At the conclusion of a successful 2023 campaign in which Totino-Grace got back to the state quarterfinals, where it fell to eventual state champion Hutchinson, Eagles coach Jay Anderson noted the only teams to beat Totino-Grace all season — Orono and Hutchinson — were both simply bigger and stronger than the Eagles.

While strides were made, there was plenty of work yet to do.

Friday’s Class 4A final — won 24-8 by Becker at U.S. Bank Stadium — provided another reminder that the climb must continue.

Because Becker was certainly on another level in the championship bout. The Bulldogs stupendous defense held the Eagles (12-1). to just 152 yards of total offense, while forcing two turnovers as Becker won its first state title since 2016.

Totino-Grace’s lone score came on a play-action pass from Jake Person to Luther Bunge with fewer than two minutes to play that fooled the Becker defense.

On the other end, Becker (13-0) ran for 240 yards as a team, led by Landen Kujawa, who ran for 99 yards an a score, while also tallying seven tackles on defense.