The rumblings were hard to ignore. After struggling on offense against Wayzata and Minnetonka in recent weeks, there was speculation that Eden Prairie’s two-decade dance of dominance might be coming to an end.

Let’s just say that such thoughts were a little premature.

The Eagles scored on short runs and long passes and repeatedly regained momentum when Anoka looked ready to make a run, lifting Eden Prairie to a 35-21 victory in the Class 5A quarterfinals Friday at Osseo High School.

“I’m so proud of our offense,” said Andrew Larson, Eden Prairie’s stellar halfback. “I think that was our best performance of the season when we needed it most. This was a true team effort.”

Larson was the centerpiece of the Eagles offense, rushing 22 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns. That was despite the Eagles losing their best offensive lineman, Nick Davidson, to a leg injury early in the game. Davidson, considered the top Division I football prospect in the state, was taken to a local hospital and did not return.

“That’s a big loss for us,” Larson said. “But you have to give credit to our offensive line for stepping up when he went down. They were great.”

Eden Prairie took a 14-0 lead on an 8-yard run by Larson and a beautifully thrown 75-yard touchdown pass from Grant Schaeffer to RaShawn Fountain.

With a first-team defense that had given up only one touchdown all season, many thought the outcome was decided.

But Anoka, which lived by its dynamic running game all season, had other thoughts. The Tornadoes took to the air, and quarterback Cole Boughner was up to the task, completing 16 of 18 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown.

However, each time Anoka appeared ready to make a charge, Eden Prairie answered. Larson scored on a 13-yard run just before halftime. He scored again on an 11-yard play on the Eagles’ opening drive of the second half, for a 28-6 lead that was just too much for Anoka to overcome.

Anoka controlled the ball for most of the second half, getting two more touchdowns and a field goal, but the deficit was too great.

“We’ve had one of the top offenses in the metropolitan area all season,” Eagles coach Mike Grant said. “The problem is that people only saw what happened against Wayzata and Minnetonka. Those are two great defenses. They make it tough on everybody.”