With Underhill Out for the Year, Wayzata Seniors Will Lead Trojan Ground Attack

It was Black Friday of last year, and instead of knocking over ravenous women at a local retail store for a Tickle Me Elmo, Wayzata’s sophomore running back Mitch Underhill was busy running away from defenders on Minnesota football’s biggest high school stage.

As a 15-year-old, he wasn’t quite able to drive a car, but Underhill took the steering wheel for Wayzata in last year’s Prep Bowl victory—running through, around, in between and right by defenders for 247 yards on 12 carries, including touchdown runs of 45, 66, 58 and 58 yards.

Now, in his highly anticipated junior season, Underhill will have to cheer from the sideline.

Underhill tweaked his knee on a second quarter run and was kept out of play in the second half of last week's season opening victory over Prior Lake as a precaution. An MRI on Tuesday, Sept. 6, revealed significant damage to Underhill's ACL, which is enough to keep him from participating in his weekly habit of running away from defenders.

This kind of injury is a high-school football star’s worst nightmare. But the upside here—if there is one in the mind of a high-school competitor—is that Underhill still has one more year to show Minnesota prep football how to dance through a defense when carrying the pigskin.

“He is going through some grieving and some loss because he has put in a ton of work for this season,” head coach Brad Anderson said. “When you are 15 or 16 years old, it’s tough to talk about next year.”

For the Wayzata football team, there is no reason to think about next year. Their season has just begun, and it’s a season where the defending state champs will have to fend off other big dogs like Eden Prairie and Minnetonka—each looking to snatch a chunk of state-championship meat.

The overall offensive game plan will not change though, according to coach Anderson. The team always tries to establish the run early in games and will continue to do so.

“We are going to run, run and run and hopefully that will open up the pass,” senior captain and starting quarterback Nick Martin said.

The rushing attack is now in the hands of seniors Antonio Ford, a transfer from Coon Rapids, and Erik Roti. The two have different running styles, which coach Anderson said Wayzata will use in situations that play to their respective skills. Ford is tough between the tackles, and Roti is a slasher type with break-away speed.

“We aren’t going to ask them to replace Mitch,” coach Anderson said. “But we will ask them to do things that play to their strengths.”

Underhill will be missed in more ways than one. Being the only returning starter on offense, no other player knows the Wayzata system better. In fact, the coaches used videos of Underhill to show the new offense how to execute plays and the new ball carriers how to read blocks.

His leadership on Friday nights will also be missed, but Coach Anderson expects Underhill to stay involved by encouraging and instructing other players during this season.

Underhill will also need to work hard on rehab and strengthening throughout the season so he is ready for next year, but he isn’t a stranger to hard work.

“It’s going to take some time for the body to heal,” Anderson said. “But I’m not worried about it. Mitch has always been good at preparing.”