ONE STEP FROM TOP

As Yogi Berra once quipped: “It’s like déjà vu all over again.”
Ryan Meagher broke free for a long touchdown run from the first play from scrimmage for the second straight week and Minneota went on to a 63-6 romp over previously unbeaten Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in the Class A state semifinals Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Meagher’s 65-yard scamper on the game’s first play was the exact play that was called on the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage the previous week that went for 81 yards in a 55-0 rout of Braham in the state quarterfinals in St. Cloud.
“It’s a similar play; not the exact same play,:” said Minneota offensive coordinator Matt Myrvik. “It was supposed to go in a gap and Ryan read his blocks and bounced it outside. It is just based on how defenses line up or how we feel we like to attack them. When we throw in some motion it is not always easy for defenses to adjust when we are able to run in multiple gaps with similar looks. Also, Ryan has the ability to make plays look better than they are.”
Minneota has outscored its two state tournament opponents 118-6 and outgained them 1,208-124 in total yards despite having a size disadvantage against both teams.
“I think we have been able to overcome their size with quickness, discipline and being physical,” said Minneota head coach Chad Johnston. “We haven’t been pushed around like you would think against bigger opponents.”
The defending state champion Vikings (13-0) would tack on eight more touchdowns, three more by Meagher, to advance to the state championship against Springfield at 10 a.m. Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Meagher finished with 186 yards and four touchdowns in 16 carries against BBE, all in the first half. He watched the second half from the sideline as Minneota had a 49-0 halftime lead.
The Vikings’ offense and defense are playing as well as they have all season.
“I think it is a combination of many things, but right now they are just executing the offense at a high level,” said Myrvik. “Guys are getting to the next level and making the blocks. The pass game has been good and Ryan is making the right reads. The ability to stay ahead of the chains and not get into long-distance situations always helps to give you many options, and we have been able to spread the ball around a bit.”
Each of Minneota’s nine touchdowns in the game were followed by Ian Myhre’s conversion kicks. The Vikings were never forced to punt and owned a 41:48 to 18:12 time of possession advantage.
The defense has been applying pressure on opposing backfields as evidenced by eight tackles for a loss against the Jaguars, including two sacks by Sawyer DeSmet.
The Vikings limited BBE to just four first downs and 83 total yards. Minneota compiled 28 first downs and 593 yards of total offense.
After Meagher’s touchdown to open the game, the Vikings forced BBE to punt and then went on a nine-play 63-yard drive capped by a 12-yard TD run by Meagher, who broke four tackles before reaching the end zone.
Meagher already had 115 yards rushing with over five minutes left in the opening quarter.
The Vikings notched a third score in the first quarter following a 12-play, 73-yard drive when Meagher again scored, this time from three yards out.
Minneota then had its most productive quarter of the season when it scored five touchdowns in the second stanza for a 49-6 lead at halftime.
Max Rost ran for a 5-yard touchdown and then caught a 49-yard TD pass from Ryan Dalager to make it 35-0. Meagher’s four-yard TD run and an eight-yard scoring run by Destin Fier were sandwiched around BBE’s lone touchdown of the game, a 57-yard aerial strike from Luke Illies to Hayden Sobiech. BBE starting quarterback, Luke Dingmann, injured his shoulder in the Jaguars’ quarterfinal win and was relegated to playing receiver in this game.
Dalager and DeSmet connected for the eighth touchdown from four yards out. Adam DeVlaeminck then capped the scoring on a nine-yard TD run into the left corner of the end zone. A total of 12 Viking players recorded at least one carry in the game as the Vikings emptied their bench early and often. Destin Fier gained 41 yards in five carries, Rost had 40 yards in six totes, Joey Lacek notched 39 yards in three carries, and Easton Johnston gained 22 yards in two attempts.
Rost, who had one of the two Minneota interceptions along with Keaton Jurrens, also nabbed four passes for 85 yards. Desmet also had four catches for 42 yards, and Lincoln Jerzak amassed 46 receiving yards on two catches, Lacek had a 41-yard catch, and Fier caught one pass for nine yards.
Dalager had another solid game under center, completing 11 of 18 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
Kellen Bradley led the Vikings with seven tackles. Fier and Alex DePestel had five tackles apiece, while Drew Lipinski and Easton Johnston had four each. DePestel and DeSmet had two tackles for loss each.

Minneota 63, BBE 6
BBE................................................0 6 0 0 - 6
Minneota......................................14 35 7 7 - 63

Scoring Plays
Min - Ryan Meagher 65 run (Ian Myhre kick)
Min - Meagher 12 run (Myhre kick)
Min - Meagher 3 run (Myhre kick)
Min - Rost 5 run (Myhre kick)
Min - Rost 49 pass from Dalager (Myhre kick)
Min - Meagher 2 run (Myhre kick)
BBE - Hayden Sobiech 57 pass from Luke Illies (Run failed)
Min - Destin Fier 8 run (Myhre kick)
Min - Sawyer DeSmet 4 pass from Dalager (Myhre kick)
Min - Adam DeVlaeminck 9 run (Myhre kick)

Team Statistics
Total Yards: BBE 83, Minneota 593 .... Rushing Yards: BBE 13, Minneota 370 ... Passing Yards: BBE 68, Minneota 223 ... First Downs: BBE 4, Minneota 28 ... Turnovers: BBE 3, Minneota 0 ... Penalties: BBE 0-0, Minneota 4-25 ... Time of Possession: BBE 18:12, Minneota 41:48

Minneota Statistics
Passing (com-att-yds-td-int): Ryan Dalager 11-18-182-2-0, Brody Larson 1-2-41-0-0
Rushing (att-yds): Ryan Meagher 16-186, Destin Fier 5-41, Max Rost 6-40, Joey Lacek 3-39, Easton Johnston 2-22, Kellen Bradley 4-18, Adam DeVlaeminck 2-16, Brock Fier 3-9, Lucas Rybinski 1-3, Ryan Dalager 5-0, Brody Larson 1-0, Drew Lipinski 1-0
Receiving (rec-yds): Max Rost 4-85, Sawyer DeSmet 4-42, Lincoln Jerzak 2-46, Joey Lacek 1-41, Destin Fier 1-9
Tackles (solo-asst-tot): Kellen Bradley 2-5-7, Alex DePestel 2-3-5, Destin Fier 1-4-5, Drew Lipinski 1-3-4, Easton Johnston 0-4-4, Sawyer Desmet 2-1-3, Max Rost 1-2-3, Adam DeVlaeminck 1-2-3, Parker Bradley 1-1-2, Keaton Jurrens 1-1-2, Joey Lacek 0-2-2, Brody Larson 0-2-2, Lincoln Jerzak 1-0-1, Dantae Orvis 0-1-1, Lucas Rybinski 0-1-1, Carson Javers 0-1-1,Peyton Sheik 0-1-1, Kyson Arndt 0-1-1, Brock Fier 0-1-1
Sacks: Sawyer DeSmet 2, Kellen Bradley 1/2, Alex DePestel 1/2
Tackle for Loss: Alex DePestel 2, Sawyer DeSmet 2, Kellen Bradley 1, Drew Lipinski 1, Parker Bradley 1, Kyson Arndt 1
Forced Fumble: Sawyer DeSmet 1
Fumble Recovery: Kayden Neyens 1
Interceptions: Max Rost 1, Keaton Jurrens 1

BBE Statistics
Passing (com-att-yds-td-int): Luke Illies 6-13-68-0-2
Rushing (att-yds): Owen Paulson 2-14, Luke Dingmann 2-8, Jack Lundberg 6-8, Harley Weber 1-2, Ryan Jensen 1-(-1), Braeden Michels 1-(-1), Ethan Mueller 2-(-4), Luke Illies 4-(-13)
Receiving (rec-yds): Luke Dingmann 3-8, Hayden Sobiech 1-57, Ryan Jensen 1-3, Brett DeRoo 1-0
Tackle leaders (solo-asst-tot): Toby Cebulla 7-7-14, Brett DeRoo 2-6-8, Max Hanson 2-4-6, Ethan Mueller 2-3-5, Ryan Jensen 0-5-5, Josh Walstrom 2-2-4, Owen Radermacher 1-3-4
Tackle for Loss: Max Hanson 1, Ryan Jensen 1