Statistically, it was nearly a dead heat. Mounds View racked up 337 yards, Park 304.
But the scoreboard told a different story as visiting Mounds View spoiled a late season Park homecoming night with a 37-12 victory Friday.
Park fell to 2-5 on the season with the non-conference loss. Mounds View improved to 5-2.
Mounds View led 7-3 after one quarter then poured it on in the second period, outscoring Park 20-3 and taking a 27-6 halftime lead. An 11-yard Mounds View touchdown pass with just nine seconds left in the first half was a backbreaker for the Wolfpack.
Park’s offense moved the ball but stalled near the red zone and managed just two Matthew Kamande field goals in the first half.
The second half was anticlimactic, with both team’s offenses struggling to score. Mounds View went up 34-6 with a third-quarter touchdown. Park senior quarterback Miskir Esayas finally got the Wolfpack in the end zone on a 6-yard run with just 6:48 left in the fourth quarter.
Park also had two turnovers, one interception and one fumble to none for the Mustangs. Park was also just 2 of 8 in third-down efficiency, but 2-for-2 on fourth downs.
Esayas had most of Park’s offense, completing 11 of 17 passes for 155 yards and rushing for 25 more yards and a touchdown. Sophomore signal caller Esten Erickson completed 3 of 4 passes for 32 yards.
Dom Batts led Park’s receivers with three catches for 84 yards. Naod Tewelde had three catches for 40 yards and Bryan Wright had three receptions for 32 yards.
Park managed just 117 yards on the ground, led by Zach Carr’s 57 yards on nine attempts. Leading rusher Kody Aikens gained 18 yards on seven tries.
Mounds View gained most of its success on the ground, rushing for 291 yards with just 46 yards passing.
Defensively, Park’s Aidan Boche had seven tackles, three assists and a tackle for a loss. Carr had eight total tackles, Keon Moody seven, while Jarius Boston had five solo tackles, an assist, a sack and a tackle for a loss.
Park plays at Stillwater Thursday in the final game of the regular season. Stillwater (3-4) has struggled somewhat this season, with losses to top-ranked Lakeville North (7-27), Forest Lake (21-27), White Bear Lake (17-24) and Edina (16-19) and wins over Woodbury (34-15), East Ridge (24-6) and Mounds View (33-14). Stillwater won last year’s game with Park, 58-20.