“It’s been one hell of a ride, from elementary football all the way to now. This has been one of the greatest goals,” senior Easton Johnston said. “I don’t think any of us in our fifth grade uniforms knew we would accomplish a goal like this, but it was truly special. I wouldn’t want to share this with anybody else.”

After getting back into town paraded by local enforcement blaring its sirens, the team walked into the gym holding their newly-earned Class A Championship trophy, which was placed on a table with the other three most recent titles.

Minneota defeated Breckenridge in Friday’s prep bowl 49-14 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and also marked three straight undefeated seasons on a 46-game winning streak.

Last year’s championship was also special, being the program’s second three-peat joined by the 1986, ’87 and ’88 teams. Yet, this year’s squad was just as determined to keep the good times rolling and continue making history by adding to the already-lengthy billboard of state titles when driving into town.

Minneota senior Brock Fier talks to the crowd.

“I want to thank the past three teams that made this accomplishment [possible],” senior Adam DeVlaeminck said, who was unable to attend the ceremony but spoke over the phone. “It’s pretty special for me, and I know for the school and the community to be able to accomplish this goal … I’m just super excited to be a part of this team, and super excited to be a Minneota Viking. Once a Viking, always a Viking.”

“We talked a little bit last year about [how] there was a uniqueness of that team being able to three-peat and what that truly honestly means … It’s a huge accomplishment to do that,” Minneota head coach Chad Johnston added. “I think a lot of people [were looking at us because] we graduated the group of seniors that we did [after the 2024 season], but what they didn’t understand was the group of seniors that we had waiting in the wings … They kind of sat back, knew their role last year … All of a sudden, you put together a group of kids that are going to get an opportunity to try to show what they’re capable of doing, and to prove the dollar is wrong, and that we were still going to put together a good football team.”

Throughout the season, the players often threw credit to assistant coach Matt Myrvik, who helps manage the offensive line.

“The biggest thing I can say, and I think these coaches would agree, is it’s such a privilege to coach these kids, and [we] truly [feel] blessed to get to do what we do every day. These guys come in and work hard all year long,” Myrvik said. “They believe in each other, they believe in the coaches and they continue to do what we do at Minneota, and that’s put a good team on the field … I’m truly proud of these guys. I don’t think too many people in here would have said we had the greatest shot at winning it this year … It’s a true testament to the time and effort that these guys put in during the summer.”

There’s a common factor often expressed between current Minneota football players and former players that have since graduated, being the brotherhood that flows through every roster and continues to be passed along.

Minneota football head coach Chad Johnston talks to the crowd.

Senior Brock Fier was awarded the Most Valuable Teammate [MVT] award by the Minnesota State High School League on Friday following the win.

“Playing with these guys is genuinely really special. I wouldn’t say they are teammates, I would say we are a great, weird family,” Fier said, laughing. “But honestly, this Most Valuable Teammate this and that, it’s not just one person. It’s the lineman, it’s the wingbacks, it’s the quarterback, it’s the coaches … Nobody’s selfish. We’re all playing as a team, and to be a part of a group with these guys is something special. and something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

“There’s a reason why Brock Fier was our MVT today. Brock’s probably been the biggest fan of this whole group, I think, all year long … When things haven’t been going right, Brock’s the guy that said, ‘You’re good, you got this, we’re good,'” coach Johnston added. “Each time we scored throughout the year, Brock’s probably one of the first guys in the end zone, and he wasn’t the one who scored. It wasn’t him, but [he was like] ‘I’m going to get there, I’m going to cheer my teammate on.'”

The players thanked the community, fans, coaches and training staff for the dedicated hours and resources provided throughout the year.

“We are truly proud of this group and what they accomplished … You have been a part of something truly, truly special,” coach Johnston said, looking at the team. ‘”The four-peat is something really, really even more special, and you’ve been part of all of it, so hopefully this experience will be something you’ll remember forever.”

Minneota fans and supports cheer on the football team at the Welcome Home ceremony Friday night.

Minneota’s senior group now graduates with four titles to their name, not knowing anything else but bringing home a championship each of their years. The Vikings were led this season by Easton Johnston, DeVlaeminck, Bradley, Fier, Joey Lacek, Arndt, Thomas DeSmet, Caleb Bottelberghe, Easton Sheik, Dalton Orvis and Hunter Carstensen.

“They’ve been each other’s supporters. They’ve been very unselfish,” coach Johnston said of the seniors. “That’s something that has been established for people beforehand and everything else. But again, that’s not easy. Everyone wants a limelight, and I think this group truly felt they could do this together as a team.”

While the Minneota football program continues to break records, etch its name into history books and collect district, section and state championships, the community that supports the team continued to be a forefront topic among the ‘thank-you’s’ shared, as the fans in return collectively stood up to applaud the team at the end of the ceremony.

“The last few years, we’ve had an uncanny ability to make this look easy. It’s not. I get to hear all the people talking on social media, hating this or hating that … What they don’t truly understand, is what goes into this,” coach Johnston said. “If we are hated for being good, I will take that, because we have great kids. Great kids. We not only do what we’re supposed to be doing on the athletic field, but everywhere we go, we get complimented by a lot of different people about how our kids represent this school, our program, the community. So again, [if] people want to hate us for being good, I’m OK [with that], because we are good and we got great kids.”