DIVISION 1
Arrowhead (13-0) was well on its way to winning its fifth State title by halftime, taking a 35-0 lead into the locker room en route to a 35-14 win over Sun Prairie (12-1) in the Division 1 championship game at Camp Randall Stadium Friday.
The Warhawks scored five touchdowns on its first seven possessions. In contrast, the Cardinals punted on their first five possessions and turned the ball over on interceptions with their final two possessions of the first half. Sun Prairie scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter after the outcome of the game had already been determined.
Quarterback Brady Kelliher completed 15-of-23 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns to power the Warhawks' offense. The three scoring tosses tied a Division 1 record. Dom Todarello led Arrowhead in rushing and receiving gaining 68 yards rushing and 75 yards receiving. In addition, he tossed a touchdown pass on four passing attempts.
Ryan Curran connected on record 18 completions on 29 pass attempts for 129 yards for the Cardinals, and Ben Havlicek threw for a 68 yards and a touchdown. Donte Starlin-Merriam rushed for 48 yards, and Drew Mikalofsky caught a Division 1 record nine passes for 76 yards.
Sun Prairie finishes runner-up in its second appearance in the State final. Their only other appearance resulted in a championship in 1995.
DIVISION 2
Homestead (11-2) turned in an impressive defensive performance in winning the Division 2 State championship by shutting down three-time defending champion Waunakee (12-1) in a 14-0 win.
Three Waunakee drives in the second half stalled on downs inside the Homestead 4-yard line and a fourth on the Highlander 28-yard line. The Warriors’ defense was also stellar in the second half, allowing just 14 yards on four third quarter drives and 84 yards total in the second half.
Homestead drove 81 yards on its first possession of the game and scored on a Jake Laihinen 1-yard run. The Highlanders led 14-0 after Jay Schneider sprinted 53 yards to set-up a 22-yard scoring toss from Laihinen to Jack Popp with 11 seconds left in the first half.
Jay Schneider and Shaquille Cole keyed the Highlanders' ground game with 84 and 83 yards, respectively. Laihinen passed for 97 yards and one touchdown, hitting 7-of-15 attempts. Waunakee’s Will Decorah completed 15-of-42 passes for 126 yards and two interceptions. The 42 attempts set a Division 2 record. Tyler Reynolds led the Warrior rushing attack with 57 yards on 19 carries.
The Highlanders win their first Division 2 and fourth overall after moving down a division from its traditional placement in Division 1 where they won three championships. The Warriors have their streak of three straight Division titles snapped and were denied their sixth championship overall.
DIVISION 3
Catholic Memorial (11-2) rolled to a 42-7 victory over Waupaca (12-1) in the Division 3 championship final to win its first State championship Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Crusaders' offense was effective both through the air and on the ground. Pat White completed 8-of-9 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns for the Crusaders, which tied a Division 3 State finals record. Matt Hubley rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Catholic Memorial led 14-0 at halftime with two touchdowns in the first quarter. Hubley capped a 76-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, and Andre Bodden caught a 77-yard strike from White. The Crusaders expanded their lead to 21-0 with another big play to open the second half. On the first place from scrimmage in the third quarter, Hubley raced 70 yards to the end zone.
Nathan Nelson got Waupaca on the board with a 4-yard run on a drive that covered 16 plays, 76 yards and 8:33. The Crusaders responded with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Passes of 21 and 25 yards to Alec Kocour and Mitch Meindel, respectively, built the lead and a 10-yard interception return by Bodden accounted for the final score. His three interceptions tied a football finals record, and his 103 receiving yards led all receivers.
Quarterback Sam Menzies led Waupaca with 66 yards rushing and 67 passing. He completed 6-of-18 attempts with one touchdown and four interceptions. The Comets finish runner-up for the third time in five title game appearances.
DIVISION 4
For the second straight season, Somerset (12-1) has taken its opponent in the Division 5 championship game into overtime, but unlike last year's runner-up finish, Thursday's 35-33 overtime win over Big Foot (12-1) makes for a much more joyous occasion.
With the first possession of overtime, Tyler Ledbeter's third rushing touchdown of the game and a two-point conversion left Big Foot with the prospect of needing a touchdown and a two-point conversation to tie. Mason Dixon's third score of the game got the Chiefs within two points, but when Carter Hehr's pass to Brandon Hausner at the goal line fell short of the target on the point-after attempt, the Somerset faithful began the celebration, erasing some of the sting of last season's memory.
The Spartans rushed for 403 yards, including 204 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries by Vernon Breault. Ledbeter rushed for 151 yards with the three scores and passed for another. Mason Dixon rushed for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Carter Hehr passed for 129 yards and a touchdown to lead the Chiefs offense. Hehr also added two touchdowns on the ground.
The Spartans scored on their first three drives of the game that covered 72, 63 and 92 yards to build a 21-6 in the second quarter. The Chiefs cut the lead to 20-13 with an Hehr touchdown run on the final play of the first half. Big Foot drew within one at 21-20 with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter, but Somerset answered with a score midway through the fourth period. The Chiefs tied the score at 27-27 with 5:28 left in the game. The Spartans had a chance to win the game in regulation after driving the ball from its own 8-yard line to the Big Foot 19-yard line, but the potential game-winning field goal was blocked.
It was the second title won by Somerset, also winning the title in 2002. Big Foot finishes runner-up for the second time in three State appearances
To watch the replay of the game, go to wiaa.tv and select the Division 4 championship game.
DIVISION 5
Amherst (13-0) rode the shoulders of reserve quarterback Caleb Glennon and a stout defense to defeat Lancaster (12-1) 19-7 in the Division 5 championship game at Camp Randall Stadium Thursday. It's the first football title for the Falcons, who were appearing in the championship final for the first time.
Glennon, filling in for regular quarterback Chris Zblewski, who injured his leg in last week's Level 4 victory, tossed a pair of touchdowns and completed 13 of 21 passes for 129 yards. Joel Biadasz caught two touchdown passes to tie a Division 5 record, and teammate Ryan Makuski caught seven passes to tie a division record for receptions.
A stellar Falcons' defensive effort was led by Garth Groshek with 10 tackles and Max Strand with a sack and four tackles for loss. Lancaster was held to eight first downs in the game and two yards per rushing attempt.
Biadasz's first score, a 40-yard completion from Glennon, gave Amherst a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Flying Arrows tied the game in the second quarter on running back option pass that covered 36 yards from Nate Tranel to Troy Baker. The Falcons scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter on a 6-yard pass to Max Strand and added an insurance score on a running back option pass of its own from Ryan Makuski to Biadasz that covered 15 yards late in the fourth quarter.
Lancaster finishes runner-up for the second consecutive season. They fell in last year's title game 43-42 in overtime.
To watch the replay of the game, go to wiaa.tv and select the Division 5 championship game.
DIVISION 6
St. Mary's Springs (13-0) wins its second straight Division 6 title with a 24-14 victory over Regis (12-1) in the State championship final at Camp Randall Stadium Thursday.
The Ledgers opened a 14-0 lead on a 3-yard Evan Henderson run in the first quarter and a 16-yard pass from Henderson to Eric Feldner midway through the second quarter. Regis answered with touchdowns on two successive drives to tie the game on a 1-yard run by Khadel Akindolire and a 5-yard scamper by Hayden Frey. The Ledgers took a 21-14 lead with a 13-play, 75-yard drive with 17 seconds left in the first half on 7-yard Henderson pass to Ryan Grandlic.
The only scoring of the second half came on a 24-yard field by the Ledgers' Mitchell Herron with 6:16 to play in the game.
Henderson completed a Division 6 record 14 passes in 18 attempts for 144 yards, and rushed for a touchdown to lead the Ledgers offense. Darin Ward rushed for 95 yards and Feldner caught a Division 6 record nine passes for 85 yards. Regis ran for 324 yards and was held to minus nine yards passing, which is the fewest in tournament history. Defensively, Grandlic led the Ledgers with 15 tackles and a fumble recovery.
It was St. Mary's Springs fourth State title, having also won in 2002, 2009 and last year. Regis finishes runner-up for the third time in four State appearances.
To watch the replay of the game, go to wiaa.tv and select the Division 6 championship game.
DIVISION 7
Glenwood City (11-2) outscored Potosi (12-1) 22-0 in the third quarter to expand a 14-12 halftime advantage to defeat Potosi 46-21 in the record-laden Division 7 State championship game.
The 46 points scored by Hilltoppers ties a Division 7 record for most points in a game and their 465 yards rushing sets the division mark. Isaac Tuttle led Glenwood City with 195 yards rushing and four touchdowns, which ties a division record for rushing scores. Adam Holmquist added 149 yards on the ground for frp,the Hilltoppers.
Potosi led 14-6 in the second quarter before the Hilltoppers responded with four unanswered touchdowns. Tim Fritz set a division record for most pass completions and attempts for the Chieftains, hitting on 12-of-25 for 147 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a 33 yards and a score.
The Hilltoppers rolled up 500 yards of total offense, one yard short of the record, and Potosi netted 273 yards. The 773 is the highest offensive output by two teams combined in Division 7 history, breaking the former mark of 666 yards set in 2008.
Glenwood City captured its third State football crown, winning the Division 6 championship in 1985 and the Division 5 title in 1997.
To watch the replay of the game, go to wiaa.tv and select the Division 7 championship game.