Photo courtesy of the IHSAA: Bishop Garrigan's Tate Foertsch runs the ball during the eight-player semifinal round last week in Cedar Falls.

CEDAR FALLS — The picture was clear both in person and in the minds of the Bishop Garrigan football team.

The Golden Bears were denied two straight state championship game appearances after a tipped ball landed into the hands of a Remsen St. Mary’s players last season, which was ultimately the deciding factor in a 2024 eight-player semifinal.

That memory — specifically, that one play — put a chip on the Golden Bears’ shoulder and ultimately was something that pushed them even harder this season.

“There may or may not have been a picture of that play in every locker,” laughed Garrigan head coach Marty Wadle. “Coach (Brian) Patterson hung it up for motivation.”

The incentive worked. The top-ranked Golden Bears (12-0 overall) rolled through the regular season, extending their regular season win streak to 23 straight games.

Now the Golden Bears will face Woodbine for the eight-player state championship. Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning inside the UNI-Dome.

“The kids know we belong here, because God put us here for a reason,” Wadle said. “We’re here because we play the way we play.

“We won’t do anything different…just go play Bishop Garrigan football.”

Garrigan averages 57.3 points per game, while only allowing 11.3, out-scoring their opponents so far this season, 687-136.

“They put so much time into the offseason,” Wadle said. “They’ve worked their tails off to get that No. 1 ranking.

“That’s because of our standards here, not expectations.”

Wadle’s group has outscored their first four playoff opponents 218-84. Garrigan is coming off a 60-36 win over Audubon in the semifinals last Wednesday in the UNI-Dome.

Now Garrigan will play in the state championship round for the second time in three years while appearing for the third straight time at the UNI-Dome.

In the win over Audubon, Garrigan senior quarterback Tate Foertsch was dominant on the ground and through the air. Froetsch threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more.

Ethan Marso had 111 yards on the ground in the semifinals and two scores. Weston Rosemeyer, Michael Joyce and Madden Miller had touchdown catches.

Foertsch has thrown for 1,202 yards and 25 TDs. He has also ran for 1,005 yards and 19 scores. Marso has 1,323 yards and 27 scores. CJ McGregor has 11 touchdowns.

Joyce has eight scores. Rosenmeyer has seven.

In his three years as starting quarterback, Foertsch boasts a 35-2 record and has only thrown four interceptions. He has 3,669 passing yards and 62 TD tosses. He has also rushed for 2,348 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Marso has 2,216 yards and 54 scores on the ground.

The Garrigan defense has been a force with 33 takeaways. The Golden Bears have picked off 23 passes and recovered 10 fumbles in 2025.

Foertsch leads the state with 10 interceptions, while Joyce has five. Foertsch has two picks for scores, while Joyce returned one to paydirt.

Woodbine (11-0) enters the finals coming off a tight 38-30 win over Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

The Tigers are led by quarterback Brodyn Pryor, who has thrown for 1,805 yards and 35 TDs. Pryor has run for 672 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Micah Moores has 576 yards and 13 scores.

Landon Blum, who leads eight-player in receiving, has caught 52 balls for 933 yards and 22 scores.

“They have two standouts in (Landon) Blum and (Brodyn) Pryor, and their running back is no slouch,” Wadle said. “They do a lot of things with their tight end and can run a double-wing.

“We have to be prepared.”