Thursday night’s Class 6A state semifinal started as a race between Minnetonka junior quarterback Caleb Francois’ legs and Anoka senior quarterback Peyton Podany’s arm.

It was a contest that remained even for a while, but eventually Francois ran away with things, carrying his team straight into the championship game.

Francois rushed for 283 yards and five touchdowns while throwing for another, lifting Minnetonka past the Tornadoes 48-27 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Skippers (10-2) advance to face the winner of Friday’s semifinal between Maple Grove and Shakopee in the state championship game at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Anoka – in the state semifinals for the first time since 1994 – finished its season 8-4.

Both teams played to their strengths in a back-and-forth first half. Podany threw for 162 yards and two touchdowns — a 17-yard scoring strike to senior Afy Ibekwe and a 29-yard connection to senior Charlie Hendrickson.

Ibekwe also had a 5-yard run that put Anoka up 6-0 after the Tornadoes forced the Skippers to turn the ball over on downs at the Anoka 25 on the game’s opening possession.

But the Tornadoes defense couldn’t slow down Francois, who rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns while throwing what was ruled an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior Vincent May.

That meant the two teams went to the locker rooms tied 21-21.

Yet the Skippers forced an Anoka punt to start the second half, giving them the ball at the Tornadoes 43 and setting the stage for a 15-yard touchdown by senior Chase Conrad that put Minnetonka on top 28-21.

Francois scored on a 10-yard run on his team’s next possession, then scored from four yards out following a 24-yard interception return by senior Jack Yerhot.

He then added a five-yard touchdown run with 4:33 to play to extend the margin to 48-21. Ibekwe scored on a 19-yard pass from Podany with 3:21 to play to cut that lead to 21.

Podany finished with 222 yards passing and three touchdowns.

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