Audubon-Bishop Garrigan 8-Man Semifinal Recap, Reaction
In this article:
CEDAR FALLS -- With a mantra of "Take it Back," returning to the UNI-Dome and seeking their second state championship in three years, Bishop Garrigan took one more step toward completing its goal on Wednesday morning in Cedar Falls. With a 60-36 win over fifth-ranked Audubon, the top-ranked Golden Bears earned their spots in the state championship game.
As it has all year, things started and ended with
Tate Foertsch
Tate
Foertsch
QB
Bishop Garrigan | 2026
State
IA
, BG's senior quarterback and defensive back, who finished the game with 15 carries for 73 yards and two scores on the ground. Rarely going to the air, Foertsch and the Golden Bears completed just four-of five passes for 80 yards and three touchdowns, all to different receivers. At DB, Foertsch added seven tackles and an interception just before half.
The second man in an elite duo of offensive production for Garrigan,
Ethan Marso
Ethan
Marso
6'2" | 230 lbs | RB/LB
Bishop Garrigan | 2026
IA
carried all of his 6-foot-2, 230-pound weight on both sides of the ball. The senior fullback took 29 carries for 112 yards and two scores, while leading the Golden Bears in tackles at linebacker with 12, adding a forced fumble and a tackle-for-loss (TFL).
The Garrigan defense as a unit told the majority of the story, as the Golden Bears nabbed away four fumble recoveries and two interceptions from Audubon, stymieing one of the top offenses in the state. Throughout the year, Audubon averaged 67.8 points per game with an average margin of victory of 56.4 points, and BG held the high-octane offense to its second-fewest points all season, just 36.
One name that can't go unrecognized, as well, is junior tight end/defensive end hybrid, Madden Miller. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect would have undoubtedly made his namesake proud with his defensive performance, as he finished with six tackles -- five solo and a TFL -- registered a pass-breakup (PBU), and grabbed an interception he returned for 36 yards. He also snagged the touchdown pass in the attached tweet, and caught two two-point conversions.
Of course, the Wheelers didn't go away without a fight, as star sophomore quarterback,
Aiden Kjergaard
Aiden
Kjergaard
6'0" | 165 lbs | DL/DB
Audubon | 2028
IA
did all he could to keep the offense pushing forward, finishing with 151 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. Held back by a relentless Garrigan defensive line, Kjergaard broke free for just one touchdown outside the redzone, where he escaped to the perimeter and turned on the burners, scoring from 44 yards out.
Second quarterback, Carson Wessel also scored on a QB-keeper of four yards, and receiver Jorgen Bowatzke took a kickoff back 72 yards for a score. Senior linebacker, Austin Christensen Austin Christensen LB Audubon | 2026 IA , led the Wheelers in tackles with 17.
Bishop Garrigan will face No. 2 Woodbine in the 8-Man state championship next Thursday at 9:30 AM in The UNI-Dome.
