high schools

Becker, the defending champion of Class 3A football, led by two touchdowns early in Friday's title game against Glencoe-Silver Lake. Even after the Panthers rallied to close within a point late in the first half, Becker seemed to be in control.

And then the Metrodome roof caved in on the Bulldogs.

On the last play before halftime, Glencoe-Silver Lake linebacker Chip Maresh returned an interception 55 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. That was an omen for the second half, because Becker's final five possessions ended in three interceptions and two fumbles.

The result was a 42-20 victory for Glencoe-Silver Lake, which outscored the Bulldogs 42-6 over the final three quarters.

"We're down 14-nothing and it looks like we fell off the bread truck, didn't it? We didn't know where we were at," Glencoe-Silver Lake coach Dave Dose said. "But our kids kept their poise and we wore them down in the second half."

Becker coach Dwight Lundeen, who started his school's football program 38 years ago, tried to remember the last time one of his teams turned over the ball six times.

"I think I was a very young man," he said. "And that's nobody's fault. We were forced into making some passes, trying to make things happen."

The state title is the third in seven years for Glencoe-Silver Lake (13-1). One of these two teams had played in every Prep Bowl since 2000, but Friday's game was their first meeting for a state title, and maybe their last. Becker (12-2) is expected to move up to Class 4A next season.

The Bulldogs were trying to score before halftime, and after a 29-yard gain by Kyle Holtan, quarterback Seth Hubbard spiked the ball at the Panthers 47 with 12 seconds on the clock. Maresh's interception came on the next play.

"The quarterback rolled out, and I just covered my guy in the flat. He threw it right to me," Maresh said. "That really boosted us up."

The Panthers scored again to open the second half, with Jonathan Hoese picking up 15 yards on fourth-and-1 from the Glencoe-Silver Lake 44 and quarterback Matthew Muenchow throwing 8 yards to Hunter Dunbar for the touchdown. That put the Panthers on top 25-14.

"That's the whole game right there," Dose said. "Our kids were just elated in the locker room, and then we got the ball and we scored again. That whole sequence gave us the momentum."

Muenchow completed seven of eight passes, also throwing to Hoese for a touchdown.Bud Sanken led the Glencoe-Silver Lake ground game with 18 carries for 98 yards.

Becker's Matt Veldman caught two scoring passes and Robert Koranda ran 19 yards for a touchdown. Hubbard completed 13 of 25 passes for 123 yards. Jerrid Fisher led the Bulldogs' ground game with 21 carries for 83 yards.

"I'm just in awe," Dose said as he watched his players celebrate. "I'm in awe of those kids."

John Millea • jmillea@startibune.com