Ball bounces Kuemper's way

CEDAR FALLS -- A game full of big plays came down to a fateful bounce.Adam Schleisman's 39-yard field goal hit the crossbar and ricocheted through the uprights as time expired, giving top-ranked Carroll Kuemper a 31-28 victory over No. 4 Waukon in a thrilling Class 2A football championship Friday afternoon at the UNI-Dome."I thought it had enough (distance), but I kept watching," Schleisman said. "I heard it go 'Ting' and it went through."The last three weeks, my dad said, you never know when it's going to come down to a field goal."Kuemper (14-0) scored 10 points in the final 3:14 to rally in a game that featured four ties and two lead changes.The only bloom off the Knights' rose came in the tunnel after the game, when a player accidentally snapped one of the little kicker guys off the championship trophy.Alex Drees caught two touchdown passes, including the game-tying 58-yard grab with 3:14 left, and intercepted four passes.His pick and return in the final seconds allowed the Knights to set up shop at the Waukon 32. After an illegal substitution penalty and a 4-yard sideline pass to Drees, Schleisman hit the game-winner."It was just a game in which everything that could happen, happened," Drees said.Waukon's Parker Hesse accounted for four touchdowns -- three passing and one running -- and 310 yards of total offense. The final interception was costly."I should have thrown it away," he said. "I didn't account for the return. But we didn't tackle, either, and that set up the field goal."Operating from the Waukon, Hesse threw deep. But Drees made the play at the Kuemper 26 and returned it 42 yards.Waukon finished 12-2. The Indians rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit, taking leads of 21-14 and 28-21."We left it on the field," said Waukon Coach Chad Beermann. "We didn't want to walk off the field with any regrets."Waukon played a good portion of the game without Marcus Weymiller, who entered the game with 1,553 rushing yards. Weymiller took a helmet to his back, Beermann said.That made the Indians a pass-oriented outfit, and more the most part, Hesse was up to the challenge.He connected with Marshall Lyons on a 19-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 14-all, then connected with Jacob Ronan on a 32-yarder after a mad scramble to put the Indians in front, 21-14, heading into the fourth quarter.Cole Neary connected with Drees on a 23-yard score with get the Knights even at 21, then Waukon embarked on a 90-yard, 16-play march to reclaim the lead.On fourth-and-5 from the Waukon 42, Hesse went up the middle on a gutsy 18-yard scamper to keep the drive alive. Hesse eventually scored from 4 yards out, on fourth-and-inches, to make it 28-21 with 4:20 remaining.Kuemper answered immediately, a play after Ronan -- who defended Drees all night -- left the game temporarily."I had the wind knocked out of me. I knew if I couldn't breathe, I couldn't keep up with him," Ronan said.With Ronan out, Neary went deep to Drees, who hauled in the pass for the 58-yard bomb to tie it again."He's a great player," Ronan said of Drees. "He goes up and gets the ball."Drees and Ronan were locked in hand-to-hand combat all night."It was like a wrestling match with my brother," Drees said.For Waukon, it was a crummy end to a remarkable season. Hesse was able to find perspective."In a couple weeks, when the sting and the sadness have worn off a little, I'll really enjoy the memories of this season," he said. "I love my teammates and my community. I love the opportunity we had together."

Carroll Kuemper 31, Waukon 28

AT CEDAR FALLS

TEAM STATISTICS

Waukon

Carroll Kuemper

First downs

20

13

Rushes-yards

41 - 113

18 - 55

Passing yards

223

289

Comp-Att-Int

19 - 41 - 4

16 - 37 - 4

Total yards

336

344

Fumbles-lost

0 - 0

0 - 0

Punts-average

5 - 35.8

4 - 45.2

Penalties-yards

6 - 55

6 - 40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing:  Waukon – Parker Hesse 24-87 , Marcus Weymiller 9-21 , Jacob Ronan 2-4 , Marshall Lyons 2-1  Carroll Kuemper – Cole Neary 7-26 , Cody Weitl 5-16 , Chase Rupiper 6-13

Passing:  Waukon – Hesse 19-40-3-223 , Ronan 0-1-1-0  Carroll Kuemper – Neary 16-36-4-289 , Alex Drees 0-1-0-0

Receiving:  Waukon – Ronan 7-92 , Glyeb Ewing 4-46 , Adam Benzing 3-23 , Lyons 2-21  Carroll Kuemper – Drees 5-137 , Rupiper 3-67 , Ben Hicks 3-47 , Nick Greteman 2-22

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Waukon

7

14

7

–

28

Carroll Kuemper

7

7

17

–

31

SCORING SUMMARY

KPR - Josh Irlbeck 9 pass from Cole Neary (Taylor Niehaus kick)

WKN - Travis Herman 25 pass from Parker Hesse (Glyeb Ewing kick)

KPR - Ben Hicks 28 pass from Neary (Niehaus kick)

WKN - Marshall Lyons 19 pass from Hesse (Ewing kick)

WKN - Jacob Ronan 32 pass from Hesse (Ewing kick)

KPR - Alex Drees 23 pass from Neary (Niehaus kick)

WKN - Hesse 4 run (Ewing kick)

KPR - Drees 58 pass from Neary (Niehaus kick)

KPR - FG Adam Schleisman 39