Not many teams get back to the State Championship game to defend their State title from the previous year but the Hanover Wildcats have accomplished that feat this year as they take on Hodgeman County on Saturday, November 25th at 3:30pm in Newton for the 8-Man Division II State title.

The Wildcats not only are looking to defend their 8-Man DII State title and win the schools fifth football State title as they are in the Championship game for the seventh time and the fourth straight year. Hanover also looks to extend their current winning streak which sits at 24-straight games. After beating Rock Hills 62-32 in the first round of the playoffs and then Caldwell 58-12 in Sectionals Hanover had their closest game of the year in Sub-State scoring 22 points in the fourth to beat Pike Valley 36-24 marking the first game for the Wildcats decided by less than 20 points win or loss since State title game in 2014.

On the year the Wildcats have dominated their competition surrendering just 100 points on the year which is only 8.3 points per game and the defense has made plenty of plays all year. Hanover’s defense has recorded 20 sacks, forced 28 turnovers and has forced four touchdowns all complimenting the offense that has ran wild on opponents to the tune of 54 points per game. Wildcats are averaging around 300 yards per game led by multiple players with Daiken Stallbaumer leading the charge as he’s thrown for 786 yards with 13 touchdowns and ran for 571 yards with 17 scores. Carter Bruna and Kevin Diederich both have been strong rushing for 740 and 769 yards, respectively with 16 and 19 touchdowns, while each having over 100 yards receiving and three and two receiving touchdowns, respectively. Guys like Brennan Zabokrtsky, Thomas Atkins and Taegan Schwartz have made several plas throughout the year to give the team a wide group of playmakers.

Standing in front of Hanover and their chance to repeat are the Hodgeman County Longhorns who are making their second appearance in a State Championship game. After a 59-14 win over Northern Valley in the first round of the playoffs and a 52-6 victory versus South Barber in Sectionals the Longhorns avenged one of their two regular season losses with 42-16 win over Otis-Bison in Sub-State to get to the State title game. The Longhorns on the year are averaging 46.5 points per game and 333 yards per game with the Salmans’ trio leading the way. Jacob Salmans has thrown for 980 yards with eight touchdowns and ran for 614 yards with 14 scores, while Eli Salmans has 1,329 yards rushing with 23 touchdowns and Isaac Salmans has 304 yards passing with six scores and 325 yards rushing with five touchdowns, while Trevor Morgan has also been strong on the year. Defensively Hodgeman County is giving up 18.5 points per game but has forced 22 turnovers on the season.

Win or lose the Hanover Wildcats will finish the football season with a top two finish for the fourth straight year but they look to cap their second straight season with a State title (4-2 in State Championship games). The Wildcats own a 24-game win streak and take on Hodgeman County who are back in the State title game for first time since 2013. The 8-Man DII State title game is set for 3:30pm kick on Saturday, November in Newton at Fischer field.