Seven days gave Champlin Park two very different ways to measure itself. The latest required considerably less suspense.
The Rebels scored on their opening possession against Rogers on Friday, forced a three-and-out and turned junior defensive back Mario Robinson’s blocked punt into a safety. By the end of the first quarter, Champlin Park led 23-0. By halftime, it was 37-6. A 44-13 victory completed the Rebels’ fourth win in four games and showed what can happen when the pieces that carried them through a much different test one week earlier begin working together.
Champlin Park rushed for 220 yards and finished with 310 yards of offense. Senior running back Preston Nelson carried 14 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, while senior quarterback Cash Miller completed 4 of 5 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Miles Felton added a touchdown through the air and another on the ground.
The defense left Rogers with even less room to operate. The Royals finished with minus-13 rushing yards on 24 attempts, while Champlin Park recorded four sacks and three tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive back Amir Rogers had two sacks and forced a fumble.
“Our defensive line was dominant,” Champlin Park head coach Nick Keenan said.
That part was familiar. What changed against Rogers was how much help the defense received.
Centennial entered its Sept. 18 matchup against the Rebels without having allowed a point. Champlin Park scored on its opening drive but spent much of the night fighting through penalties, an interception and missed opportunities to create separation. Senior linebacker Damon Torke returned an interception for a touchdown, the defense protected the lead, and the Rebels left with a 14-7 road victory.
One Friday showed Champlin Park could survive its imperfections. The next showed how dangerous the Rebels could become as those imperfections began to disappear.
“We cleaned up the execution and the penalties,” Keenan said after the Rogers win. “The better weather helped the passing game.”
That contrast has given Champlin Park something more useful than two additions to the win column. Four games into the season, the Rebels are beginning to learn that they do not need the same formula every Friday.
Against Centennial, Felton watched the defense give the offense room to struggle without allowing those struggles to dictate the game.
“The game felt like we were always in control after scoring on the first drive, even when offense got rocky with a turnover and penalties,” Felton said. “I think we ultimately won when we weren’t rattled by my interception and seeing how well the defense was playing.”
Senior linebacker Logan Leonhardt saw the same control developing closer to the line of scrimmage. Centennial wanted to establish its inside running game. Champlin Park took it away.
“The game was ultimately won when we shut down all of their go-to plays and they started running stuff they aren’t used to running,” Leonhardt said. “Centennial is a very heavy inside-run team, and they couldn’t get anything there.”
Keenan believes everything Champlin Park does defensively begins with that ability to dictate terms up front.
“It starts up front,” Keenan said. “I firmly believe we have the best defensive line in the state, and they set the tone for everything we do.”
That defensive front has given Champlin Park a steady foundation through its unbeaten start. Against Centennial, the Rebels leaned on it throughout a tight 14-7 win. A week later against Rogers, the offense, defense and special teams complemented one another from the start, offering a glimpse of what Champlin Park can look like when all three phases come together.
The larger transformation, however, has taken longer than a few weeks.
Keenan described last season as a period when Champlin Park was still learning how to compete. Much of that roster returned, allowing the Rebels to carry lessons from one season directly into another. What Keenan sees now is “unshakable confidence and complete trust.”
Centennial gave Champlin Park an opportunity to prove that description meant something when the game became uncomfortable.
“I learned that we are a very connected unit even when facing adversity,” Felton said. “We were never down on each other and trust our guys.”
Felton and Leonhardt have spent four years in the program, and Keenan points to both as examples of the work ethic, leadership and willingness to fill whatever role the team requires. Felton believes the continuity throughout the roster has allowed this year’s team to begin from a different place.
“With a lot of the same guys, it’s easy to stack this season on top of last one,” Felton said. “We are much better than we were this time last year offensively and defensively.”
Leonhardt sees another difference in the Rebels’ depth. Competition throughout the roster raises the level of practice, while the ability to rotate players helps Champlin Park remain fresh. That depth also makes the Rebels harder to define by any one player, phase or style of victory.
That was evident against Rogers. The offense produced six touchdowns. The defense overwhelmed the running game. Special teams contributed points before the first quarter was over.
A week earlier, Champlin Park showed it could stay composed and win a tight game. Against Rogers, the Rebels showed what could happen when all three phases found their rhythm together.
The Rebels are 4-0 and have not been shy about where they want the season to go.
“We are all in and focused on one goal,” Leonhardt said, “and that goal is to win the state championship.”
For Keenan, getting there means keeping the focus on what remains unfinished.
“We’re happy where we are at, but we still have a lot of things to improve on,” Keenan said. “We strive for perfection and set game goals and we have yet to achieve all of them.”