Axtell Football Team

The Axtell football team won their third straight Class 8M-II State Championship this past weekend in Newton over South Central 50-0.

The Eagles would get offensive touchdowns in the game by Brandon Schmelzle, Landon Schmitz, and Grady Buessing. They also got a defensive touchdown with a Colin Shaugnessy pick-six, and Grant Buessing got a special teams touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in the endzone.

Schmelzle finished the game with 114 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries while completing 5-of-7 passes for 68 yards.

Axtell only had one game this season that didn’t finish via the mercy rule and it was week one against Cair Paravel in which they had to rally for a 60-44 win.

The Eagles outscored their opponents this season 734-88. The graduating seniors will be Sawyer Deters, Grant Buessing, and Grady Buessing.

They have the longest winning streak in the state entering next season at 39. They will look to be the first four-peat champs in the 8-man ranks since Denton-Midway won five in a row back in the mid-1980’s.

**Photo credit: Jesy Strnad**