State Semifinal Football Results Saturday, November 15th
Kuemper Vs Wilton- Class 2A Semifinals
Kuemper 49
Wilton 21
It took a while, but Kuemper was able to separate themselves from a good Wilton club in the 4th quarter as Brock Badding threw for a record 405-yards and 6 touchdowns. The Knights running game battled all game against a stingy Beaver defense, so the Knights attacked through the air, passing the ball 38 times. That pressure began to wear on the Beaver secondary, and Griffin Glynn and Braxton Vonnahme were able to make big plays in the passing game to seal the win. The Kuemper defense bent and broke a few times but made Wilton work for everything. Kuemper got a pair of interceptions with Dylan Schon setting up a touchdown in the 1st half, making it 14-0 and Teddy Perkins ending a Wilton drive right before half that would have cut the game to a one score game with Wilton getting the ball to start the 2nd half. Wilton pulled within two scores early in the 4th quarter, but Brock Badding found Braxton Vonnahme and Griffin Glynn for touchdowns to close the game.
Kuemper looked like they might score to open the game, but Wilton was able to get to Brock Badding inside the Beaver 10-yard line and the pass went up into the air, picked off by a defensive lineman, halting the Kuemper drive. The Knights forced a punt on the Beavers first possession and Easton Gifford returned it to the Wilton 24-yard line, setting up a Brock Badding to Braxton Vonnahme 15-yard touchdown and Kuemper led 7-0 with 6:32 left in the 1st quarter. After a pair of punts Wilton took over at their own 19-yard line and were begging to move the ball when Gunner Edwards had Gaitlin Rogers open across the middle. The ball went through Rogers hands and into the waiting arms of Dylan Schon. Kuemper took over at the Wilton 41-yard line early in the 2nd quarter and Brock Badding would find Brayton Alford for a 9-yard touchdown on 4th and 4. The Knights were up 14-0 with 8:10 left in the 1st half. The Beaver defense made a critical stop on the Knights next possession, giving their offense the ball at the Kuemper 44-yard line. Hayden Hill got the Beavers on the board, capping the drive on the 5th play with a 12-yard run and Wilton trailed 14-7 with 2:39 left in the half. Kuemper needed an answer and got it. Griffin Glynn got behind the defense when the Wilton defender fell down and hauled in a nice throw by Brock Badding. Glynn had to sidestep an oncoming safety and angled his way across field for a 64-yard touchdown with 1:50 left in the half and Kuemper led 21-7 at half. Wilton moved the ball down the field, but Teddy Perkins came up with an interception in the endzone with 0:10 left in the half and Kuemper maintained their lead with Wilton getting the kickoff to start the 2nd half.
The Beavers opening drive of the half resulted in a punt that pinned the Knights at their own 4-yard line. They fumbled on the first play and Wilton seized the moment, recovering the fumble and scoring on a 9-yard pass from Gunner Edwards to Gaitlin Rogers with 8:34 left in the 3rd. The Knight’s lead was down to 21-14. The Kuemper offense was doing a nice job of hitting short passes and that highlighted their next drive. They marched down the field, starting at their own 25-yard line and scored on the 10th play of the drive when Brock Badding found Brayton Alford for a 9-yard touchdown with 3:36 left in the 3rd, giving Kuemper a 28-14 lead. A quick Wilton punt set up another Kuemper score with Jarin Hoffman breaking off a 10-yard run with 0:08 left in the 3rd quarter and Kuemper was up 35-14 heading to the 4th quarter. Wilton wasn’t done yet; they fought back with a 7-play drive with Hayden Hill scoring on a 2-yard run and they trailed 35-21 with 10;09 left in the game. Kuemper took over at this point with Brock Badding finding Braxton Vonnahme on a screen pass that turned into a 55-yard touchdown and Kuemper took control, up 42-21 with 8:41 left. The Kuemper defense allowed 385-yards on the day but they made another crucial stop, forcing a turnover on downs. Brock Badding hit Griffin Glynn for a 33-yard touchdown on 4th and 3 and Kuemper sealed the win with a 49-21 lead with 3:24 left.
Brock Badding set a new Class 2A passing record at the Dome with 405-yards passing and with 6 touchdown passes. Braxton Vonnahme had 9 catches for 158-yards and a pair of touchdowns and Giffin Glynn added 8 catches for 182-yards and 2 touchdowns. Brayton Alford added 5 catches with a pair of touchdowns and led the defensive effort with 9 tackles. Maguire Hoyt added 7 tackles and Charles Mayhall was 7-7 on PAT.
The Knights improved to 12-0 and will face Van Meter in the 2A Championship game next Friday at 10:00 on KIKD 106.7. Van Meter rallied down 6-0 at half to beat Osage 14-6 and improved to 10-2 on the season.
Kuemper Stats
Brock Badding 27-38 passing 405-yards, 6 TD, INT
Braxton Vonnahme 9 catches 158-yards, 2 TD
Griffin Glynn 8 catches 182-yards, 2 TD
Brayton Alford 5 catches 42-yards, 2 TD- 9 tackles
Jarin Hoffman 21 carries 84-yards, TD
Charles Mayhall 7-7 PAT
Jack Badding 6.5 tackles
Maguire Hoyt 7 tackles
Sean Healy 4 tackles
Lucas Diehl 4.5 tackles
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 Final
Wilton 0 7 7 7 21
Kuemper 7 14 14 14 49
