Photo by Samantha Davis. The Minneota football team will soon be adding ‘2024’ to the town billboard that stands on Highway 68 after winning its third straight state championship Friday morning in Minneapolis.

MINNEOTA — Soon, there will be ‘2024’ added to the already lengthy list of state titles on the Minneota billboard visitors see as they cross into town on Highway 68, after the Vikings football team won its third straight Class A state championship and program’s 10th overall Friday morning at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

“It’s a phenomenal achievement by a young group of guys,” City Hall Bar and Grill new general manager Tony Esping said. “The history of Minneota football that they have carried on with that tradition, it’s just amazing. We’re excited for the community.”

The Vikings defeated Springfield 70-20, powered behind three touchdowns in each of the first, second and fourth quarters.

Minneota athletics have built up a caliber of competing at big stages and under bright lights, and bringing the town of about 1,300 people a state title. All to which, residents never get tired of celebrating their teams.

“I’m extremely impressed and proud of them,” Minneota city administrator Robert Vidoloff said. “It’s a direct result of the hard work of the school, hard work of the students. I mean, they’ve got some superstar players.”

A few folks gathered at the Bar and Grill to watch history take place. Friday’s game marked the first time in 52 years where two teams have gone head-to-head in the championship for three consecutive seasons.

“When you’re from Minneota, you know you have good kids in the program, and that program has been consistent for years,” Esping said, who also played for the Vikings in the 1980’s and was on the coaching staff up until around five years ago. “We got a great team of kids, and a great group of kids that are good, young men that represent the town.”

Esping also said he’s currently in the process of coming up with new menu features that incorporate a Minneota theme to celebrate the community as whole.

Although newer to the area, Vidoloff has already found a sense of pride in seeing locals, beyond the players themselves, commemorate one another’s achievements.

“There’s really a special kind of magic going on here,” Vidoloff said. “Everybody talks about Coach [Chad] Johnston [Minneota’s football coach] being a great role model and mentor for them … They’ve done a great job of cultivating and keeping going every year.”

As the good energy was contagious between residents sporting Minneota apparel and positive remarks of excitement filling the air, even the local hardware store was honoring the accomplishment.

“To stick to it the way those kids have, I mean these things don’t come easy,” Dave Fahey of Gislason Ace Hardware said. “They have to work hard … It’s just what these kids do. It’s constant work.”

Beyond being great athletes, Fahey attests to the football team’s strong character.

“Those kids, they come in here and their parents come in here, and I am always amazed by their humility, politeness and courtesy,” Fahey said. “It’s good for the town … It’s fun to be a part of it.”

The Vikings have now been undefeated for two straight seasons, and have not lost since Oct. 19, 2022 in a regular season game. It ends this year 13-0 overall.

As the team will return to Minneota with another trophy to add to the shelf and countless memories, it will symbolize the strength of community and celebrate what a small town is capable of.

“I’m proud of them, because what an awesome opportunity for a bunch of young kids to know and understand leadership,” Vidoloff said. “To know and understand what it is to work together, and to see that come to fruition and a championship.”