High School

Live score updates: Maple Grove defeats Shakopee in MSHSL Class 6A semifinal (11/15/2024)

Get score updates from the Minnesota high school football playoff game between the Crimson and the Sabers

Jack Butler, SBLive Sports

Shakopee plays Maple Grove in the 2024 Class 6A semifinals on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium
Shakopee plays Maple Grove in the 2024 Class 6A semifinals on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium / Jeff Lawler

MINNEAPOLIS — The No. 1-seed Maple Grove Crimson (12-0) defeated the No. 2-seed Shakopee Sabers (10-2) 26-14 in the 2024 MSHSL Class 6A semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday.

The Crimson have rolled all season. They've been tied in the second half, but it took 12 games and a matchup against the Sabers for them to face their first second-half deficit of 2024.

Shakopee led 14-13 with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter when Maple Grove began another drive. Maple Grove, a typically balanced offense, had struggled to throw the ball. Quarterback Kaden Harney had three interceptions and only one completed pass.

So the Crimson leaned on their senior star running back, Charles Langama, for the remainder of the game, and what followed was two, four-play touchdown drives for 71 yards. Both were finished with long Langama touchdown runs.

"To be able to come back the way we did, to put our will on them, that was awesome to have," Maple Grove coach Adam Spurrell said.

Langama finished with 198 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Fellow running back Patrick Wright finished with 75 yards.

"They’re probably isn’t a tougher one-two running back combination in the state," Spurrell said. "I do make the argument that we are really tough to plan for with all the weapons that we have."

Until those two drives, the Shakopee defense had contained Maple Grove as well as anyone all season. The Sabers made Harney feel their presence with blitzes and a strong pass rush.

"That’s our identity," Shakopee head coach Ray Betton said. "That’s what we worked for all summer."

Meanwhile, the Maple Grove defense contained every aspect of the Shakopee offense. The Crimson held the Sabers to 103 total yards of offense.

"We’ve got the greatest defense in the state, and we have fun out there," Maple Grove linebacker Jacob Wrbanek said. "I was not for a moment worried about what they could do. … There’s nothing that they did that could scare me, but having [Langama] run a few and get that pressure off, it definitely helps."

For Shakopee, this was the first trip to the state semifinals in school history.

"Right now it’s hard to, but maybe after some time goes by, these kids will realize how good this team was," Betton said. "This team will be remembered for a while."

Maple Grove will play for its second state championship in school history on Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m. The Crimson will play a familiar foe in Minnetonka. They played earlier this season, and Maple Grove won 31-21, but they also face their old head coach, Matt Lombardi, who won the Crimson the title in 2022 and is now the defensive coordinator at Minnetonka.

Regardless, Maple Grove is always a confident group.

"The whole summer, everything we have done, we have won," Spurrell said. "Whether its 7-on-7 tournaments […] our JV went undefeated this year. The plan is to go finish it this week."

Maple Grove vs. Shakopee Class 6A MSHSL Semifinals Live Score Updates

Teams are on the field for the coin toss and we'll begin shortly.

First Quarter Updates

FUMBLE BY SHAKOPEE! Shakopee's Emmanuel Taye fumble the opening kickoff and Maple Grove recovers. The Crimson will take over at the Shakopee 22-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN MAPLE GROVE! On the first play of the drive, running back Charles Langama scores on a 22-yard touchdown run. PAT is good. Maple Grove leads 7-0 only 11 seconds into the game.

TOUCHDOWN SHAKOPEE! Taye then returns the ensuing kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown. PAT is good. The game is tied 7-7 with 11:35 remaining in the first quarter.

FUMBLE BY SHAKOPEE! Judah Forsberg is stripped by Maple Grove defender Dylan Vokal. The Crimson will take over on their 46-yard line with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.

INTERCEPTION BY SHAKOPEE! Maple Grove quarterback Kaden Harney throws an interception to Shakopee's Blake Betton. The Sabers will take over on their own 20-yard line with one minute remaining in the first quarter.

End of First Quarter: Shakopee 7, Maple Grove 7

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN MAPLE GROVE! Langama scores on a 2-yard rush. PAT is no good. Maple Grove 13, Shakopee 7 with 10:10 remaining in the first half.

HALFTIME: Maple Grove 13, Shakopee 7

Teams are back on the field to warm up for the second half.

Third Quarter Updates

Maple Grove receives the kickoff and we're underway.

INTERCEPTION BY SHAKOPEE! Betton intercepts his second pass of the game after Harney was hit when he threw a pass. Shakopee will take over at the Maple Grove 20-yard line.

INTERCEPTION BY SHAKOPEE! Brody Miller intercepts Harney, who has now thrown three interceptions today, and Shakopee will have the ball at the 1-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN SHAKOPEE! TJ Clark runs in a 1-yard touchdown. PAT is good. Shakopee leads 14-13 with 1:49 remaining in the quarter.

TOUCHDOWN MAPLE GROVE! Langama with the 40-yard touchdown run. Shakopee stops the Crimson's 2-point attempt. Maple Grove 19, Shakopee 14 with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

End of Third Quarter: Maple Grove 19, Shakopee 14

Fourth Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN MAPLE GROVE! Langama with a 43-yard touchdown run. PAT is good. Maple Grove leads 26-14 with 7:09 remaining in the game.

Final: Maple Grove 26, Shakopee 14

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Jack Butler, SBLive Sports
JACK BUTLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Jack Butler is a Regional Editor for SBLive Sports, covering Minnesota and Michigan. 

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