Lakeville South hits game-winning field goal to defeat Lakeville North

The Cougars recovered a fumble deep in Panther territory to set up the kick

LAKEVILLE, Minn. — The No. 2 Lakeville South Cougars defeated the No. 3 Lakeville North Panthers 24-21 Friday at Lakeville North High School. The win marks five in a row for the Cougars in the rivalry.

Lakeville South kicker Jack Kimmel hit a 31-yard field goal to win the game. Lakeville North fumbled the ball at their own 20-yard line with one minute remaining in the game to set up the field goal. 

Lakeville South scored two touchdowns and the final field goal in the fourth quarter to win the game. 

Multiple Panther turnovers kept the Cougars in the game, and the Cougars answered every time the Panthers scored. The only moment the Cougars led the game was at the final buzzer.

The Cougars find Bo

Late in the fourth quarter and down a touchdown, Lakeville South faced a 4th and 12 inside Panther territory. The Cougars had passed for just 38 yards in the game to that point.

Junior quarterback Gaven Dean rolled to his right. Junior running back Bo Bokman, lined up as a wide receiver, ran 12 yards and turned around. It was the only thing that he knew to do, but he caught the pass for a first down.

"We had two plays called there," Bokman said. "I knew one, and I didn't know the other one. They called the other one. I said, "Oh crap, what do I run?' I just went to the sticks and turned around."

Dean said the Cougars installed that pass play this week.

"We've never ran that before," Dean said. "Our number one wideout, who was supposed to run that route was sick tonight. So it was just a random receiver running a random route. It was a miracle."

A Lakeville North pass interference penalty put the Cougars close to the goal line. Bokman, a transfer student who had few touches to that point in the game, then scored a rushing touchdown to tie the game at 21.

Panther mistakes, Cougar opportunities

Lakeville North had critical mistakes in the game.

The first was on special teams in the first quarter when a blocked punt gave Lakeville South its only touchdown of the first half.

The second was an interception in the end zone that ended a long drive.

The third was a fumble on the first play of their last drive to set up the Lakeville South field goal. Kimmel had missed a field goal earlier in the game, but he was confident he could make the game-winner.

"I feel a rush of amazement," Kimmel said. "I made the final kick to win the game. I locked in."

Lakeville North's run game looked good

The Panthers were the more successful offense through three quarters. Their offensive line was able to carry the offense on multiple drives, and running backs Sawyer Wilke and Sam Ripplinger pushed for extra yards.

They ended with 203 yards on the ground with 100 from Wilke and 80 from Ripplinger.

"My offensive line, love them," Wilke said. "Couldn't do what I do without them."

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