For the third consecutive year the Hanover Wildcats will play for the State title in 8-Man football this time it will be for the Division II crown after finishing State runner-up the last two years in the Division I. 

The Wildcats continued their dominance this season in the Sub-State round of the 8-Man DII playoffs on Friday night hosting Pike Valley and winning 48-0. Hanover pounced on Pike Valley early leading 20-0 in the first quarter as the defense tallied an early safety and both Will and Carter Bruna each had short touchdown runs of three and one yards. Will added a 58-yard touchdown run and 68-yard touchdown pass to Adam Zarybnicky in the quarter also and went on to post 151 yards passing and 131 on the ground. Daiken Stallbaumer also passed for over 100 yards finishing with 105 yards and two touchdown passes in the game for Hanover. 

The Hanover defense has been suffocating all year and was so again against Pike Valley getting a safety and recording their fifth shutout of the year, as they have only allowed 50 points all year. 

In search of their first State title since 2009 the Wildcats head into the 8-Man DII State title game 11-0 and will play Dighton (12-0) in Newton, Kansas next Saturday, November 19th. Dighton beat Wallace County 40-32 in their Sub-State playoff game. The Wildcats last State titles were in 8-Man Division II in 2009 and 2008.