Four Champions Crowned At Camp Randall
Friday, November 20th, 2015 -- 6:23 AM
At the 40th WIAA State Football Championships at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Divisions 4 - 7 crowned champions on a chilly, windy Thursday.DIVISION 4
Osceola (13-1) won its second title in the program's history and its first since winning the Division 5 championship in 1984 with a convincing 28-0 win over previously undefeated Lodi (13-1) in the Division 4 title game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Chieftains' quarterback Tucker Hazzard ran into the end zone from a yard out for a 7-0 lead. On the next score, Hazzard fumbled prior to reaching the goal line, but Tanner Johnson recovered the ball in the end zone to give the Chiefains a 14-0 lead with 3:42 remaining in the third quarter. They tacked on another score just before the end of the quarter on a 40-yard run by Ethan Ellingsworth to increase the lead to 21-0.
The final score of the game came early in the fourth quarter when Teddy Glidersleeve ran in from four yards out.
Ellingsworth rushed for 108 yards, and Glidersleeve added 62 yards on the ground. Johnson also chipped in with 58 yards rushing. Hazzard threw five times and completed two for 34 yards. Logan Miller paced the Chieftains' defense with 10 tackles. Jason Bents forced a fumble and intercepted a pass, and Ethan Freese also recorded an interception.
Mark Nellen was the offensive leader for the Blue Devils with 101 yards rushing. Quarterback Garrett Schreiber completed 8-of-18 passes for 85 yards and two interceptions. Zach Steuck led the defense with 10 stops, including a quarterback sack.
The Blue Devils finish runner-up in their first-ever appearance in a State championship final.
DIVISION 5
Amherst (14-0) cruised to 42-0 shutout over Spencer/Columbus Catholic (13-1) to win its second Division 5 State title after placing runner-up last year.
The Falcons dominated the game from the opening kickoff behind the talents of quarterback Garrett Groshek, scoring touchdowns on each of its first six possessions. They outgained the Rockets 410-124 in total yardage in the game. Groshek was involved in all six touchdowns.
He culminated a 75-yard drive on the Falcons' first possession with a 29-yard run, and scored later in the first period on a 78-yard burst.
He tossed two touchdown passes in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 28-0 halftime lead. He hit Amaziah McCall on a 12-yard scoring strike and 17-yard touchdown toss to Joshua Cisewski. Amherst scored twice in the third quarter on a 23-yard pass from Groshek to McCall and a 33-yard connection to Cisewski to complete the scoring.
Groshek ran for 161 yards, and Brandon Piotrowski rushed for another 78 yards to power the Amherst running attack. Groshek completed 11-of-14 passes for 172 yards, which ties a Division 5 record. His four touchdown passes set a Division 5 record. Cisewski caught four passes for 61 yards, and McCall added three receptions for 52 yards. Bryce Holderman made seven tackles on defense and McCall and Benjamin Gutschow each had an interception.
Spencer/Columbus Catholic was held to 67 yards rushing, 37 by Hunter Luepke. Calvin Lenz completed 8 of 17 passes for 57 yards. Luepke also led the Rocket defense with seven tackles and a sack.
It is the second State championship for Amherst, which also won the Division 5 title in 2012. Spencer/Columbus Catholic finishes runner-up in its first State final appearance as a co-op program.
DIVISION 6
St. Mary's Springs (12-2) won its second consecutive Division 6 title with a 39-20 win over Darlington (13-1) in the championship game in a rematch of last year's final.
The Ledgers to took a 14-0 lead on a pair of 1-yard plunges, one by Blake Bauer and another by Fintan Floyd. Darlington responded with an 86-yard kickoff return by Lance Johnson in the second quarter and trailed 14-7 at the half.
Darlington pulled to within a point at 14-13 with a 17-yard run by Johnson, but the extra point was unsuccessful. Fintan scored for the second time on the ground on a 15-yard run, but the point-after was missed to give the Ledgers a 20-13 lead.
Johnson tied the game late in the third quarter on Johnson's third score, a 6-yard run. He was injured on the scoring play and did not return to the game. The rest of the game was dominated St. Mary's Springs, scoring 19 unanswered points. Clay Schueffner broke off the first of two 56-yard touchdown runs and Floyd scored on a 14-yard jaunt before Schueffner concluded the scoring on his second 56-yard sprint.
Schueffner rushed for 233 yards to set a Division 5 record, and Fintan amassed 184 yards for the Ledgers, which set a team rushing record in Division 5 with 430 yards. Schueffner also led the defense with 15 tackles.
Hunter Johnson led the Redbirds with 119 yards rushing before having to leave the game in the third quarter.
The Ledgers' have now won six State titles in their nine State final appearances. Darlington finishes runner-up for the third straight season and for the seventh time in its 11th appearances.
DIVISION 7
Bangor (14-0) captured its first State championship with a 20-14 victory over Pepin/Alma (13-1) in the Division 7 championship game.
The Cardinals struck first by driving 82 yards on 10 plays on their opening drive, capped by a 1-yard run by Andrew Piske. They opened a 14-0 lead on a 23-yard pass from Kellen Kravik to Sam Johnson midway through the second quarter.
The Eagles answered on the ensuing drive on a 54-yard strike from Logan Carroll to Caiden Haake to cut the deficit to 14-7.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Cardinals increased their lead to 20-7 on another run by Pliske, a 6-yard scamper. With 2:40 remaining in the game, the Eagles drew to within a score at 20-14 on an 18-play, 64-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard Haake touchdown run. The Cardinals preserved the victory by covering the ensuing onside kickoff and running out the clock.
The Bangor offense was fueled by Piske's 173 yards rushing and two scores. Kravik's only pass attempt was the scoring strike to Johnson. Trevor Helt gained 73 yards on the ground for the Eagles, and Lance Johnson added 67 yards. Carroll completed 3-of-8 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.
It's the second straight season Pepin/Alma has finished runner-up after advancing to the final for the first time last season.
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