2024 Football, Class AAAAAA Semifinals: Minnetonka 48, Anoka 27
Posted: Thursday, November 14, 2024 - 11:10 PM
Minnetonka used a second-half tidal wave of offense that paved the way to a 48-27 victory over Anoka in the Class AAAAAA semifinals of the Minnesota State High School League’s Football State Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 15 at U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
Junior quarterback Caleb Francois skippered the Skippers’ attack with 283 yards on 39 carries and scored five touchdowns in sending Minnetonka (10-2) into the big-school Prep Bowl championship game on Friday, Nov. 22 against either Maple Grove or Shakopee. Those semifinalists play on Friday, Nov. 15 for a spot opposite Minnetonka. The Skippers were the Class AAAAA champion in 2004 and finished as the runner-up in 2017.
Francois, a 6-1, 190-pounder, punctuated his dominance on a 5-yard scamper with 4:33 left in regulation time that gave Minnetonka a 48-21 lead. The Tornadoes (8-4) answered just more than a minute later on a 19-yard scoring strike from senior quarter Peyton Podany to senior wide receiver Aly Ibekwe. It was their second touchdown connection of the game.
Francois rushed for 173 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns in the first half when the teams battled to a 21-all deadlock. He had two touchdown runs, a 2-yarder and a 29-yard sprint, in helping the Skippers turn a deficit into a 21-14 lead. But with a 1:25 left in the first half, Anoka forged a tie when senior wide receiver Charlie Hendrickson caught a 29-yard scoring pass from Podany. He completed 11 of 14 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He finished 18 of 28 for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
Anoka was seeking its first appearance in a football championship game since 1994. The Tornadoes won the Class AA crown that season and were also the big-school champs in 1990.
Minnetonka opened the season with five consecutive victories before losing two of its final three games. The Skippers had a 21-20 setback in overtime to Eden Prairie in Week 6 and then a 31-21 loss to Maple Grove in the regular season finale. During a four-game postseason winning streak, Minnetonka has outscored the opposition 172-35.
