4A quarterfinals: Totino-Grace 56, Rogers 14

Totino-Grace has been to the state tournament 19 times, and that difference, among others, showed clearly.

By BRIAN STENSAASbstensaas@startribune.com

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 10:30 PM

Already with a clear advantage in experience, Totino-Grace's football team took it to Rogers in every other way imaginable Friday night.

Playing in its 19th state tournament, the Eagles put a 56-14 hurting on the debuting Royals in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs at Maple Grove High School.

Totino-Grace faces defending 4A champion Mankato West in the semifinals, and Eagles coach Jeff Ferguson told his players they will be underdogs against the Scarlets this week.

But Friday night there was no doubt they were the better team.

"This is the best we've played," Ferguson said. "I really feel like we played a complete game."

Totino Grace (11-0) opened the night poorly with penalties on the first two snaps. From there, it wasn't even close.

That opening drive lasted 10 plays and took 6 minutes, 38 seconds off the clock, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by John Crockett.

Totino-Grace scored four more times before halftime on quick strikes; no drive took more than 2:34 off the clock.

Up 28-0 with 3:12 to go before the break, Totino-Grace refused to take its foot off the gas pedal.

It recovered an onside kick on the ensuing play, then went up 35-0 just 1:32 later thanks to a JD Pride quarterback keeper from 5 yards.

Rogers (9-2) then turned the ball over on downs, but again Totino-Grace didn't let up.

Taking over on the Royals 49, the Eagles used a shotgun formation on the next drive and called a timeout with 15.7 seconds left in the half to set up a pitch-and-pass try deep that was intercepted by Rogers.

"Hey, it's the game of football," Royals coach Marc Franz said. "You don't ask for mercy."

Said Ferguson: "We were just making calls trying to win the football game."