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Sports

Defense Propels Totino-Grace to State Class AAAAA Tourney

Eagles hope to keep the wheels rolling behind a stingy defense.

A might seem like a distant memory for . Since then, the Eagles have run the table en route to making it back to the state tournament with a 10-1 record.

“I’m really proud of these guys,” said head football coach Jeff Ferguson. “I think they’ve come a long way. I really believe we’re playing our best football right now.”

Since dropping the season opener, the Eagles offense has put up an impressive 277 points. The Eagles defense responded by simply being stingy. Senior linebacker Tommy Hart and senior free safety Andy Moritko are the captains of unit.

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“Our defense has really just been nasty and really getting after it in practice,” Moritko said. “In games we’re just selling out and really gang-tackling; playing as a team.”

While racking up point totals worthy of a video game on offense, the Eagles defense allowed an average of 12.85 points a game for the remainder of the regular season. In the , Totino-Grace outscored their opponents 72—14. 

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“We just take it game by game,” Hart said. “At practice we work hard and try to improve day by day." 

The Eagles have won the state championship four times in the last five years. Their was their last before . Lead by their defensive captains, Totino-Grace is looking for a three-peat.

“They’ve done a great job. Not just this season but since our banquet last year,” Ferguson said. “Football is really important to them and they're first and foremost really good teammates.”

Tonight Totino-Grace will face Prior Lake (8-3) in the first round of the state tournament.

“I think we had our best week of practice,” Ferguson said. “We’re just excited to play the football game and see what happens.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Metrodome.

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