MADISON, Wis. — None of Mequon Homestead's football players or coaches wasted time this week focusing on history, and in retrospect, it was a smart move. If they had, they probably would have cowered in their cleats.
Homestead's opponent, Waunakee, entered Friday's WIAA Division 2 state championship having won 48 consecutive games and three straight state titles. One more victory, and the all-time state victories streak would belong to the Warriors.
Highlanders coach Dave Keel imparted a message to his players that deflected discussion away from Waunakee.
"Those guys that won all 40-some games weren't playing," Keel said. "We had to beat them today. We didn't even think about the win streak. Never mentioned it."
Homestead certainly played like a team unconcerned with becoming a victim to history, knocking off Waunakee, 14-0, at Camp Randall Stadium to capture the gold ball trophy. Waunakee averaged 40.3 points per game this season before Friday and hadn't been shut out since the 2005 state championship game.
"It was just run as hard as you can," Homestead defensive back Riley Pelisek said of his team's defensive strategy. "Play with as much passion as you can. We trusted the scheme we've been working all week. There was nothing different. I think it speaks volumes to the heart of all 11 guys on that defense."
Homestead (12-1) held Waunakee (12-1) out of the end zone on four separate red zone drives during the second half and was aided by a couple of Warriors mistakes.
Waunakee quarterback Will Decorah tripped while handing off the ball on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard-line, and the play lost two yards. On another drive, Waunakee receiver Will Helbing tripped in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard-line despite being wide open, and the pass fell incomplete.
Waunakee will share the consecutive state victories record with Manitowoc, which established the mark from 1983-87.
TURNING POINT
Homestead held a slim 7-0 lead when it took over possession at its own 25-yard-line with 28 seconds remaining in the first half. It appeared the Highlanders were playing conservatively by handing off to running back Jay Schneider, but he broke open a run for 53 yards.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Homestead quarterback Jake Laihinen hit receiver Jack Popp in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown. The Highlanders went ahead, 14-0, with 11 seconds remaining in the second quarter, and the score held all the way through the game.
"That was special," Keel said. "I was really pleased. Jay set it up with a great tackle trap, got probably a 50-yard gain. The very next play, our little freshman kid who's not so little made a heck of a catch for the touchdown. That really gave nice momentum to us going in."
THREE STARS
• Schneider carried nine times for 84 yards and broke one of the biggest plays of the game with his 53-yard run before halftime. He averaged 9.3 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 37 yards.
• Waunakee defensive tackle Desmond Leidich led his team in total tackles with 10, including three tackles for a loss. He also registered one sack for a loss of 11 yards.
• Laihinen completed 7 of 15 passes for 97 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. On the ground, he scored the first touchdown of the game, which put Homestead ahead, 7-0, at the 7:57 mark of the first quarter.
TITLE TALK
• "Every time, it's a new experience. These kids have not been here. We have a great picture of a bunch of them in '06 when they were in the stands cheering their brothers on. It's just a special day for our Homestead family." — Keel
• "They've won three state championships with new players rotating in and out. Obviously, they've got a working formula. We're the best-prepared team in the state. That's what we knew going into it. We just had to perform." — Pelisek
• "It was not a fun day at all. It was one of my most frustrating ones. I'm sure kids will feel that way, too. Kids played hard in the second half. We had some chances. It just seemed like it wasn't meant to be, I guess." — Waunakee coach Pat Rice
• "Our defense was unbelievably amazing. Not even just the shutout, but just the inside the 10-yard-line, the fourth-and-goal-type stops. I don't even know how many we had. It was countless amounts. They came up huge." — Laihinen
Follow Jesse Temple on Twitter.
