The B&B Falcons have only had a few tests this season and one came at the hands of their rival Hanover the regular season but the Falcons weathered the storm and won in double overtime 52-46. B&B cruised through their first two games in the playoffs but in order to make their fifth straight state title game the Falcons would face a familiar foe in Hanover, yet again this season defeating them 50-20.

Wildcats started off slow having to punt early in the game that's when the Falcons made the first big play of the game bring pressure on the punt, as Blake Reinecke blocked the kick and forced Hanover over on downs giving the Falcons great field position. Two plays later B&B was in the endzone with a 17-yard TD run by Dustin Deters who bulldozed this way to another stellar rushing night with 125 yards on 22 carries, scoring twice more for three TD's on the night and the Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" award on the KMZA broadcast.

B&B's 6-0 early lead after a failed two-point conversion lasted just for short time as Hanover answered with an elusive 53 yard TD run by the Wildcat speedster, Mark Zarybnicky. With a successful two-point conversion Wildcats took the 8-6 lead, which would prove to be the only lead in the game for the Wildcats.

Falcons would have an answer of their own with a one yard TD run on a quarterback keeper by Dustin Rottinghaus and it was 12-8 at the end of the first. In the second quarter B&B's defense turned Hanover over with an interception and turnover on downs. The Falcons finished the night picking off three, Cody Neiman passes, one each for Dave Macke, Tyler Deters and Dylan Steinlage. With the great defense the offense was presented with some good field position and found a groove.

Second quarter proved to be plentiful for the Falcons as they scored 30 of the 50 points. Dustin Deters would run in this other two scores of the night then Rottinghaus went to the air for a 46 yard strike to Brandon Bergman and other one yard TD pass to Bergman, also. Rottinghaus finished the night passing 7-16 for 137 yards and three TD passes for the third straight game. Hanover in between those scores managed a 25 yard TD run by their quarterback, Neiman who finished with 121 yards rushing. At the half B&B at home lead it 42-14.

In the second half the scoring was not much but Hanover did strike early in the third quarter with a 20 pass from Neiman to Evan Zabokrtsky to cut the lead to 22, but the Falcons added a 21 yard TD catch by tight end, Cameron Haug with successful two-point conversion to increase the lead to 30 and win by that margin.

B&B continued to dominate the series against Hanover as they have now won the last seven meetings with this most recent one punching the Falcons tickets to the state title game for the fifth straight year. Falcons have won two state titles in the last four years and last time they played Hanover twice in a season was 2010 when they beat the Wildcats in the semifinals and then went on to win the state title.

Falcons are looking to repeat that history from 2010 and end this year with perfection and a state title. They will play next Saturday in Newton at 11:00am; you can listen on 92.1 KMZA and online here at mscsports.net (click to listen).

Updated 8-Man DII bracket (click here)