Still riding high from defeating two-time defending Class 1A champion Mahnomen last week in the quarterfinals, Dawson-Boyd broke through the Minneapolis North defense with its run game on a snowy, chilly Saturday at Hopkins High School.

The Blackjacks didn’t stop until they had defeated the Polars 28-12 and earned a return to the Class 1A Prep Bowl game Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. Last year they fell to Mahnomen in the title game.

“We ran the ball exceptionally well, and maybe that’s one thing they didn’t expect,” said Dawson-Boyd head coach Cory Larson, noting that the passing game was a big factor in the team’s streak-stopping victory over Mahnomen.

“That was such a huge win… to try to bounce back and try to back that up and not allow that game to kind of be the exclamation mark on your season,’’ he said, “you have to continue to forge forward and continue to make it happen.”

Forge ahead they did.

On the opening kickoff, senior running back Dalton Palmer ran to the North 25-yard line, leading to a 1-yard touchdown run from senior running back Karson Lindblad for a 7-0 lead.

Junior quarterback Jess Hansen found a wide open Michael Lee early in the second quarter for a 38-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-6. Hansen threw for three touchdowns in the game. One of those was a fourth-and-10 pass to Noah in the third quarter.

It was the most points North allowed all season. Before Saturday, only two opponents had scored more than six points.

The Blackjacks (12-1), who won the 2011 Prep Bowl, are playing in their fourth consecutive state tournament.

North (12-1), in its first state tournament appearance since 2009, was trying to become the first Minneapolis city team to reach the state championship game in 37 years. Minneapolis Washburn won the AA crown in 1977.

Dawson-Boyd will return to the Prep Bowl for a second consecutive year after defeating Minneapolis North 28-12 on Saturday at Hopkins High School.

Still riding high from defeating the two-time defending Class 1A champion Mahnomen last week in the quarterfinals, the Blackjacks broke through the strong Polar defense for 28 points on a snowy, chilly day. It was the most points North allowed all season.

The Blackjacks are looking for their second state title. They were victorious in the 2011 Prep Bowl and are making their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.

The Polars were bidding to become the first Minneapolis public school team to reach the state championship game since 1977.

Check back later for more on the game.