Victory against Sabers on Homecoming night

  • The student sections, cheerleaders, and dance team watch the Homecoming football game.

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  • Malik Lofton, senior, eludes a Sabers tackle.

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  • Geoff and Midori sing the National Anthem before the Homecoming game.

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  • Offensive linemen await the ball snap.

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  • A Royal gets tackled by several Sabers.

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  • The senior class in all green cheers on their classmates at the Homecoming football game.

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  • The senior class cheers on their classmates at the Homecoming football game.

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  • The junior class, clad in orange, cheers on the Royals football team.

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  • Oscar Johnson, senior, throws a pass to his teammate in the Homecoming football game.

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  • Jack Doyle and Isaac Kadoun, seniors, face the American flag before donning their helmets.

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  • The student section cheers during the Homecoming football game.

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Max Weesner and Alex Kim

All went according to plan for the Royals on Friday.

Hopkins limited the Sabers’ running attack and capitalized on a weak Shakopee secondary, just as they planned.

By limiting the Sabers to 2.1 rushing yards per carry, the Royals defense forced Shakopee to do something they hadn’t done successfully all year: throw the football. Shakopee quarterback Travis Larsen threw 19 passes, his second highest total all season, completing only six of those attempts.

Malik Lofton and Chris Stubbs, juniors, were instrumental in stopping the Sabers’ offense. Lofton intercepted a Larsen pass, returning it 34 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Stubbs also sacked Larsen twice.

On offense, senior quarterback Oscar Johnson led an aerial assault on the Sabers’ defense. Johnson completed 68 percent of his passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Senior receiver Alex Bowers accounted for over half of Johnson’s yards, reeling in five catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.

The Royals will look to keep the momentum going when they travel to the Wayzata High School stadium at 7 pm on September 25 to face off with the Trojans.