As the defending Class 1A champs, the big dogs with the 25-game winning streak, the Minneota Vikings know they’re going to get every opponent's best effort. So far, they’ve handled every challenge, but it’s not always pretty.

Take, for example, their 27-19 victory over Goodhue on Saturday in the Class 1A semifinals at Prior Lake. The Vikings took advantage of three first-half interceptions for a 19-0 halftime lead. Senior running back/linebacker Garrett Hennen rushed three touchdowns and set a school-record for career rushing yards in the process. A return trip to TCF Bank Stadium for the Prep Bowl next Saturday seemed certain.

Goodhue’s second-half effort made it a little less certain.

The Wildcats forced two Minneota turnovers in the second half, including a 62-yard interception return by Calvin Peterson, and kept the outcome in doubt until the game’s final seconds.

“We didn’t expect to play like that in the second half,” said Hennen, who finished with 139 yard rushing. “They’re obviously a good team because they made it this far, but we made too many mistakes.”

It was Goodhue that was mistake-prone in the first half. Quarterback Jacob Pasch was intercepted three times and all three led to short touchdown runs by Hennen, one of four Hennens on the roster.

Goodhue, which had just 38 yards of total offense before halftime, grabbed momentum in the second half when Peterson intercepted a screen pass by Minneota quarterback Alex Pohlen and returned it for a touchdown. The Wildcats cut the lead to 19-13 in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard pass from Pasch to Peterson, but that was as close as they would get.

Minneota flexed its muscle two drives later, going 46 yards in four plays, capped by an 8-yard run by Bryce Bruner. He added a 2-point conversion run to bump the lead to 27-13.

Goodhue scored again in the game’s closing seconds, but could not recover the onsides kick.

“I think we might have been a little nervous, trying to get back to the Prep Bowl,” Hennen said.  “I prefer being the hunter to being the hunted. But I like being the champion the most.”

Defending Class 1A champion Minneota took a three-touchdown halftime lead, then hung on to defeat Goodhue 27-19 to advance to the Prep Bowl Saturday.

Senior running back/linebacker Garrett Hennen rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns and Bryce Bruner scored a game-clinching fourth-quarter touchdown. The Vikings (13-0) held off a determined Goodhue rally on Saturday at Prior Lake High School to win their 26th consecutive game.

Check back later for more on the game.