Brian's Best: Prep Bowl addition - Maple Grove vs. Minnetonka

The Class 6A title game between the Maple Grove Crimson and the Minnetonka Skippers didn't initially look like there would be much drama. The Crimson jumped out to a 28-7 second-half lead. Then, late in the fourth quarter, the Skippers made a frantic charge – falling one score short as Maple Grove won its second state title in the last three years 28-21. Here is who excelled individually Friday night in the Prep Bowl.    Langama can do a bit of everything out of the backfield for the Crimson. First, he made a strong run behind [player_tooltip player_id='743255' first='Dylan' last='South'] with a couple of broken tackles and picked up a first down. Then, he made a series of cuts with a powerful finish to the run for five yards. Later, he broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage to pick up a first down. He showed his quickness and athletic ability with a nice move at the line of scrimmage for five yards. Another slick move at the line of scrimmage resulted in a short touchdown run. Although a holding penalty brought it back, Langama used his power, breaking a tackle and using a tremendous stiff arm for big yardage. He scored on a 20-yard touchdown run late in the first half. Then, he showed a bit of everything in one run. He broke a tackle early, made a cut in the open field, and used his speed to finish the run for 41 yards. Langama helped seal the game with a run up the middle. He picked up the first down behind a great block by [player_tooltip player_id='362276' first='Michael' last='Wagner'].     In the first half, Francios showed his ability to use his legs. He took off up the middle for six yards. After a short touchdown run, he went off the left side for 11 yards behind [player_tooltip player_id='1204083' first='Aidan' last='Becker'] and Griffin Moore. He showed his athletic ability, breaking multiple tackles for a 15-yard run and a first down. He found room off the left side behind a Kingston Hamblin trap block for fifteen yards. Later in the game, Francios was efficient with his arm – leading a Skippers comeback that almost led to a state title.     Like Langama on the offensive side of the ball, Toe dominated the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball for the Crimson. He got off a block early to make a tackle for loss on third and short. He was too quick for the Skippers' interior offensive line and got into the backfield for a tackle for loss. Teammate [player_tooltip player_id='641221' first='Sam' last='Hanson'] forces an intentional grounding because Toe forced the quarterback out of the pocket. Toe blew up another run when he got down the line of scrimmage to make a tackle for a short gain. With [player_tooltip player_id='1533914' first='Beaux' last='Thyen'], Toe blew up a run off tackle for a short loss. He beat a block to make a tackle for a short gain.     May started his night with a diving catch for 25 yards. Then, he caught a screen and powered through defenders for a first down when he should have been stopped for a loss. Then, May made a great catch down the sidelines for 31 yards. He got open down the sidelines again for twenty yards. On another screen pass, he used speed inside of power for 15 yards down the sidelines. May got into the end zone on a deep ball down the middle of the field on a great throw by Caleb Francios.     Wright made an impact on both sides of the ball. On offense, he found room right up the middle behind Landon Albeck. Then, Wright bounced a run wide, used a spin move, and broke a tackle for a first down. He also got into the end zone with a ten-yard run. On defense, he got into the backfield for a tackle for a short loss. Then, he kept the Skippers off the board when he picked off an underthrown fade on the goal line.     Conrad showed power on an early tough run up the middle. He got help from [player_tooltip player_id='1204390' first='Cason' last='Copley'], who wiped out his man for a first down. Later, Conrad cut across the field for eight yards and a first down. He showed good explosiveness off the left side behind [player_tooltip player_id='1204083' first='Aidan' last='Becker'] and Griffin Moore. After a ten-yard run, he broke a tackle at the line to pick up another first down. Conrad found the end zone on a short touchdown run.     Harney made a clutch throw to [player_tooltip player_id='586119' first='Dylan' last='Vokal'] – who made a diving catch on third and long for a first down. Harney found [player_tooltip player_id='1120518' first='Bo' last='Draheim'] on a deep crossing route for 22 yards and a first down. The quarterback then showed his athletic ability when he rolled to the right and threw to the flag to Vokal for 20 yards to get into the red zone.     Yerhot held the edge and didn't get fooled on an end a round – making a tackle for loss. Then, he put a hard hit on a runner for a for a short gain.     On offense, Vokal made a great catch for a first down despite the defender actually tipping the ball. On defense, he picked off a tipped pass tip by [player_tooltip player_id='363115' first='Jacob' last='Wrbanek']. Vokal's interception sealed the game for the Crimson late in the game.     Vogel made a pair of solid plays against the Crimson passing game. He had perfect coverage on a deep ball – forcing an incompletion. Later, he made a great break on an out route and almost picked off the pass.     Hanson forces an intentional grounding after [player_tooltip player_id='1206996' first='Kevin' last='Toe'] forced the quarterback out of the pocket. Later, Hanson finished the job with a sack.     Skanson forced a fumble that [player_tooltip player_id='363115' first='Jacob' last='Wrbanek'] scooped up and found his way into the end zone. Later, Skanson stuffed an off-tackle run and shot a gap to make a tackle for loss.     Thyen immediately got into the backfield, rushing the passer – forcing an intentional grounding. Then, with [player_tooltip player_id='1206996' first='Kevin' last='Toe'], they blew up a run off tackle for a short loss.

The Class 6A title game between the Maple Grove Crimson and the Minnetonka Skippers didn't initially look like there would be much drama. The Crimson jumped out to a 28-7 second-half lead. Then, late in the fourth quarter, the Skippers made a frantic charge – falling one score short as Maple Grove won its second state title in the last three years 28-21. Here is who excelled individually Friday night in the Prep Bowl.