Wayzata scored four touchdowns in less than seven minutes during the second quarter on its way to a 38-14 win over Edina Sept. 10 at Wayzata High School.
The Trojans intercepted three Edina passes during the second quarter, with each turnover leading to a Wayzata touchdown. The victory moved Wayzata to 2-0 after the Trojans finished 1-8 last season.
Wayzata travels to St. Michael-Albertville tonight, Sept. 18, for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The video above is from CCX Media, with Jay Wilcox reporting.
“The Wayzata football team began their season with new head coach Derrin Lamker leading the charge on the first day of practice. Lamker is taking over the Trojan program after one year at Osseo. The Trojans haven’t had a winning season in five years, but are optimistic with the start they’ve gotten off to and energy that Lamker has brought. Wayzata will kick off their season at Andover on Thursday, September 3rd.” via CCX Media.
Wayzata High School has hired veteran coach Derrin Lamker as the next head coach of the Trojansfootball program according to CCX Media, bringing decades of experience across both high school and collegiate levels — and a clear focus on student-athletes and culture.
Lamker said the decision to come to Wayzata aligned closely with his personal values after meeting with district and school leadership.
“They’re unbelievable. They work well together,” Lamker said. “They have clear and concise goals and what they want to do and excellence and give you a great experience for the student-athletes is what they want to do and it just fit my values and what I was looking for,” he stated in a CCX interview.
Lampker returns to the high school ranks after six seasons coaching at Augsburg University. Most recently, he led Osseo High School this fall, returning to a program he previously coached for 11 seasons. During that earlier stint, Lamker compiled a 74–39 record and guided Osseo to a state championship in 2015.
Reflecting on his return to high school football, Lamker said the experience reinforced what matters most in the role.
“The one year back in high school after six in college really kind of got me back into you know the needs and the wants of the student athletes and then we’re here to make their experience great,” he said. “I think a lot of people forget that it’s about giving those student athletes great experience they only get one shot at it and that’s something that you know I’m really passionate about but also making sure that that Friday night is really special for them.”
Wayzata finished last season 1–8, but Lamker said expectations for the program should remain high — particularly in a large, competitive school community.
“I want the expectations high,” Lamker said. “You if you don’t expect to win or think you should win or want to be a champion, then I don’t know why you’re playing. I hate it. So I really love that. You know, the expectations are lit and that’s what you should be doing in a school with this many numbers and this many kids.”
Lamker indicated he views Wayzata as the final head coaching stop of his career, bringing a long-term mindset to building the program.
For Wayzata football, the hire signals a commitment to experience, accountability, and a renewed focus on making Friday nights — and the full student-athlete journey — meaningful once again.
Wayzata High School head football coach Lambert Brown has resigned from his position, closing a remarkable chapter defined by championship success, personal mentorship, and a deep investment in the lives of student-athletes.
Image courtesy of X.
Brown took over the Wayzata program in 2016 after longtime head coach Brad Anderson stepped down following 18 seasons and three state championships. He arrived with a strong coaching résumé, having previously led programs at Fridley and Chaska and serving on staff at White Bear Lake. A former Concordia University–St. Paul player and All-Conference selection, Brown brought both experience and a steady, relationship-driven leadership style to one of Minnesota’s premier football schools.
His impact was quickly felt. After rebuilding the Trojans through the late 2010s, Brown guided Wayzata to an undefeated regular season and the 2019 Class 6A state championship. The following year, he was selected as Minnesota’s nominee and ultimately the national runner-up for the NFL’s Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, one of the sport’s top honors for integrity, character, and community influence.
Brown shared the news quietly with his coaching staff Sunday evening following the senior banquet, wanting the night to remain centered on the players. “I didn’t want the announcement to take anything away from the banquet or the seniors,” he said. “That night was for them. I wanted to keep the focus where it belonged.” He notified players the following day.
Christian Vasser scores a touch down in the 2019 State Championship.
Reflecting on his tenure, Brown said that while the Trojans’ 2019 state championship remains an unforgettable moment, it was never the wins alone that defined the job for him. “Yeah, the state championship was incredible — something we’ll always remember,” he said. “But for me, the real highlights were watching kids grow. Seeing boys turn into young men, seeing them leave the program better people… that’s what this job is really about.”
Under his leadership, Wayzata football became known for a culture centered on humility, accountability, and community impact. Brown’s expectations went beyond the field: leave spaces better than they were found, treat everyone with respect, and carry themselves as leaders in the building. His approach helped shape generations of Trojans, many of whom credit him with instilling values they carry well beyond high school.
Image courtesy Lambert Brown.
Brown spoke openly about how at peace he feels with the decision. “I’m completely at peace with it,” he said. “This is the first time in a long time I’ve woken up without that weight on my shoulders. It feels right.”
As for what comes next, he said there is no immediate plan besides focusing on family. “I just want to put my family first and enjoy my son’s senior year,” Brown shared. “I’ve missed a lot of moments over the years. I want to be there for this one.”
Beyond football strategy and Friday night lights, Brown described Wayzata as a community that welcomed him, supported him, and made the experience meaningful. “Honestly, I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to coach at Wayzata,” he said. “It’s a special place, and the relationships I’ve been able to build with these kids, their families, and the staff — that’s what means the most to me.”
His resignation marks the end of a significant era for Wayzata football. But the impact of his leadership — measured in character, relationships, and the growth of the young people he coached — will remain woven into the fabric of the program.
The Wayzata Trojans football team wrapped up the regular season Wednesday night with a 35–14 loss at Eden Prairie, finishing 1–7 heading into section play.
Eden Prairie struck twice in the opening quarter to grab early momentum, then added two more touchdowns in the third to build a commanding 28–0 lead. With the Eagles’ starters resting in the fourth quarter, Wayzata broke through for a pair of touchdowns to close out the night on a positive note.
The Class 6A state bracket was announced Thursday, placing Wayzata as the No. 7 seed. The Trojans will travel to Lakeville South on Friday, October 24, to face the No. 2–seeded Cougars (6–2). Lakeville South enters the postseason following a narrow 20–15 loss to Rosemount on October 15.
Wayzata will look to channel its late offensive rhythm and play spoiler against one of the state’s top defensive teams as the playoffs get underway.
The Wayzata Trojans broke into the win column Friday night with a dominant 45–3 victory over Park of Cottage Grove, moving their record to 1–4 on the season.
Wayzata wasted no time establishing control. Jaxon Brown opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, followed quickly by a 10-yard burst from Zander Harrell to make it 14–0 in the first quarter. The Trojans kept the pressure on as Sam Booh powered in from three yards out, and a last-second field goal by Felix Miguel Balthazar sent them into halftime with a 24–0 lead.
The third quarter sealed the outcome. Brown electrified the visiting crowd with a 65-yard punt return touchdown, quarterback Thor Soukup connected with Peter Milkes on a 40-yard strike, and Luke Boutwell capped the onslaught with a 23-yard scoring run. Park managed only a late field goal to avoid the shutout.
With their first win in hand, Wayzata now turns its attention to one of the most anticipated games of the season: the Battle for the Bay Bell. The Trojans will host undefeated Minnetonka (5–0) on Friday, October 3. The Skippers are riding high after a 21–14 upset of Eden Prairie, their first victory over the Eagles in 20 years.
The matchup carries extra intrigue with the return of Matt Lombardi, Minnetonka’s defensive coordinator who helped guide Wayzata to state titles in 2005, 2008, and 2010. The Skippers also feature electric running back Caleb Francois, who has been torching defenses all fall.
Homecoming kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wayzata High School Stadium.
Editor’s note: This article has been lightly edited to correct typographical errors.
The Wayzata Trojans came up just short Friday night, falling 15-14 to Saint Michael-Albertville after a missed two-point conversion in the final minute sealed their third straight loss to open the season.
The Knights struck first following a turnover on downs by Wayzata on its opening drive. STMA marched 82 yards in 10 plays, capping the possession with a two-yard touchdown run by senior running back Wyatt Mosher. The extra point made it 7-0 with 5:04 remaining in the first quarter.
Wayzata answered early in the second quarter with a drive of its own. Quarterback Thor Soukup engineered an eight-play, 66-yard series, finishing it off with a three-yard touchdown run. The Trojans opted for two and converted, taking an 8-7 lead at the 7:55 mark of the second.
But just before halftime, STMA capitalized on field position and swung the momentum back its way. After taking over deep in Wayzata territory, the Knights needed only five plays to cover 15 yards. Mosher again powered in, this time from the one-yard line, and the Knights converted their two-point try. That put Saint Michael-Albertville up 15-8 heading into the break.
Wayzata’s defense gave the Trojans multiple chances to stay in the game, coming up with three interceptions on the night. Senior defensive back Max Beninga snagged two, while Jaxon Brown added another takeaway, keeping the Knights from extending their lead in the second half.
Despite the turnovers, the Trojans struggled to finish drives until the final minute of the game. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, quarterback Thor Soukup connected with wide receiver John Evans on a long strike from midfield, pulling Wayzata within a single point at 15-14.
Head coach Lambert Brown elected to go for two and the win, putting the ball back in Soukup’s hands. But Saint Michael-Albertville defensive back Beckett Young leapt to deflect the pass attempt, preserving the Knights’ narrow victory.
The loss drops Wayzata Football to 0-3 on the season, while STMA improves to 2-1.
Looking ahead, Wayzata returns home to face Moorhead, who enter the matchup sitting at 2-1 on the season. The Spuds dropped their most recent game to Minnetonka by a 47-21 margin but come in with solid wins over Rogers and Woodbury.
The Wayzata Trojans struck first Friday night, but the momentum was short-lived as Edina’s balanced attack carried the Hornets to a 40–14 victory at Kuhlman Stadium.
Wayzata opened with promise, marching down the field and capping the drive with a touchdown to go up 7–0 early in the first quarter. Edina answered quickly. Quarterback Mason West connected with wideout Jabari Strader at the 4:47 mark to even the score, and just over a minute later running back Chase Bjorgaard powered in to give the Hornets a 14–7 lead.
From there, Edina controlled the game. West scored on a keeper midway through the second quarter, Bjorgaard added his second touchdown run with 2:24 before halftime, and West struck again in the final seconds of the half to make it 33–7.
By the end of the third quarter, the Hornets stretched the margin to 40–7. Wayzata found the end zone once more in the fourth, but it was too late to close the gap.
The Trojans, now 0–2, will look to regroup quickly as the season schedule tightens.
Next Up
Wayzata will host St. Michael–Albertville on Friday, September 12, at 7 p.m. at Wayzata High School. Like the Trojans, the Knights enter the matchup 0–2 after falling to Champlin Park 21–12 in their opener and suffering a 40–7 defeat to Minnetonka Friday night.
The Wayzata Trojans took the field Thursday night with the energy of a new season and the weight of recent history. The program has weathered ups and downs the past two years — finishing 2–7 in 2023 before bouncing back to 4–5 in 2024, a campaign highlighted by a gritty late-season win at Anoka. That backdrop set the stage for a marquee opener against Andover, one of the state’s top Class 5A programs, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
The game began with plenty of promise. The Huskies struck first, punching in a one-yard score from quarterback Joseph Mapson late in the first quarter to take a 10–0 lead. But Wayzata answered quickly. After a spirited kickoff return by Sam Boo, quarterback Thor Soukup dropped back and hit Jackson Brown in the end zone for the Trojans’ first touchdown of the season. The student section roared as Wayzata cut the margin to 10–6 at the end of the quarter.
Soukup’s arm was a storyline all night. The senior unleashed deep throws with ease, hitting receivers in stride on attempts that traveled 50 yards through the air. Several of those passes had the crowd gasping, even when they slipped through the hands of intended targets. The connection wasn’t always there, but the potential was unmistakable — and something Trojan fans can look forward to as the season progresses.
From there, the night became a showcase for Mapson. The Andover senior showed both speed and power, including a stunning 78-yard dash on the second play of the third quarter that stretched the Huskies’ lead to 24–6. He would finish with five rushing touchdowns and one passing score, powering an Andover offense that piled up nearly 300 yards on the ground.
Soukup kept battling, throwing for two touchdowns and adding a rushing score to keep the Trojans’ sideline engaged. Wayzata tacked on points late, finding rhythm in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
The final score:
Andover 44 (10 | 7 | 7 | 20)
Wayzata 20 (6 | 0 | 0 | 14)
While the opener ended in defeat, there were bright spots for the Trojans — Soukup’s arm strength, Brown’s playmaking, and Boo’s spark on special teams all gave the home crowd reason to believe. And though the program has endured tough seasons in recent years, Thursday’s effort showed a team still fighting, still competing, and still playing for community pride.
Wayzata drops to 0–1 but showed promise against one of the state’s best. The road ahead is long, and Trojan fans know better than anyone that seasons are measured in how a team responds.
Next Up, Edina
The Trojans won’t have long to dwell on the opener. Wayzata heads back under the lights Friday night at 7:00 p.m.when they travel to face Edina at Kuhlman Stadium. The Hornets are coming off a commanding 49–21 win over Hopkins, a game where they piled up more than 200 yards passing and another 200 rushing to put it away early.
It means the Trojans will step into a charged road atmosphere against an opponent that has shown the ability to score in bunches. For Wayzata, the challenge is clear: tighten up defensively, build on the flashes from Thor Soukup’s arm and the special teams spark from Sam Boo, and carry that fight into one of the toughest venues in the Metro.
“After a 4-5 season last fall, the Wayzata football team is eager to continue to stack more wins in 2025. The Trojans have a new starting quarterback in Thor Soukup. He’ll have several wideout weapons including Sam Booh, Johnny Evans, and Jaxon Brown. The Trojans have a new defensive coordinator in Chuck Hartman. Key players in the Wayzata defense include outside linebacker Kai Westman and defensive backs Matthew Berkland and Chase Low. The Trojans will kick off their season at home on Thursday vs. Andover.” via CCX Media.
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