Totino-Grace claims ninth state trip in 10 years

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Being both, however, is a tough combination to beat.

Undefeated Totino-Grace parlayed a dominant first half and some good fortune in the second half to beat Spring Lake Park 28-6 in the Section 4, 5A championship game.

The victory sends Totino-Grace (10-0) to the state tournament for the ninth time in the past 10 years.

In the first half, Totino-Grace unveiled a passing game that the Eagles had kept hidden for much of the season. Quarterback A.J. LaPanta, a competent game-manager but rarely a weapon, completed seven of 12 passes for 94 yards, including a pair of clutch third-and-long passes to wide receiver Charlie Miller.

"This time of year, you have to do what it takes to win," said LaPanta, who finished 8-for-14 for 123 yards. "We knew they'd pack in the middle, and we thought we could take advantage."

The Eagles took a 6-0 lead on their opening drive, a 13-play, 63-yard march that ended with a Mason Kaliszewski 2-yard run.

Luck played a factor in Totino-Grace's second touchdown. One play after fumbling deep in Spring Lake Park territory, the Eagles got a break when Panthers quarterback Austin Swenson's pitchout hit nothing but air. Totino-Grace recovered at the Spring Lake Park 2 with 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining in the half. Kai Barber turned the misplay into a touchdown one play later for a 14-0 halftime lead.

Spring Lake Park started the third quarter with a 53-yard kickoff return by Gabe Dahl. The Panthers went 44 yards in three plays, scoring on a 17-yard run by Dahl to cut the deficit to 14-6.

The Panthers then twice threatened to tie the score, moving quickly down the field but missing by inches on two fourth-down chances deep inside the Eagles' red zone.

"If we just could have gotten one of those, it might have been a different game," Spring Lake Park coach Jeff Schlieff said.

Surviving those close calls, the Eagles closed out with touchdowns from Kaliszewski (7 yards) and Barber (46 yards).