The stories surrounding the Baileville B&B Falcons and the Otis-Bison Cougars are quite different. Baileyville is the seasoned veteran, advancing to a state title game each of the past three seasons and winning 8-Man Division I in 2008. Otis-Bison, on the other hand, isn’t far removed from a 2-7 record in 2008 and will be playing in the state title game for the first time since finishing second to Denton-Midway in 1987. However, regardless of team histories, the unbeaten Falcons (12-0) and Cougars (11-0) will clash at 11 a.m. Saturday for the 8-Man Division II state championship game. Baileyville head coach Steve Tiernan said all of that history is out the window once it is time for kickoff. “Everyone asks about that, but it’s still 0-0 when you start the game,” he said. “You have to earn everything you get.” There’s no doubt the Falcons earned their way to the state title game, defeating last year’s state champion Hanover twice over the course of the season. Baileyville edged Hanover 31-28 in the first meeting, then won the rematch 48-22 in last week’s state semifinal game. “They’re a tremendous team,” Otis-Bison head coach Travis Starr said. “They have a confidence about them. They’ve been in these situations. They have great athletes all the way around. It’s hard to find a weakness on that team.” Through their 10 games played (two were forfeits), the Falcons have spread the ball around offensively. Junior quarterback Eric Huerter has completed an accurate 33 of 49 passes for 538 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 379 yards and seven touchdowns. Baileyville’s three leading rushers are junior tailback Mitch Engelken (583 yards, 13 TDs), junior fullback Cody Heiman (570 yards, 10 TDs) and junior running back Dylan Buessing (386 yards, nine TDs) Senior tight end Logan Haug (6-5, 225 pounds) is the team’s leading receiver with 14 catches for 239 yards and six touchdowns. Haug also recorded six sacks from his defensive end position. For Otis-Bison, Saturday’s appearance in the state championship game will be the final chapter for a group of senior that includes several players who started as freshman. “This is rewarding for our players,” Starr said. “This isn’t a two-year deal for them. Most of these kids started as freshmen. A couple of years ago, the state game was out of the question. When you’re 2-7, there are a lot of doubts about what’s going on. This has been tremendous for us.” Making the playoffs for the first time since 2003 last season, the Cougars have taken the next step in 2010. Otis-Bison has pitched four shutouts and scored 40 or more points in 11 of 12 games. A lot of the Cougars’ success can be attributed to a running attack that has rushed for 263.2 yards per game. “One of our focuses is to stop the running game,” Tiernan sad. “They like to grind out first downs and move the chains.” The Cougars have three ball carriers with at least 700 yards rushing in senior Michael Hlavaty (775 yards, 15 TDs), junior Patrick Piper (766 yards, 16 TDs) and sophomore Dylan Wissman (705 yards, 11 TDs). They also have displayed the ability to pass as junior quarterback Trevor Keller has completed 40 of 63 passes for 678 yards and 15 touchdowns. “We’ve had a lot of guys step up,” Starr said. “Everyone knows their role and the offensive and defensive lines have done a great job.” The team has played so well that the school is in the state championship game for the first time in almost 25 years. But the Cougars know they will have to play extremely well to earn the school’s first state football title. “It’s been a goal to get to state,” Starr said. “Every time we break down, it’s been for state. Now, it’s about one more win. They want to try to earn one more.”
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