Record 15th state title appearance

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar junior Maverick Butt scored a three-yard touchdown run with only one minute, 27 seconds left in Friday’s WIAA Division 7 state semifinal against Boyceville in Chippewa Falls. German exchange student, Jarvis Kofent, kicked the successful extra point to give the Wildcats a thrilling come-from-behind 21-20 win against the Bulldogs.

Boyceville had taken a 20-14 lead on senior fullback Jake Bialzik’s one-yard touchdown plunge with three minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the game. Junior Zach Hellendrung’s extra point kick failed. Boyceville kept its scoring drive alive with a fake field goal attempt on fourth down and nine. With Hellendrung lined up to attempt the field goal, junior quarterback Carson Roemhild took the snap and ran around the left edge to the two-yard line for a first down.

Edgar received good starting field position at its own 45-yard line for its fourth quarter game-winning drive after senior up man Ty Schnelle grabbed the squib kickoff for a 15-yard return. Edgar junior quarterback Tucker Streit’s intentional grounding penalty pushed the Wildcats back 15 yards to their 25-yard line. Facing second down and 30 yards, Streit avoided getting sacked and he executed a push pass to senior Will Hackel for a big gain to the 49-yard line. Edgar then executed a short pass to Butt for a large gain on the right side of the field and a short pass to Hackel for a large gain on the left side of the field.

Schnelle was proud of his team’s tremendous effort in the comeback state semifinal win.

“We just played together for each other and we had a a lot of guys step up and make some big plays at key parts of the game,” he said. “It feels great to get back down there to compete for another gold ball.”

Edgar will make its state record 15th appearance in the state championship game. Edgar will attempt to win back-to-back WIAA Division 7 state titles when it plays against Potosi/Cassville at 10 a.m. this Thursday, Nov. 21, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

No team scored points until almost 27 minutes into Friday’s state semifinal. After a scoreless opening quarter, Boyceville junior Landyn Leslie was wide open on a counter run for a 23-yard touchdown with seven minutes, 12 seconds left in the second quarter. Hellendrung kicked the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

Edgar senior receiver Leyton Schuett broke school records for career receptions and receiving yards during the team’s first scoring drive of the game. Schuett broke Noah Werner’s school career receptions record on his first catch of 18 yards for a first down. He then broke Tim Knoeck’s See WILDCATS RETURN TO MADISON/ page 10

WILDCAT CAPTAINS JUMP FOR JOY - Edgar football team captains Ty Schnelle (52), Jase Apfelbeck (23) and Tucker Streit (0) run to the Wildcats crowd with the medals they just received for winning the WIAA Division 7 state semifinal against Boyceville on Friday in Chippewa Falls.

PHOTO BY JEREMY SCHREIBER Wildcats return to Madison

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career receiving yards record with another long reception for a first down during the scoring drive. Streit executed a designed quarterback keeper up the middle for a 24yard touchdown run with three minutes, 31 seconds left in the second quarter. Streit handed the ball to junior Gavin Mauer who then threw the ball to Streit in the end zone for the two-point conversion to give the Wildcats an 8-7 halftime advantage.

The Wildcats extended their lead to 14-7 in the third quarter on Butt’s four-yard touchdown run and Kofent’s successful extra point. Boyceville tied the game, 1414, in the fourth quarter on Zellendrung’s two-yard touchdown plunge and extra point.

Streit completed seven of 13 passes for 91 yards along with six carries for 31 yards and a touchdown. Hackel ran the ball 11 times for 110 yards. Butt had 15 carries for 43 yards and two touchdowns.

Schnelle led the Wildcats defense with 13 tackles while Streit added nine and Hackel had eight. Sophomore Wyatt Klockziem forced a fumble and sacked the quarterback five times to break Austin Dahlke’s school record for most sacks in a game.

Edgar’s football team has won eight state championships in school history. The Wildcats won the Division 7 crown in 2016 and last season; Division 6 championships in 2009 and 2010; Division 5 titles in 1992, 1999 and 2001 and a Division 4 gold trophy in 1979. Edgar has also finished as state runners-up in 1991, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2018 and 2019.

SINZ WINS 100TH PLAYOFF GAME - Edgar head football coach Jerry Sinz celebrates with his team after Friday’s 21-20 WIAA Division 7 state semifinal win against Boyceville in Chippewa Falls. The win is Sinz’s 100th career playoff coaching victory.

PHOTO BY JEREMY SCHREIBER

SCHUETT BREAKS TWO SCHOOL RECEIVING RECORDS - Edgar senior, Leyton Schuett, broke Edgar’s career receptions and career receiving yards during Friday’s 21-20 WIAA Division 7 state semifinal against Boyceville in Chippewa Falls. He now has 64 career receptions and 1,173 career receiving yards heading into this Thursday’s state championship game.

PHOTO BY JEREMY SCHREIBER