For the second time this season, it was a "Battle of the Eagles" that was highlighted by Gaylor Flomo's two touchdowns that included the game winner with 5:28 left to play to lead Totino-Grace to a 28-20 win over Eden Prairie in the Class AAAAAA championship game Friday night at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
It was the 10th state title for the Fridley based school in their 26th trip to the state tournament. It was also a rematch of the season opener on September 1 where Totino-Grace held off Eden Prairie 17-14.
Eden Prairie would score the only touchdown of the first quarter as Kyle Connolly fielded a punt and scampered down the field like he was headed for Highway 212 and scored on an 86 yard return.
It looked like there would be no scoring in the second quarter. Totino-Grace got deep in Eden Prairie territory and Flomo scored on a one yard run with :11 left in the half. Both teams would head to the locker room with the halftime score even at seven.
Defense would prevail for Eden Prairie in the third quarter when Devionne Young sacked Totino-Grace quarterback Kyle Halverson. On the offensive end of the football, sophomore quarterback Cole Kramer threw a 28 yard touchdown pass to Connolly to put Eden Prairie ahead 14-7.
On to the fourth quarter. Could Eden Prairie avenge the early season loss to Totino-Grace? Not on a cold November night in downtown Minneapolis. Totino-Grace got a break when a fourth and one situation resulted in a first down due to an encroachment penalty against Eden Prairie. Halverson made the most of the opportunity and threw a two yard touchdown pass to Rocky Kreuser to even the game at 14. Flomo would score his second touchdown from one yard to put Totino-Grace ahead and they would get the ball back on a fumble recovery by Shawn Pryzbilla. Ivan Burlak would score from two yards to clinch the state title. Eden Prairie would tally on the game's final drive as Carlos Williams scored on a seven yard run just as the clock hit zero.
Burlak led Totino-Grace with 161 rushing yards on 24 carries. Connolly led Eden Prairie with sven completions for 109 yards.
Totino-Grace ended their season with a 13-0 record and Eden Prairie finished with an 11-2 record.
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