Submitted photo: Members of the Bishop Garrigan football team include coaches (front row, left to right): Dan Buscherfeld, Grant Buscherfeld, Brian Patterson, head coach Marty Wadle, Scot Miller, Mick Elbert and John Kesselring. Second: Carter McGregor, Thadd Kollasch, Aidan Deitering, Eli Casey, Sawyer Herrick, Milo Geving, Carson Pfeffer, Lucas Behounek and Marshall Bormann. Third: Benjy Trainer, Isaac DeLange, Owen Murphy, Scott Bormann, Trayton Cink, Kayden Graves, Tate Foertsch, Keaton Helleseth, Andrew Lichter, Gibson Menke, Kyle Bormann, Brody Ludwig, Leo Snyder, Konner Kramer, Kollyn Wiemers, Matt Besch and Dalton Klenz. Back: Logan Nemmers, Nick Leerar, Drew Muller, Daniel Meis, Drew Lappe, Carter Schwab, Ethan Marso, Nick Thul, Wyatt Rosenmeyer, Nate Leerar, Michael Joyce, Justin Bauer, Madden Miller, Weston Rosenmeyer, Caden Roethler and Sam Plathe.

CEDAR FALLS — Seven years ago, Tate Foertsch sat inside the UNI-Dome and watched as the Bishop Garrigan football team fell in the state finals to Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Now, Foertsch and his teammates get their own shot at glory when they face Bedford here Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the eight-player championship.

“It still hasn’t set in with me,” Foertsch said of playing for the title. “I still remember being a third grader and watching the 2016 team go to the state championship game. They unfortunately were not able to come home with a win, but that experience as a young kid was awesome.

“In fact, all of the guys you see on the field were at that game and remember those guys that were role models for us. Now, we are trying to do that for those kids that will be in the stands watching us.”

It was almost a chance to avenge the loss to Gladbrook-Reinbeck for the Golden Bears (11-1 overall), but Bedford (12-0) kicked a field goal late in the fourth to cap a rally and knock the Rebels off. Bishop Garrigan advanced with a commanding 34-20 victory over previously-unbeaten and top-ranked Winfield-Mount Union.

The Bulldogs will be the fourth consecutive unbeaten team standing in front of Bishop Garrigan as they look to score a second state title to go along with the one captured in 1985. They have already knocked off defending state champion Remsen St. Mary’s and 2022 titlist Anita-CAM.

“You dream of moments like this and we are prepared,” Foertsch said. “We know it is not going to be easy, but we are going to try and be as prepared as we can be.

“Our coaches do a great job of getting us ready for these games. Our motto all year has been to keep turning heads and I think we are doing that.”

Senior Caden Roethler ran for 181 yards and four touchdowns to lead the way for the Golden Bears vs. Winfield-Mount Union. Foertsch, a sophomore, added 105 yards and a TD to senior Drew Lappe in the air with 61 more yards rushing.

The Garrigan defense held the Wolves, who had not scored under 34 points all year, out of the end zone for the duration of the second half, out-gaining them 214-80.

Bedford also needed a rally to advance, overcoming a 30-16 deficit in the fourth with 15 consecutive points. Garrison Motsinger rushed for 134 yards, Silas Walston added 83 and quarterback Conner Nally had two rushing TDs and a passing score to Graham Godsey.

The Bulldogs were 5-4 last year and had won a total of 10 games over the past three seasons. The 11 wins this year are the most since the 2010 team went 10-2.