Eden Prairie football coach Mike Grant felt before the season this team could be his best yet.

Friday’s 47-22 rout of Totino-Grace in a Class 6A semifinal game at the Metrodome means the only remaining doubters reside in Rosemount.

Top-ranked Eden Prairie (11-0), marching toward a third-consecutive state championship, advances to the Prep Bowl championship game against Rosemount (11-1) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29. 

“You hear about them all year so it’s exciting to finally get to go up against them on the field,” senior offensive lineman Robert Olson said.

Eden Prairie players took turns in the spotlight as the Eagles built a commanding 34-7 halftime lead over No. 9 Totino-Grace (9-3).

Eden Prairie’s first drive — 10 plays, nine for runs totaling 60 yards — owed to superior offensive line play and running back Anthony Anderson. His touchdown made it 7-0.

Starting from its 7-yard line, Totino-Grace answered with a 93-yard scoring drive featuring a 45-yard run by Kez Flomo. Lance Benick took a direct snap for a 3-yard score.

The teams were tied 7-7 after the first quarter but Eden Prairie scored four unanswered second-quarter touchdowns, displaying its numerous strengths in the process.

Quarterback Ryan Connelly ran for gains of 13 and 23 yards and threw a big block on a reverse for the go-ahead touchdown. Showcasing his arm on the first play of the next drive, Connelly hit Gamiel Hall for a 37-yard score.

“We definitely knew if we came out and answered again quickly that they would just give up,” Connelly said.

An Eden Prairie interception set up a 32-yard scoring burst from Charlie Venable. Dan Fisher finished another grinding drive with 1-yard touchdown plunge, making it 34-7 with 13 seconds left in the first half.

Totino-Grace, winners of seven state championships since 2003 in the second-to-largest class, never recovered.

“We just couldn’t withstand them,” Totino-Grace coach Jeff Ferguson said. “They just put their will on you. We need 13 guys – it doesn’t matter what I’m calling.”

RECAP

Key of the game: Eden Prairie’s run-obsessed offense prevents quarterback Ryan Connelly from challenging for the best passing statistics but he remains a playmaker. He emerged on the go-ahead drive in the second quarter, running for gains of 13 and 23 yards and throwing a big block on a reverse for a touchdown as the Eagles built a 14-7 lead. Showcasing his arm on the first play of the next drive, Connelly hit Gamiel Hall for a 37-yard score.

Quote: “For a few min­utes there … we had a ball­game.” —spec­ta­tor over­heard in the Met­ro­dome con­course at half­time.

One thing to know: The vic­to­ry ad­van­ces Eden Prairie to the Prep Bowl cham­pi­on­ship game against Rosemount, sched­uled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 29.

DAVID LA VAQUE