Antonio Montero, the StarTribune's Metro Player of the Year put on a show for the large throng in attendance Friday night as he scored three touchdowns and booted a field goal to lead the Eden Prairie Eagles to a 38-17 win over the Minnetonka Skippers in the Class 6A championship game in the 2017 Prep Bowl at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
It was the 11th state championship for the Mike Grant led Eagles in their 21st trip to state. The game was a rematch of a game played October 13 that the Eagles won 39-21.
Solo Faliniko was an asset in Eden Prairie's first touchdown. He gained 12 yards to set up first and goal at the Minnetonka seven yard line. He reached the end zone on his next carry. It looked like Grant Harstad would score the Eagles net touchdown. But the replay official ruled that he was stopped at the one yard line which would enable Montero to score on a one yard run. The Skippers would get on the scoreboard on a 21 yard field goal from Grant Altman and the Eagles led 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Montero would open the second quarter scoring for Eden Prairie with his second one yard touchdown. Aaron Syverson's 33 yard touchdown pass to Owen Freese would trim the Eagles lead to 21-10. Defense would also prevail for Eden Prairie as Kyler Kluge would intercept a Syverson pass. Montero would also excel with his foot as he sent the ball toward the goal posts and it would go over from 42 yards with :44 left in the half. The Skippers had the last possession of the first half so Syverson threw a long pass toward the end zone and Jackson Owens would make a great catch as the clock hit 0:00 and Eden Prairie led 21-17 at halftime.
Running back depth has been the key to the Eagles success and it showed when DJ Johnson ran left side six yards for the lone third quarter touchdown.
Montero would wrap up the scoring and his Eden Prairie football career with a one yard touchdown run. With the game decided late in the fourth quarter. Grant gave the reserve players a chance to shine on the US Bank Stadium turf.
The Eagles ended their season with a 13-0 record and the Skippers finish with a record of 11-2.
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