![Minneota's Ryan Meagher (20) rumbles over Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa's Owen Paulson (15) for a first down in the first half of a Class 1A state semifinal game in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. ] SHARI L. GROSS • shari.gross@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/LBZDZCF6ZB5N6P3TTYJSD7X7Z4.jpg?&w=1080)
U.S. Bank Stadium has been known to inspire awe and wonder when high school football players experience it for the first time.
Minneota has been there. Repeatedly. It makes a difference.
The defending Class 1A state champion, Minneota leaned on its familiarity to crush first-time entrant Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 63-6 in the Class 1A semifinals on Saturday.
The Vikings were making their 16th state tournament appearance; they've won eight state championships. Minneota (13-0) will play in the Prep Bowl for the fifth time in the past 10 years.
"It's a crazy thing to walk in and see the facility," senior receiver Maxwell Rost said. "Then you start realizing it's a football game and we've got a job to do."
The difference between the stadium vets and BBE's newbies was evident early, and it was stark.
Vikings junior running back Ryan Meagher, a 5-9, 195-pound boulder with legs, went 65 yards for a touchdown on their first play from scrimmage, igniting a conflagration of points and yards that overwhelmed BBE.
"We obviously started pretty fast," Minneota coach Chad Johnston said. "We definitely wanted to establish the run, and [Meagher is] the guy to get that going right off the bat."
