For the second year in a row and the third time in school history, the Becker Bulldog football team will be playing for the Prep Bowl Championship next weekend.

 

The Bulldogs won their 12th game in a row on the year by crushing the Stewartville Tigers, 34-14 Friday night in Chanhassen — setting up the Class 4A title game to be played at TCF Bank Stadium Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

 

Friday’s game against Stewartville started precarious for the Bulldogs as they struggled to hold onto the ball early on in the first quarter. They turned the ball over on their first two possessions, which led to one TD score for the Tigers and almost another.

 

Defensive back Alex Meidt saved the Bulldogs from going down by 14 when he cradled an interception in the endzone on Stewartville’s second drive to keep the score at 7-0 Stewartville.

 

 Becker gathered their wits and went on to rattle off 34 unanswered points to run away with the game.

 

The Bulldogs drew even when Stanger connected with Milan Kent for 71 yards following the Tigers’ score. That play set up a 13-yard TD strike to Meidt.

 

The game turned in dramatic fashion five plays later when Austin Rasmussen guessed right and stepped in front of an Andrew Quandt pass  for an interception and rambled 78 yards for the TD score.

 

“I just read the quarterback’s eyes,” said Rasmussen.

 

That play encapsulated the game for both teams. Energizing the Bulldogs and deflating the Tigers.

 

By the time the first half expired,  the Bulldogs retained that 14-7 lead, but it didn’t take long for that lead to grow when Stanger heaved a bomb to Meidt for 66-yards on the first play of the third quarter. And just like that, Becker had a two-touchdown lead.

 

Meidt completed the trifecta when he scored again on an 11-yarder to put the Bulldogs up 27-7. Stanger was outstanding, ending the night throwing for 246 yards and three TDs.

 

Becker capped off their scoring onslaught later when Kent scored from five yards out to go up 34-7. A late TD by Stewartville’s Jordan Johnson (his second of the night) with 1:25 to play gave the Tigers a double-digit score, but not enough to overcome the deficit.

 

“It’s exciting,” said Rasmussen of going to the state title game for the second year in a row. “It’s an amazing feeling to be going back. Last year was unbelievable, but to go out with a state championship as a senior would be even more incredible.”

 

In the Prep Bowl title game, Becker will face either Rocori or South St. Paul who played today (Saturday).

 

Stewartville’s Johnson finished the game rushing for 165 yards on 30 carries and scoring twice. Becker’s Gabe Dertinger led the Bulldogs with 41 yards on 12 carries, but left the game late with an apparent leg injury.

 

Quandt went 13-for-31 for 174 yards and two interceptions. Stanger was 12-of-19 for 246 yards and one INT.

 

Chye Stecher of Stewartville led all receivers with 122 yards on five catches. Becker’s Meidt had 114 yards on five catches and three TDs.