CEDAR FALLS — Coming off back-to-back three-win seasons, not many around the state likely pegged Bishop Garrigan to be one of four eight-player football teams still standing.

But here we are.

The Golden Bears (10-1 overall) will face top-ranked Winfield-Mount Union (11-0) here Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the state semifinals inside the UNI-Dome. The other contest sees Gladbrook-Reinbeck (10-1) meet Bedford (11-0) at 1 p.m.

Bishop Garrigan has not lost since a 42-34 setback to St. Edmond in Week 1, rolling through its district before taking out the last two state champions in the postseason.

“Nobody thought we’d be here,” BGHS head coach Marty Wadle said. “Nobody outside these players and these coaches. And that’s what this program is all about; kids like this who defy the odds.

“They’ve taken on any and all challenges regardless of the opponent. Now, we have another big one standing in front of us.”

The Golden Bears have held three opponents to under seven points and scored over 30 eight times, reaching 60-plus in three games.

Caden Roethler, a senior, has rushed for 1,054 yards with 17 touchdowns, as sophomore Tate Foertsch has thrown for 1,203 yards with 18 touchdowns and just one interception on 129 attempts.

Foertsch, a sophomore, also has 437 yards rushing and 10 scores with classmate Ethan Marso adding seven TDs. Justin Bauer, Sam Plathe and Drew Lappe are all seniors with over 900 yards receiving between them.

“We’ve adjusted to eight-player and continue to adjust,” Wadle said. “We’re still doing things that worked in the past, we’ve just got to adapt.”

Bishop Garrigan is making its fifth trip to the semifinals and first since 2016. They won it all in 1985 and have finished second three other seasons with this marking the 27th appearance in the playoffs all-time, which ranks 17th in the state.

Winfield-Mount Union has seen quite the turnaround over the last two years, going 6-4 a season ago before putting together an unbeaten run to date this year. Prior to that, the Wolves had won just 11 games over a six-year span since going 10-1 in 2015.

Jake Edwards leads the offense, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,461 yards with 25 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Cam Buffington, who is headed to the University of Iowa, is the leading rusher with 1,326 yards and 23 scores, adding 564 yards receiving and 11 more TDs.

Carter Loyd has 366 yards receiving and six touchdowns with Abram Edwards adding 312 and five.

Winfield-Mount Union’s defense has recorded 35 sacks led by 11.5 from Edwards and 11 by Cooper Buffington. They have forced 21 turnovers and scored three defensive TDs with four more touchdowns on special teams.

After handling both Belle Plaine and Moravia in the playoffs, the Wolves knocked off perennial contender Don Bosco, 34-29. This is the first time Winfield-Mount Union has reached the UNI-Dome since 1999.

The semifinal winners will play Thursday, Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m.