Recap, Reaction: Kuemper Travels Through Air to Final
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Photo Gallery: Kuemper-Wilton
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Kuemper Catholic hadn't been in many close games this season. The Knights found themselves in one during the second half of Saturday's Class 2A state semifinal against Wilton here at the UNI-Dome, however.
After the Beavers cut their deficit to a touchdown, Kuemper was sitting in an unfamiliar position. It had been outscoring opponents by an average score of 41.0-13.8 coming into the contest.
The Knights learned that they could deal with adversity on a big stage, though. They rallied with a long, back-breaking scoring march that regained their earlier momentum on the way to a 49-21 triumph.
"Dig deep," Kuemper receiver
Braxton Vonnahme
Braxton
Vonnahme
6'2" | 180 lbs | WR/DB
Kuemper Catholic | 2026
IA
said about the mentality when the lead was cut to seven. "We couldn't get the run game going. We had to dig deep. We had to find a way to do it. To be honest, it wasn't pretty in the first half, but we figured out a way to get it done."
Following a Knight fumble, Beaver tight end
Gatlin Rogers
Gatlin
Rogers
6'3" | 180 lbs | TE
Wilton | 2026
State
IA
hauled in a 9-yard touchdown catch from quarterback
Gunner Edwards
Gunner
Edwards
5'11" | 165 lbs | QB/DB
Wilton | 2027
IA
to pull within seven points with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter. Then, Kuemper dug deep.
The Knights drove 75 yards in 11 plays, a second touchdown pass from quarterback
Brock Badding
Brock
Badding
6'3" | 185 lbs | QB
Kuemper Catholic | 2026
IA
to
Brayton Alford
Brayton
Alford
6'0" | 190 lbs | WR
Kuemper Catholic | 2026
State
IA
making it 28-14 with 3:36 left in the third quarter. After a three-and-out by Wilton, a
Jarin Hoffman
Jarin
Hoffman
5'8" | 180 lbs | RB
Kuemper Catholic | 2027
State
IA
10-yard scoring run capped a seven-play, 40-yard march.
As they had all season, the Beavers kept fighting even though they trailed by 21 point with 12 minutes remaining in regulation. An eight-play, 80-yard drive in 1:59 ended with
Hayden Hill
Hayden
Hill
5'9" | 185 lbs | RB/LB
IA
carrying the ball into the end zone for the final two yards.
A comeback was not to be, though, as Kuemper's offense kept rolling. A 55-yard touchdown throw from Badding to
Braxton Vonnahme
Braxton
Vonnahme
6'2" | 180 lbs | WR/DB
Kuemper Catholic | 2026
IA
pushed the lead back to a comfortable three scores with 8:41 left.
Kuemper built a 21-7 halftime lead. Badding threw touchdowns to Alford, Vonnahme and Griffin Glynn before the break. Hill's 12-yard touchdown run put the Beavers on the scoreboard.
Badding ended up completing 27 of 38 passes for 405 yards and six touchdowns against one interception. Glynn caught eight balls for 182 yards and two TDs, while Vonnahme had nine catches for 158 yards and a pair of scores.
"He's incredible," Glynn said of Badding's performance. "Mr. Iowa Football, right there. It's amazing. Him throwing me the ball is the best feeling in the world."
Kuemper reached the UNI-Dome for the first time since winning it all in 2013, the only championship in school history. The Knights had advanced to the quarterfinals the last two seasons before breaking through this fall.
Wilton, chasing its first title in school history, was playing in The Dome for a second consecutive year. The Beavers reached the postseason for a third year in a row after not making it since '18.
"Our guys never give up," Wilton coach Ryan Hetzler said. "We've been in tough situations like we were at halftime today. Our guys answered back. We just didn't have an answer for the rebuttal. It's too bad, but that's football and why we play."
