The Hanover Wildcats stump the Axtell Eagles in the 8M-ll Sub-State Championship game 34-24, sending the Hanover Wildcats to their first state championship appearance since 2020 with a chance to add their 8th in program history and 7th under head coach Matt Haurer. 

Axtell jumped up early 16-6 with back-to-back touchdowns on their first two drives. Both touchdowns involved Landon Schmitz, who had a 28-yard rushing touchdown and then a 45-yard reception for a touchdown as well. Hanover would make it 16-12 to start the second quarter with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Kadrick Cohorst to Lanxden Stallbaumer. Axtell would then fumble and lose the ball on two straight drives, but the Eagle defense remained strong and prevented the Wildcats from scoring. The Game would end 16-14 with Axtell giving up a blocked punt in their own end zone that resulted in a safety. 

Hanover opened the second half with a long drive to go up 20-16 off a 19-yard touchdown pass from Cohorst to Brody Sedlacek, but Axtell would quickly respond with a one-play 65-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Detweiler to help the Eagles retake the lead 24-20. Unfortunately for Axtell, it would be their final score for the rest of the game and the remainder of the third quarter as well. 

The Wildcats reclaimed the lead before the end of the third, 28-24 off a 9-yard rushing touchdown by Cohorst. The fourth quarter would be a vast exchange of possession until Hanover finally took the two-possession lead 34-24 off a 50-yard touchdown pass from Cohorst to Tanner Bruna. Axtell would get a couple more opportunities down the stretch with the ball, but wouldn’t make much of it. 

Axtell ended with 368 yards of offense, going 2 of 10 on third downs and 1 of 4 on fourth downs. While Hanover finished with just 324 yards of offense, going 2 of 16 on third downs and converting four fourth downs. Hanover forced five turnovers and only gave up one on offense, coming away with two fumbles, two interceptions, and the blocked punt for a safety. 

Wyatt Detweiler finished the night with 294 yards of offense and 2 touchdowns, while Landon Schmitz had 63 yards rushing and 93 yards receiving, with both a rushing and receiving touchdown. Hanover was led by Kadrick Cohorst, who went 9 of 16 for 183 yards and four touchdowns, adding 29 carries for 124 yards, with one rushing touchdown. 

History ended last night for Axtell as both their 58-game winning streak early on in the season and the hopes for a 5-peat came to an end officially, but it couldn’t have happened in a hard-fought game to the very end. What Axtell accomplished these past five seasons has been nothing but absolutely incredible, record-shattering, and phenomenal.