Brian's Best - Championship addition Becker v Totino-Grace

The Becker Bulldogs finished a perfect season with a dominating performance in the 4A state championship game over the previously undefeated Totino-Grace Eagles. They did it like they have all season – with elite defense and an offensive line that controlled the game. When I covered the Bulldogs during a regular season game, legendary Bulldogs' head coach Dwight Lundeen said something to the effect of 'We don't look good coming off the bus, but we play well as a team'. He could have added they have speed and agility across the board.   Becker offensive line Thatcher Jurek and [player_tooltip player_id='1202010' first='Jackson' last='Duncan'] were outstanding, pulling to kick out defensive ends or lead up the hole. Running behind [player_tooltip player_id='234877' first='Cody' last='Becker'] and Collin Lietha early, the Bulldogs' runners had plenty of space. A Lietha and Aiden Radeke double team opened a big hole. Then, Lietha executed an excellent lead block on an end a round. Lietha and Becker teamed up again to open a huge hole on the touchdown run, and then their double team opened another big hole. Lietha pulled around the formation to make a great lead block on an end a round. It was the Lietha and Becker show again, opening another massive hole on a touchdown run. Wing/runningback Matthew Warhol threw a huge lead block springing runningback Landen Kujawa – Lietha made a pivotal block to spring him. Duncan's block opened a hole to pick up a first down. Lietha's great lead block was key on another end a round. The dynamic duo Lietha and Becker opened one more huge hole on another touchdown run.    The biggest benefactor of the offensive line's play was Kujawa. He has a great combination of speed, quickness, and balance. Early, he ripped off a ten-yard run. Then, on his signature play of the game, he broke a tackle and showed his outstanding balance on a 32-yard touchdown run. After another ten-yard run, Kujawa – behind a block by Matthew Warhol – broke another tackle for a big gain. Defensively, he made a tackle for a short loss. Then, he read a read option and made a hit in the backfield on fourth and short. He made a tackle on the goal line late in the game, keeping the Eagles out of the end zone.     Although the Bulldogs' running game had its way most of the game, McIntosh was able to slow the running game down somewhat. He was explosive off the line of scrimmage, got off a block, and made a good tackle on the inside for a short gain. He finished with four tackles. On special teams, he blocked a punt on a bobbled snap.     Brown was the most impactful defensive player on an impactful Bulldogs' defense. He undercut an out route and intercepted the ball for a pick-six. Then, he made an excellent open-field tackle, preventing a long gain. Back against the pass, he had perfect coverage on a double move. Brown broke up a handful of passes – the most impressive being when broke on a ball and made a hit on the receiver to force an incompletion. He also impacted offense with two short completions in Wildcat formations and on a designed quarterback run to the corner for a first down.     The Eagles didn't find much success on offense Friday, but Keten did have a nice catch on the sidelines and then had a tough run between the tackles in which he broke a couple of tackles on a 15-yard run.     Golley's quickness of the line resulted in penetration that led to a stop by teammates on third down. His penetration caused havoc again when he got off two blocks to stop Totino-Grace on fourth and short. Later, he didn't get a sack, but Golley's pressure on the quarterback led to an incomplete pass. After he recorded a tackle for a short gain, his penetration forced the runner outside, allowing teammates to rally to make a tackle for a short gain.     Along with Golley, Angell made running the ball with any consistency a challenge. First, he made a pair of tackles for short gains. Then, his penetration forced the runner outside. Late in the game, he got down the line of scrimmage to fill a hole and make a tackle for a short gain.     Berg was the most effective runner for the Eagles. He made a good run off tackle for fifteen yards. Then, he showed his power, breaking a tackle for a ten-yard run.     Reckelberg only touched the ball four times in the game – three of them didn't amount to much. However, when he took an end a round handoff near midfield, he made his mark on the game. With the best example of the Becker offense's speed, Reckelberg made multiple moves and cut from one side of the field to the other for a 54-yard touchdown. With the number of cuts and the number of times he changed direction, I have to guess he ran more than 100 yards on the play.     Miller was a big reason the Eagles' defense held the Bulldogs to under fifty yards passing. He tipped away a deep pass early. Then, his interception in the end zone kept the Eagles in the game. He topped it off with perfect coverage on a deep ball.     Soltau made only two catches on the day, but like Reckelberg, one of them was big-time. He made a leaping catch on third down to pick up a first down. His second catch – which was more traditional – also resulted in a first down.     Strong stood out more than once against the dominating Bulldogs' offense. He made a tackle on the outside for no gain. Then, Strong was in the backfield making a tackle for loss.     Boecker got off a block and into the backfield for a tackle for a short loss. Then, he made a solid open-field tackle on punt coverage.     Hand finished the game with six tackles. He made a good read and got into the backfield. It wasn't one of his six tackles, but his read allowed his teammates to make a tackle for loss. One of those six tackles occurred when he shot a gap and made a big hit in the backfield. He was in the right place at the right time when he recovered a blocked punt and scooped it up for ten yards.     The Eagles didn't throw the ball often, but Nicolas was solid against the run. He made a tackle in the backfield and then was great in space with a tackle in the open field.     On defense, Klatt stuffed an inside run. Then, he came off the edge at least twice, putting pressure on the quarterback – forcing poor throws. On offense, he was stuffed at the line of scrimmage but broke multiple tackles for a ten-yard run.

The Becker Bulldogs finished a perfect season with a dominating performance in the 4A state championship game over the previously undefeated Totino-Grace Eagles. They did it like they have all season – with elite defense and an offensive line that controlled the game. When I covered the Bulldogs during a regular season game, legendary Bulldogs' head coach Dwight Lundeen said something to the effect of 'We don't look good coming off the bus, but we play well as a team'. He could have added they have speed and agility across the board.