High School

Live score recap: Becker defeats Totino-Grace in Class 4A MSHSL Prep Bowl (11/22/2024)

Get score updates from the Minnesota high school football Class 4A state championship

Jack Butler, SBLive Sports

MINNEAPOLIS — The Class 4A MSHSL Prep Bowl was not defined by history, but it was framed by it. Totino-Grace, the holders of 10 Minnesota high school football state championships, played a Becker team coached by Dwight Lundeen, who has been the head coach for 55 years with three state championships during that time.  

Totino-Grace was once a regular at the state tournament in the top classifications, but the Eagles took a sharp turn to a combined 2-16 record in the final two season before moving down to Class 4A in 2023. 

Becker, who last won a state champship in 2015, had a 41-4 record over the past four season, but the Bulldogs could not break through for another championship. 

On Friday, it was Becker (13-0) who etched its name into Prep Bowl history once more with a 24-8 win against Totino-Grace (12-1). The Bulldogs looked the part of champions. They accumulated a 6.7 yards per carry average on offense, and on defense, the Bulldogs held Totino-Grace to 152 yards of total offense. 

“It’s been a long time coming,” Becker senior Kaden Nicolas said. “… We finally got it done. I’m just so happy for the guys as they’ve all worked so hard. It wasn’t an individual effort whatsoever. We’re a family.”

Becker’s defense gave the Totino-Grace offense no space throughout the night. The Bulldogs forced the Eagles to punt six times, and they also scored on an interception to begin the second half and give themselves a 21-0 lead. 

“We’re not very big, but we really run to the ball well,” Lundeen said. “They have a purpose when they get there. They’re blessed with speed.”

The Becker senior class gave themselves a purpose four years ago. They watched as the Bulldogs lost in the Class 4A semifinals to Kasson-Mantorville. They then lost in back-to-back seasons to Rocori in the section finals, so it was three straight years of heartbreak. 

“Why do you coach for 55 years?,” Lundeen said. “It’s a deal where, ‘What’s your purpose? What is your goal?' If that scoreboard is defining who you are, it’s really difficult. We had two really difficult losses the last two years, and these guys handled it well. … Our purpose is so much greater, and that’s to impact our community in a positive way, and these guys are tremendous role models.”

Those loses always stung, even for a coach who has been at it as long as Lundeen has. 

“It’s a bad thing about coaching, but you hang on to some of those hard losses the worst," Lundeen said. “They just eat you up, but you’ve got to walk away from it”

The 2024 Prep Bowl loss will now eat up Totino-Grace, a program that came so close to mirroring its history.

“We definitely flipped the script on how we were the last couple seasons,” senior quarterback Jake Person said. “It’s disappointing that we didn’t win. When I think T-G football, I think about winning championships. We didn’t accomplish that goal, so that will be something for next years team to take that next step and finish the job.”

Becker vs. Totino-Grace Class 4A Prep Bowl Live Score Updates

Teams are on the field for introductions, and we'll begin shortly.

First Quarter Updates

Becker receives the opening kick and we're underway.

Becker turns the ball over on downs on its first drive, and Totino-Grace is forced to punt on its opening drive.

TOUCHDOWN BECKER! Landen Kujawa runs in for a 32-yard touchdown. PAT is good. Becker leads 7-0 with 21 seconds remaining in the quarter.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Becker 7, Totino-Grace 0

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN BECKER! Carter Reckleberg runs in a 52-yard touchdown where weaves his way from one sideline to the other. PAT is good. Backer leads 14-0 with 10:19 remaining in the second quarter.

INTERCEPTION BY TOTINO-GRACE! Jaden Miller intercepts Becker quarterback Tristan Kowalkowski in the end zone. Becker leads 14-0 with one inute remaining in the first half.

HALFTIME: Becker 14, Totino-Grace 0

Third Quarter Updates

Totino-Grace receives the second-half kickoff and we're underway.

TOUCHDOWN BECKER! Swayer Brown snags the interception, and he returns it 30 yards for a touchdown. PAT is good. Becker leads 21-0 with 11:42 remaining in the third quarter.

BECKER BLOCKS A PUNT! Cody Deters blocks the Totino-Grace Eagles punt, and the Bulldogs will take over at the Eagles' 21-yard line.

FIELD GOAL BECKER! Even Norberg converts a 26-yard field goal. Becker leads 24-0 with 7:32 remaining.

FUMBLE BY TOTINO-GRACE! Quarterback Jake Person looses the ball after a big hit on a 4th down run. Becker recovers on its own 35-yard line with 1:43 remaining in the quarter.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Becker 24, Totino-Grace 0

Fourth Quarter Updates

BLOCKED PUNT BY TOTINO-GRACE! Calvin McIntosh recovers a punt blocked by Tyler Hand. The Eagles will take over at their own 46-yard line. Becker leads 24-0 with five minutes remaining.

TOUCHDOWN TOTINO-GRACE! Person finds Luther Bunge in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass. Syl Berg runs in the 2-point attempt. Becker leads 24-8 with one minute remaining.

FINAL: Becker 24, Totino-Grace 8

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Jack Butler, SBLive Sports
JACK BUTLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Jack Butler is a Regional Editor for SBLive Sports, covering Minnesota and Michigan.