The No. 1-ranked team in the state responded appropriately.

Maple Grove turned to running back Charles Langama and the Crimson moved methodically downfield. Langama carried the ball eight times on the ensuing 12-play drive and scored from four-yards out, using a gasp-worthy jump cut to avoid and tackler at the 2-yard line.

With a 14-7 lead, Maple Grove’s defense made its presence known. A 13-yard sack of Francois, coupled with an intentional grounding penalty, proved too much for Minnetonka to overcome. After Minnetonka punted, Maple Grove took firm control of momentum, going 68 yards in six plays, including a pair of Kaden Harney pass completions — one to Bo Draheim for 22 yards and another to Dylan Vokal for 32 yards, after picking up a fumbled snap.

Langama capped the drive, running off-tackle to the left for an 18-yard touchdown, his second score of the game, giving Maple Grove a 21-7 lead at halftime.

“At halftime, I said ‘We started fast. Now we’ve got to finish strong’,” Spurell said.

After a third quarter in which both teams traded turnovers, Maple Grove appeared to put the game away on an 10-yard touchdown run by Patrick Wright with 5:29 left in the game, but Minnetonka cut the deficit to 28-14 when running back Chase Conrad scored from 2-yards out with just over four minutes to play.