There was a world of difference between Monday and the last time La Crescent-Hokah was playing in a flag football state title game. Just a year ago, the Lancers finished runners-up in a humble four-team girls flag pilot league, funded by the Vikings. This year, La Crescent-Hokah and one from Mahtomedi had to rise to the top of an expanded 51-team league that spanned from Sartell to southern Minnesota to play in a state title game at TCO Stadium in Eagan. And on Monday, No. 1-seeded Mahtomedi announced its arrival on the flag football scene emphatically, scoring 18 unanswered points in the second half to beat La Crescent-Hokah 36-20 and raise the purple and gray league trophy. The Zephyrs and the No. 2 Lancers had to play through a series of state tournament games that began at 2 p.m., with 12 qualifying schools, and ended at 7 p.m. with the final pair facing off in a gusty wind. Families and fans trickled in and out of TCO as Mahtomedi dominated its quarterfinal and semifinal, beating Bloomington and Park of Cottage Grove, both 32-0. In the championship game, Zephyrs senior quarterback Rylee Bogren connected with senior Sophia Peer for four passing touchdowns and consistently found the hands of Presley Albers as Mahtomedi pulled away in the second half. Another aerial threat — Lancers quarterback Eve Cody’s connection with Savannah Klinski and Brooklyn Mitchell — had helped La Crescent-Hokah take a 20-18 edge into halftime. The Zephyrs secondary quieted the Lancers in the second half, with Peer snagging two interceptions in the last five minutes to staunch a comeback attempt. A running clock made the final minutes of the fast-paced 40-minute game slip by faster than Peer could cut across the turf. Albers scored the game-clinching touchdown for the Zephyrs. Teams’ flag football journeys began back in late April with the first of four regular-season Sunday doubleheaders, which were followed by section playoffs. Most schools pulled athletes from all sorts of sports — soccer, track, basketball, even lacrosse, meaning some players were competing in lacrosse state quarterfinals the day after they completed in the flag state championships.