Chanhassen entered the season with one of the most talented teams in Class 5A football, but it was still looking to put two dominant games together going into Friday night.

The Storm feature a prolific passer in Nathan Ramler and Power Four recruits Owen Linder at offensive tackle (committed to Iowa) and Kade Bush at tight end (Arkansas).

The aura of a state title contender wasn’t there in the opener, but’s it’s there now.

Two weeks ago, Chanhassen needed a 29-yard field goal as time expired to escape Alexandria in the first game of the season. But Minnesota’s No. 1 team in Class 5A overpowered Waconia with 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground in a 41-16 win Friday on the road.

Ramler, a 6-6 senior with a big arm, entered the night with seven passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in two games, but the Storm (3-0) pulled away in the second half behind its run game and massive blockers.

“That’s what makes our offense so special, because we can really do it all,” Ramler said. “We can really do it all. Coach said our game plan was to run a little more with it raining today. We thought we were going to pound it and win the game however we needed to.”

For the second time in two games, Chanhassen came from behind. It responded in a big way with 21 straight points in the first half, including three rushing touchdowns. That helped the Storm take a 21-16 halftime lead.

The Wildcats (2-1), who lost for the ninth straight time in the series, snatched the momentum early with a 9-0 lead after a safety and opening touchdown drive.

“They’re well coached and know what they’re doing,” Chanhassen coach Cullen Nelson said. “When you shoot yourself in the foot they’ll take advantage of it. But I knew we would respond. Defensively we played pretty well despite what was on the scoreboard.”

There’s already a debate this season about which team really deserves to be No. 1 in Class 5A. Is it Chanhassen or defending state champion Elk River?

Two years ago, Chanhassen opened the season with a close win vs. Elk River and proceeded to go 13-0 and win the state championship.

Last season, Elk River swept Chanhassen, including a 21-19 win in the Class 5A state semifinals. The Storm won’t play the Elks in the regular season this year, so they’ll have to make their case by overpowering the opponents on their schedule.

“I definitely think we’re the better team,” senior running back Skyler Notermann said. “We can throw. We can run. We can do everything.”

In last week’s 65-0 win over Burnsville at home, Chanhassen looked more like the top title contender in the class. That team showed up eventually Friday, after an early wakeup call.

Chanhassen started on its own 1-yard line after dropping the ball on the opening kickoff. To make matters worse, Bush was tackled in the end zone after a pass from Ramler.

Waconia’s biggest offensive play of the night came on its first drive, when Karsen Herman connected with Will Kirsch on a 43-yard pass to set up a rushing score that energized the home crowd.

That got Chanhassen’s attention. The Storm answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by the first of three rushing TDs from Notermann. Peyton Ramsey also ran the ball well, producing 118 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Ramler, who threw five touchdown passes against Burnsville, connected on his second of Friday’s game early in the third quarter on a 34-yarder to James Kopfmann that made it 28-16. Waconia’s interception on the ensuing drive turned the momentum for good.

“We came out a little slow in the second half,” Waconia coach Corey Shea said. “They’re a good team. You can spot them good field position.”