Standouts from Class 4A, 1A, A Championship Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champions in Class A, 1A and 4A were crowed Thursday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The games were highlighted by outstanding performances from a bunch of super student-athletes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the best of the best: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grant Glausser, '24, RB, Western Dubuque</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior likely would give all of his yards back for a win, but he'll instead take some satisfaction for an outstanding effort in a 40-21 loss to Lewis Central. Glausser rumbled for a 4A title game record 263 yards, breaking the mark of 250 by Bettendorf's Tavian Banks from 1992. Glausser found the end zone three times Thursday. He finished his final prep season with 2,908 yards on the ground, the sixth most in state history regardless of class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'], '25, QB, Lewis Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hetzel was entrusted with the tall task of replacing all-state signal caller Braylon Kammrad, who's a freshman at UNI after leading the Titans to last year's state title contest. Hetzel did just fine, thanks. The junior authored an outstanding performance in leading Lewis Central to its second championship in three seasons. Hetzel completed 19 of 24 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. He added a touchdown rushing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248038' first='Curtis' last='Witte'], '24, WR/S, Lewis Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Witte capped a wonderful prep career with a sensational final game. The Wayne State wide receiver commitment hauled in eight receptions for 157 yards and three touchdowns from 55, 30 and 6 yards out. He also ranked second among Titans with 5.5 tackles (3 solo) and chipped in with a pass breakup. I'm looking forward to seeing Witte perform on the next level because he was really, really good on this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320787' first='Colin' last='Gordon'], '24, QB/DB, Grundy Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gordon made sure that the Spartans' move up after winning Class A last season was a smooth one. He once again piloted his squad to the championship, this time a 42-0 domination of MFL-MarMac in 1A Thursday. Gordon completed 17 of 25 passes for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns with one pick. He added two more scores on the ground, broke up two passes and recovered a fumble on defense, averaged 45.7 yards on three punts, converted four of five extra points and threw a two-point conversion. There's no truth the rumor that he cleaned up to UNI-Dome and drove the team bus home. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandon Christofferson, '24, WR/S, MFL-MarMac</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christofferson gave his all during his final prep game for a short-handed Bulldog outfit. The senior produced 5.0 tackles (4 solo), broke up three passes and intercepted another. He caught his team's only pass on the day and returned two kicks for 43 yards. He led MFL-MarMac with 21 receptions for 264 yards and four TDs in '23. His seven interceptions paced the Bulldogs, ranked second among 1A players and were the fourth most among all classes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mitchell Smith, '24, QB/LB, West Hancock </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a way to go out. Smith rushed 13 times for 103 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling 30-28 victory against Woodbury Central for the Class A title. He completed 8 of 11 passes for 80 yards and a score, recorded 7.0 tackles and an interception on defense, and returned a punt 18 yards. Smith's eight-yard touchdown pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1359313' first='Brady' last='Bixel'] capped a 15-play, 71-yard winning scoring drive that ate up seven minutes, eight seconds of clock. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eric McGill, '24, WR/DB, Woodbury Central </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what turned out to be the game of the day, McGill put together an electric performance. The senior caught 11 passes, breaking Class A title game record set by West Sioux's Chase Koopmans by one. Those receptions added up to 106 yards with a touchdown. He returned six kicks for 90 yards and a punt for 11. Defensively, he led the Wildcats with 8.0 tackles (.5 TFL). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->