After punching their ticket to the postseason, the Chippewa Falls Cardinals (4-6, 3-4 Big Rivers Conference) drew an 8 seed in the tournament, meaning they faced a long road trip and a battle with a perennial powerhouse in Waunakee.
The Warriors (10-0, 7-0 Badger - Large Conference) went three and out on their opening possession, but snatched some momentum back after a special teams penalty gave them a first down. Shortly thereafter, a Waunakee fumble turned the tide back the way of the Cardinals, who later scored the game's opening touchdown and would never trail in regulation.
After a back-and-forth contest, the game dramatically entered an extra frame, and the home team did just enough in overtime to prevent a stunning upset. The Cardinals' season came to an end, but their effort undoubtedly earned the respect of everyone who witnessed it.
Junior Talen Shilts led the way on offense, rushing for a career-high 200 yards on the night, while sophomore Ryan Zenner was a force on D.
