MADISON (AP) - A dominant defense, a high-powered offense and a group of 10 senior leaders provided the perfect mix for Edgar football to get a title again.
Senior Alec Hafferman ran for 136 yards and three scores to lead Edgar to a 36-6 victory over Shullsburg to claim the WIAA Division 7 championship on Thursday.
"It's been (Hafferman's) dream ever since he's been a little kid to get to state and to win at state," Edgar coach Jerry Sinz said. "He brought the whole team together and he's kept everyone fired up, inspired a lot of guys to play harder."
It was seventh state championship in Sinz's 42 years at the school - in four different divisions nonetheless - but the first since 2010. Edgar (11-3) had only lost a combined eight times in the previous five seasons but late stumbles prevented the Wildcats from even appearing in the finals.
In a year when it lost the most games since 2005, fourth-seeded Edgar found its rhythm when it mattered most, outscoring opponents 182-33 in five playoff games. Edgar knocked off top-seed Wild Rose, plus defending Division 7 champion Bangor and its 26-game winning streak along the way.
"I have to give our kids credit for playing a lot harder, a lot more inspired," Sinz said.
Edgar rushed for 285 yards and four touchdowns on the day, including runs of 1, 2 and 6 by Hafferman.
Making its first state title appearance, Shullsburg (11-3) committed four turnovers that turned into 14 points for the Wildcats. The highlight was a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by Karson Butt that made it 15-0 in the first quarter.
The Miners came in averaging 208.6 rushing yards and 2.6 touchdowns per game by only managed 118 yards and no scores on the ground.
"Second place isn't much fun," Shullsburg coach Scott Matye said, "but (there are) 100-some Division 7 teams that would trade places with us."
Amherst 38, Cedar Grove Belgium 35
Carter Zblewski kicked a 26-yard field goal with nine seconds left to lead Amherst to a 38-35 victory over Cedar-Grove Belgium in the WIAA Division 5 state championship Friday.
It's the second consecutive state championship for Amherst and the third in school history.
The Falcons (13-1) took over at the 14-yard line of Cedar-Grove Belgium (12-2) after Thomas Anderson recovered a fumble by Rockets wide receiver Reid Hilbelink with 54 seconds to play.
A 6-yard pass from quarterback Brandon Piotrowski to Marcus Glodowski brought Amherst to the 4-yard line with 15 seconds left. A false start penalty pushed the ball back to the 9.
Rockets quarterback Josh Weiss set WIAA state championship game records in completions (36), attempts (51), passing yards (383) and touchdown passes (5).
Senior Alec Hafferman ran for 136 yards and three scores to lead Edgar to a 36-6 victory over Shullsburg to claim the WIAA Division 7 championship on Thursday.
"It's been (Hafferman's) dream ever since he's been a little kid to get to state and to win at state," Edgar coach Jerry Sinz said. "He brought the whole team together and he's kept everyone fired up, inspired a lot of guys to play harder."
It was seventh state championship in Sinz's 42 years at the school - in four different divisions nonetheless - but the first since 2010. Edgar (11-3) had only lost a combined eight times in the previous five seasons but late stumbles prevented the Wildcats from even appearing in the finals.
In a year when it lost the most games since 2005, fourth-seeded Edgar found its rhythm when it mattered most, outscoring opponents 182-33 in five playoff games. Edgar knocked off top-seed Wild Rose, plus defending Division 7 champion Bangor and its 26-game winning streak along the way.
"I have to give our kids credit for playing a lot harder, a lot more inspired," Sinz said.
Edgar rushed for 285 yards and four touchdowns on the day, including runs of 1, 2 and 6 by Hafferman.
Making its first state title appearance, Shullsburg (11-3) committed four turnovers that turned into 14 points for the Wildcats. The highlight was a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by Karson Butt that made it 15-0 in the first quarter.
The Miners came in averaging 208.6 rushing yards and 2.6 touchdowns per game by only managed 118 yards and no scores on the ground.
"Second place isn't much fun," Shullsburg coach Scott Matye said, "but (there are) 100-some Division 7 teams that would trade places with us."
Amherst 38, Cedar Grove Belgium 35
Carter Zblewski kicked a 26-yard field goal with nine seconds left to lead Amherst to a 38-35 victory over Cedar-Grove Belgium in the WIAA Division 5 state championship Friday.
It's the second consecutive state championship for Amherst and the third in school history.
The Falcons (13-1) took over at the 14-yard line of Cedar-Grove Belgium (12-2) after Thomas Anderson recovered a fumble by Rockets wide receiver Reid Hilbelink with 54 seconds to play.
A 6-yard pass from quarterback Brandon Piotrowski to Marcus Glodowski brought Amherst to the 4-yard line with 15 seconds left. A false start penalty pushed the ball back to the 9.
Rockets quarterback Josh Weiss set WIAA state championship game records in completions (36), attempts (51), passing yards (383) and touchdown passes (5).
