Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Koy Davidson of Fort Dodge has his hand raised after securing a state title on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — The championship match for Fort Dodge junior Koy Davidson will be remembered for having one of the most electric final seconds Dodger fans will ever witness on the mat.

And Davidson’s scramble to become a first-time gold medalist now stands as an iconic moment in history.

The 138-pound title match was lined up to be one of the more exciting of the night on Saturday inside Wells Fargo Arena, and it didn’t disappoint. Standing in Davidson’s way was Waukee Northwest star Carter Freeman, a University of Northern Iowa recruit who was looking to become the state’s 34th four-time champ.

After both wrestlers earned an escape point, extra time was needed to decide the crown.

“(Heading into overtime), I told him I believe in you and you need to believe in yourself,” FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson said. “There was blood time (in OT) and Koy came over. I looked at him and said, ‘you’re the greatest. You’re a bad man. I made him repeat it.

“Then he went out and got it done. That match will go down as one of the best in tournament history.”

The rivals got into a flurry of scrambles as time began to run out in overtime. They circled in an upper-body tie-up to their feet.

Davidson (42-2) got control of the and tossed Freeman to the mat. The Dodger standout then stepped over with Freeman on his back to clinch the state title and a 6-1 victory.

Davidson had his hand raised as Fort Dodge’s 64th state champion all-time.

With the magnitude of the match and what was on the line for Freeman, Davidson was named the IHSSN Tournament MVP for his efforts.

“It means everything to be a state champion,” Davidson said. “My hard work paid off, and now it’s time to recover and enjoy the moment…then do it again next year.”

Thompson was proud of his junior’s efforts in beating the odds and conventional wisdom.

“What Koy did shows the grit of Fort Dodge,” Thompson said. “He denied a three-time champ going for his fourth and he became the talk of the tournament. Koy is not an upper-body wrestler, but it came down to upper body. That is pure toughness. Find a way.”

The Dodger junior flexed in excitement and jumped into the arms of Thompson and assistant coach Tanner Utley.

“That was one of the best and wildest matches I’ve seen,” Thompson said. “And it was in the state finals. It was incredible to win in that way.”

Once the match was over, Davidson embraced his grandfather.

“Hugging my grandpa meant so much to me, because he knows what I’ve been through and what I’ve worked so hard for,” Davidson said. “To be able to hug him after that…words can’t describe it.”

It was the third meeting of the season between the top-ranked foes. Davidson edged Freeman 2-1 in the Council Bluffs Classic championship. Freeman prevailed 3-2 in the Ed Winger title match.

It was Davidson’s second trip to the finals after finishing second as a freshman. He was fourth a year ago.

In his first three seasons as a Dodger, Davidson is 108-16 and already 28th on Fort Dodge’s all-time win list.