive back, joining senior Connor Behr who helps anchor the defensive unit from the line of scrimmage.

Game Recap

Friday night’s matchup started with a bang when the Wayzata Trojans made a play on the opening kickoff. The massive return set up an easy first drive for the Trojans, who scored the first touchdown of the game. Thor Soukup threw a short pass to senior receiver John Evans to open the scoring.

Edina answered quickly, with a methodical drive down the field that included a few big chunk plays. The Hornets made it into the end zone when Mason West linked up with Jabari Strader for West’s first touchdown of the night.

Late in the first quarter, Edina took the lead in the game when Chase Bjorgaard punched in a six-yard rush to put the Hornets up 14-7.

Bjorgaard’s touchdown was the start of a rushing onslaught that Edina unleashed throughout the rest of the first half.

Mason West scored with 6:33 remaining in the half before Bjorgaard added his second touchdown of the night minutes later. West matched Bjorgaard’s two scores with another rushing touchdown of his own with just 23 seconds remaining in the half.

Wayzata blocked an extra point and stopped a two-point conversion along the way, leaving the score 33-7 going into halftime.

Bjorgaard again found the end zone halfway through the third quarter to put the Hornets up 40-7.

The Trojan offense struggled to find rhythm throughout the game. Despite making a few plays that showed they had the ability to move the ball, they struggled to string those plays together consistently.

Wayzata scored late in the game to make it 40-14, but the game was already out of reach. Neither team put any more points on the board, with the Edina Hornets emerging victorious.

Edina Head Coach Jason Potts spoke highly of the team’s effort after the game and reflected on the celebration of the team’s seniors.

“We’re super proud of our players,” Potts said. “I thought we executed well and brought the mental intensity we’d worked on all week. We played as a team, played with love. It was a fantastic community event, and we’re proud of the Edina Hornets.”

Looking Forward

The Hornets will face their stiffest competition of the season far next week when they take on Eden Prairie. The Eagles will be looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season after they fell Friday night to another top team in Maple Grove. Both Edina (#4) and Eden Prairie (#8) were featured in the Star Tribune’s rankings.

Edina will be looking to repeat their performance against Eden Prairie last season, a game in which they knocked off the Eagles 35-14.

The Wayzata Trojans are set to take on St. Michael-Albertville in their next matchup. The Knights are currently 0-2 after dropping their game to Minnetonka 40-7 on Friday night. The Trojans defeated the Knights 33-13 in 2024 and are looking for a repeat performance. 

After that game, Wayzata will be back to their gauntlet of highly-ranked opponents that includes notable matchups against Moorhead, Minnetonka, Maple Grove and Eden Prairie.