EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

AXTELL (12-0) VS. WHEATLAND-GRINNELL (11-1)

3:30 p.m. Saturday at Fischer Field, Newton
 

AXTELL

While Axtell came into the 2021 with a huge known commodity in  quarterback Isaac Detweiler, there were plenty of unknowns surrounding the junior standout. The Eagles lost six seniors of their 7-3 2020 team, including All-Eight-Player Division II receiver Mitch Buessing and leading tackler George Volle.

Yet on a 16-player roster that consisted of eight freshmen, Axtell found the answers it needed to get back to its second Eight-Player Division II championship in three years. The young Eagles (only two seniors on the roster) came of age quickly as they opened the season with a somewhat eye-opening 62-16 win over a veteran Wheatland-Grinnell team and didn't look back.

Axtell has run the table to this point, and done so in impressive fashion. Only two of the Eagles' 12 wins have gone the distance -- both victories over arch rival and 2020 state champion Hanover (30-24 in the regular season, 52-26 in the playoffs). In last week's semifinal showdown with No. 2 and fellow unbeaten Thunder Ridge, Axtell dominated from start to finish, rolling to a 46-0 victory with the game ending early in the fourth quarter.

While Detweiler has done Detweiler things this season, throwing for 1,720 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushing for 1,132 yards and 25 touchdowns, Axtell has gotten some big-time production from a pair of freshman to give him complementary weapons.

Freshman back Brandon Schmelzle has rushed for 709 yards and 19 touchdowns and scored Axtell's first two touchdowns in last week's rout of Thunder Ridge, setting the tone for the blowout win. He's also the leading receiver with 565 yards on 35 catches with 11 touchdowns. Fellow frosh Eli Broxterman has added 397 yards and 8 TDs rushing and 438 yards and 5 scores receiving.

Schmelzle also has a team-high nine interceptions on defense with the Eagles picking off 21 passes as a team.

In the first meeting with Wheatland-Grinnell, the Eagles jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter as Detweiler sandwiched a pair of touchdown runs around a 29-yard scoring run from Schmelzle. After the Thunderhawks' Isaac Mendez returned a kickoff for a touchdown to briefly stem the tide, Axtell responded with three more touchdowns to blow the game completely open.

Axtell held Mendez, a 1,500-yard rusher this season, to just six yards on six carries in the game. The Eagle defense, often overshadowed by their high-powered offense, has given up more than two scores in just two games this season, allowing 11.8 points per game.

Axtell is seeking its first state title since 1993. The Eagles finished runner-up to Osborne in the 2019 Division II state championship game, dropping a 34-26 decision to the Bulldogs.


AXTELL EAGLES (12-0)

COACH Eric Detweiler (10th year, 78-21)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 1 state title -- 1993 (8M Division II). 2 runner-up finishes -- 1985 (8M Division I), 2019 (8M Division II)

2021 RESULTS

W,62-16 Wheatland-Grinnell
W,68-6 Blue Valley-Randolph
W,62-14 at Rock Hills
W,30-24 at Hanover
W,54-8 Frankfort
W,58-8 Linn
W,64-16 Wetmore
W,54-8 at Onaga
W,48-0 Beloit-St. John's (P)
W,52-26 Hanover (P)
W,62-16 at Waverly (P)
W,46-0 at Thunder Ridge (P)

2021 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 660 (55.0 per game)

Points allowed: 142 (11.8 per game)

Total offense: 4,124 yards (343.7 per game)

Rushing: 2,320 yards (193.3 per game), 53 TDs

Passing: 1,804 yards (150.3 per game), 33 TDs, 3 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Isaac Detweiler (jr.) 170 carries, 1,132 yards, 25 TDs; Brandon Schmelzle (fr.) 62 carries, 709 yards, 19 TDs; Eli Broxterman (fr.) 33 carries, 397 yards, 8 TDs

Passing: Isaac Detweiler (jr.) 108-140, 1,720 yards, 32 TDs, 2 INTs

Receiving: Brandon Schmelzle (fr.) 35 catches, 565 yards, 11 TDs; Grady Buessing (so.) 27 catches, 522 yards, 13 TDs; Eli Broxterman (fr.) 35 catches, 438 yards, 5 TDs; Evan Buessing (jr.) 12 catches, 240 yards, 3 TDs

Tackles: Isaac Detweiler (jr.) 61.5 tackles (37 solo), 8 tackles for loss; Eli Broxterman (fr.) 57.5 tackles (36 solo); Evan Buessing (jr.) 48 tackles, (37 solo); Brandon Schmelzle (fr.) 41.5 tackles (33 solo); Grady Buessing (so.) 40 tackles (24 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss; Grant Buessing (so.) 38.5 tackles (14 solos), 7 tackles for loss; Owen Strathman (jr.) 35.5 tackles (19 solo), 14 tackles for loss

Takeaways: Brandon Schmelzle (fr.) 9 INTs; Isaac Detweiler (jr.) 6 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries; Grady Buessing (so.) 3 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries; Grant Buessing (so.) 2 fumble recoveries; Eli Broxterman (fr.) 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries; Sawyer Deters (so.) 3 fumble recoveries

Kicking: none
 

WHEATLAND-GRINNELL

After going 1-8 in Jesse Vincent's first year as head coach at Wheatland-Grinnell in 2018, the Thunderhawks began to establish themselves the next two seasons with back-to-back eight-win campaigns. Expectations were even higher for the program entering this season with the return of its top three offensive playmakers in quarterback Trey Vincent, running back Isaac Mendez and receiver Jett Vincent.  

Undeterred by a 62-16 loss to Axtell in the season opener, the Thunderhawks reeled off 11 straight wins to find themselves in the state title game for the first time in school history, earning a rematch with the Eagles.  

Following the Axtell loss, the Thunderhawks won by lopsided margins in its next 10 games before playing host to perennial contender Victoria in the semifinals. They took a 10-point lead into halftime and kept the Knights at arm's length in the second half to notch a 42-30 win.  

The Thunderhawks have utilized a balanced offensive attack. Mendez has rushed for 1,577 yards and 35 touchdowns. Trey Vincent has thrown for  2,235 yards and 27 touchdowns, while Jett Vincent has caught 60 passes for 1,194 yards and 17 touchdowns.  

When Victoria concentrated on keeping the Thunderhawks' passing attack in check, Wheatland-Grinnell relied heavily on Mendez, who finished with 210 yards of offense and four touchdowns in the semifinal. 

The Thunderhawks have also shown improvement on the offensive line and on the defensive side of the ball. They are putting up 50.2 points per game while allowing 17.8.  

Wheatland-Grinnell has four players with over 100 tackles on the season – Mendez (146), Adam Phillips (139), Ryan Heier (111) and Jett Vincent (109).  

The Thunderhawks have forced 29 turnovers. Jett Vincent has six interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Mendez has a team-high 11 sacks while Tyrell Chapin has nine.  

Wheatland and Grinnell consolidated in the mid 2000s. Neither school reached the state finals when the schools were separated. Grinnell appeared in nine playoff games, making the semifinals in 1984, while Wheatland played in just one playoff game.  

Jesse Vincent said the Thunderhawks are a different team than when they met Axtell in Week 1, but noted that Axtell appears to be getting even stronger, as evidenced by the 46-0 win over No. 2-ranked Thunder Ridge in the semifinals.  

Coach Vincent said a key will be finding a way to slow down Axtell quarterback Isaac Detweiler both on the ground and through the air.  

WHEATLAND-GRINNELL THUNDERHAWKS (11-1)

COACH: Jesse Vincent (4th year, 28-14)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: First state championship appearance

2021 RESULTS

L,62-16 at Axtell
W,58-34 Kinsley
W,63-8 at Stockton
W,58-26 Quinter
W,65-12 at Sharon Springs
W,50-0 Logan-Palco
W,46-0 St. Francis
W,55-20 at Triplains-Brewster
W,50-0 South Central (P)
W,53-22 Bucklin (P)
W,46-0 at South Barber (P)
W,42-30 Victoria (P)

2021 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 602 (50.2 per game)

Points allowed: 214 (17.8 per game)

Total offense: 4,387 (365.6 per game)

Rushing: 2,152 yards (179.3 per game) 49 TDs

Passing: 2,235 yards (186.3 per game), 27 TDs, 9 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Isaac Mendez (sr.) 181 carries, 1,577 yards, 35 TDs; Trey Vincent (sr.) 52 carries, 482 yards, 8 TDs

Passing: Trey Vincent (sr.) 139-225, 2,235 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs

Receiving: Jett Vincent (jr.) 60 catches, 1,194 yards, 17 Tds; Isaac Mendez (sr.) 24 catches, 370 yards, 4 TDs; Treven Humphries (jr.) 20 catches, 305 yards, 4 TDs; Ryan Heier (sr.) 25 catches, 253 yards, TD

Tackles: Isaac Mendez (sr.) 146 tackles (86 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 11 sacks; Adam Phillips (jr.) 139 tackles (75 solo), 13.5 taackles for loss; Ryan Heier (sr.) 111 tackles (56 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Jett Vincent (jr.) 109 tackles (71 solo); Tyrell Chapin (sr.) 56 tackles (33 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 9 sacks

Takeaways: Jett Vincent (jr.) 6 INTs 4 fumble recoveries; Treven Humphries (jr.) 3 INTs; Adam Phillips (jr.) 3 INTs; Isaac Mendez (sr.) 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries; Trey Vincent (sr.) 2 INTs; Nate Vollbracht (jr.) 3 fumble recoveries

Kicking: Isaac Mendez (sr.) 6-12 PAT, 1-1 FGs