The Hanson Beavers enjoyed their second state football championship in dominating  style, beating the Hitchcock-Tulare Patriots xx-xx. Both teams came into the game  with undefeated records and hopes of winning the first of the six championship games  to be played over the weekend in Vermillion.

Hitchcock-Tulare was coming off only a two-day layoff after beating Harding County in  the semifinals Monday night, but came ready to play under the tutelage of new head  coach Kenny Huether.

Hanson's opening kickoff sailed out of bounds at the Patriots' 37 yard line, and  quarterback Ryan Huizenga kept their opening drive alive with big plays on third and  even fourth downs. With 7:41 remaining in the opening frame, Hitchcock-Tulare broke  the ice, scoring the game's first touchdown on a 27-yard pass from Huizenga to Jordy  Peterson.

The teams traded punts in the middle of the first quarter, but after a bad punt by  Huizenga left the ball at the Patriots' 39-yard line, the Beavers took five plays to  get the ball into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run by running back Matt  McManus. Because both conversion attempts failed the score was tied at 6 at the end  of the first quarter.

Hanson's defense started to show up late in the first quarter, forcing Hitchcock- Tulare three-and-out on the ensuing drive. Hanson took the ball on a ball- controlling, nine play scoring drive that ended with a McManus 1-yard touchdown  scamper. The conversion again failed, and the score was 12-6 Hanson with 9:03  remaining in the first half.

The Patriots were unable to move the ball much out of their spread offense in the  second quarter, getting a -9 yards of total offense in the second quarter. They did  manage to tie the game when Connor Skaare broke an 85-yard punt return for the tying  touchdown. Hanson's Austin Letcher capped a 10-play drive at the end of the first  half with a 3-yard touchdown run that brought the game to halftime with Hanson  leading 20-12.

The Hanson Beavers' defense imposed their will in the second half as they always  have, and Hanson's offense also enjoyed a heyday in the second half, as well. They  opened the second half with an 11-play touchdown drive that took five minutes off the  clock, and ended with a 27-yard Tyson Gau pass to Letcher.

On the ensuing drive, McManus intercepted a Huizenga pass, and five plays later,  Hanson was in the end zone again to make the Beavers' lead 34-12 at the end of the  third quarter.

The Patriots had the ball at the beginning of the fourth quarter from a muffed punt  by Gau. They turned that into a touchdown with 10:12 to play on a 13-yard pass to  Joey Britton. The conversion attempt failed and Hanson's lead was cut to 34-18.

A clipping penalty against Hanson thwarted their next drive, and Hitchcock-Tulare  went to a pass-heavy attack. Facing third-and-8 from their own 16, a hook-and-lateral  play to Skaare succeeded for 35 yards to the Hanson 42. Six plays later, Jody  Mitchell found Peterson in the end zone on a 20-yard halfback pass. The conversion  failed again, and the Patriots were down 34-24 with only 4:23 remaining in the game.

Hitchcock-Tulare attempted an onside kick, but Ted DeRouchy claimed the high bouncing  ball, and Hanson took over at their own 41-yard line. Gau iced the game and their  second class 9B championship in four years on the next play with a 59-yard touchdown  run. That made the score 42-24 in Hanson's favor, on their way to a 50-24 victory.

McManus won the Joe Robbie Most Outstanding Player award for the game, gaining 133  yards on 19 carries, and three touchdowns and an interception. Gau ran for 120 yards  on 10 carries with two touchdowns, and Letcher ran the ball 14 times for 70 yards and  a touchdown, and caught a touchdown pass as well. Huizenga was held to 9-for-21  throwing the ball for 154 yards and two touchdown passes.

Hanson doubles up H-T for 9B title