Thursday's state championship football games (capsules)

CLASS EIGHT-PLAYER

Don Bosco (13-0) vs. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton (13-0)

Kickoff: 10:06 a.m.

TV: KCRG-9.2

Notable:Exira-EHK was the top-ranked team in The Gazette's final regular-season rankings, Don Bosco No. 3. Both strolled past unbeaten teams in their semifinals games: Exira/EH-K over Newell-Fonda, 56-7, and Don Bosco over Adair-Casey, 78-21. Football is a team game, but each of these clubs has one player who has been dominant offensively. Jake Hogan of Don Bosco has accounted for 3,893 yards and 68 touchdowns passing and rushing. He had 225 rushing and 268 passing against Adair-Casey. Drew Peppers of E/EH-K has 3,160 yards passing and rushing and 57 touchdowns.

CLASS A

BGM (13-0) vs. West Lyon (13-0)

Kickoff: 1:36 p.m.

TV: KCRG-9.2

Notable:These teams finished tied at No. 1 in The Gazette's final regular-season rankings. West Lyon Coach Jay Rozeboom has a career record of 216-38 in 23 seasons at the school. His team blasted Avo-Ha/Shelby-Tennant in the semifinals, 65-21, rushing for 501 yards. West Lyon has rushed for 4,405 yards as a team this season and is giving up just 8.69 points per game defensively. Kaleb Heyer is the team's leading rusher, with 1,256 yards and a 10-yard per-carry average. BGM head coach Jerod Burns has revitalized a program that didn't play a varsity schedule in 2004 because of lack of players. The Bears average 54 points per game offensively and allow just 6.08. Running backs Jack Kline and Kyle Gritsch both have surpassed 1,000 yards rushing, with Kline's total at 1,811. He has 47 total touchdowns, including a national-record nine punt returns for score. This is the first finals appearance for BGM, which knocked off defending champion Wapsie Valley in the semifinals.

CLASS 3A

Sioux City Heelan (13-0) vs. Washington (12-1)

Kickoff: 7:06 p.m.

TV: KCRG-9.2

Notable:Heelan is top ranked, Washington No. 6. This is the 11th time in a state championship game for Heelan, the first time for Washington. Since dropping to Class 3A, Heelan has been in the finals five times in seven years. The Crusaders toppled unbeaten Clear Lake in the semifinals, 48-13. Heelan quarterback Trent Solsma threw for 376 yards and five touchdowns, completing 23 straight passes at one point against Clear Lake. Connor Niles (36 career TDs) is his top target. Washington scored late to beat Solon in its semifinal, 14-9. The Demons have won 11 straight games since losing in Week 2 of the regular season to Pella. That included avenging that loss in the playoff quarterfinals. Running back Alex Coker has 1,467 yards and 25 touchdowns. Tanner Knupp had both Washington TDs against Solon, one on a long run, the other on a long pass reception.