Totino-Grace 13 Mahtomedi 8 - Photos by SHAYNE JOHNSON

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Vaughn Schmid gets hit while throwing a 15 yard completion to
Matt Groff to make it 6 - 7 and pull within 1 point with 52 seconds remaining

Matt Groff of Mahtomedi catches a touchdown
pass with 52 seconds left to come within 1.

The Mahtomedi team takes a knee as
the offense goes for the 2 point conversion.

Matt Groff of Mahtomedi catches a pass for the
2 point conversion putting them up 8 - 7 with 52 seconds to go.

Jordan Marshal completes a 50 yard tipped pass
to Micah Koehn for the go ahead touchdown as time expires.

Micah Koehn catches a tipped ball and takes
it to the end zone while time expires to win the game.

Totino Grace clears its bench in celebration
of their victory for the 2007 State Title.

By: Gabriel Keith

In a game with twice as much scoring in the last minute of play than the rest of the game, an emotionally charged atmosphere fluctuated between both sides of the stadium. In the end, Totino-Grace held up the trophy in a game that was decided on the last play in the last game of the Prep Bowl Championship weekend.

Winning the coin toss yet deferring opening possession to Totino-Grace, Mahtomedi shut them out on their opening drive, yet failed to capitalize on the following drive.

Totino-Grace drew first blood with 10 seconds left in the first quarter with a 2 yard rushing touchdown by halfback Micah Koehn, tacking on the extra point at the conclusion of a 5:43 minute drive which started on their own 18 yard line for a 7 to 0 lead.

The score would not change until the final drive of the game. Totino-Grace overwhelmingly controlled the first quarter of play, holding Mahtomedi to 6 plays for 21 yards while only allowing their offense to grace the field for 2:28 minutes.

With 3.5 minutes left in the 3^rd quarter, Totino-Grace attempted to lengthen their lead with a field goal from the 28 yard line only to send it veering incomplete to the left.

With 6:21 left on the clock Totino-Grace drove down the field to score a touchdown with 52 seconds left on the clock. The score was 7 to 6 and Totino-Grace opted for the 2 point conversion attempt.

After multiple time outs taken by both teams in an attempt to freeze the opposing teams, the play commenced. In a pass to the side of the end zone running back Aaron Lueders brought the ball down for the 2 point score putting Totino-Grace ahead by 1 point with under a minute left in the game.

In a desperate attempt to move down the field to regain the lead, Totino-Grace who had led by a touchdown through out the game converted for a touchdown off a bobbled pass in traffic, only to fall into the hands of unintended receiver, tight end Abajemo Omot who won the game for Totino-Grace with a front flip in to the end zone.

The Prep Bowl attendance reached an all time high since 1986, boasting 32,221 fans over the course of the weekend.