Its a game that over the past few years has been usually one that provides some fireworks and great action and this year it set up that way with both teams unbeaten in district play and only one loss between them coming into the game. The Hanover Wildcats and B&B Falcons meet up in Baileyville for the district title on the line.

It would be a stellar game full of action and big plays and would need extra time to decide the winner as the game went to double overtime with the B&B Falcons ultimately coming up with the last few big plays in the game to snatch the 52-46 win at home and remain unbeaten on the season.

B&B started with the ball and on the first offensive drive they went down the field and saw their quarterback, Dustin Rottinghaus scamper down the far sideline 20 yards for the opening score of the game and an 8-0 Falcon lead. For the Falcons Rottinghaus in the endzone would be a recurring theme for them in the game as he rushed for 151 yards and six touchdowns, while passing for 143 yards.

After a defensive battle for the rest of the first quarter with three and outs and a Hanover fumble the next score didn't come until the second quarter when Hanover tied the ball game after intercepting Rottinghaus, the Wildcats quarterback, Cody Neiman tossed a 54 yard touchdown pass to a wide open Wade Steinfort; two-point conversion successful, tied at 8-8.

Few drives later B&B would score on their own one play drive with a 55 yard Dustin Deters run to regain the lead at 14-8, after the two-point conversion failed. Deters finished the ball game with a 150 yards on the ground on 26 carries.

Hanover on the next drive methodically moved the ball and scored before the half with a 20 yard pass connection from Neiman to Kent Bruna; two-point conversion successful and Hanover lead for the first time in the game 16-14, taking that lead to the half.

Coming out of the half Hanover started off with the ball and took it 55 yards in 48 seconds to stretch their lead to eight points of a 53 yard Mark Zarybnicky run. B&B would immediately answer with a five plus minute drive featuring all running plays going 65 yards on 15 plays for a two yard rushing touchdown by Rottinghaus, his second on the day.

Wildcats would next score two straight touchdowns with a 21 yard run by Neiman, then after a three and out by B&B, the Wildcats speedster Zarybnicky returned a punt 43 yards for a score and a 38-22 lead.

Falcons now down by two scores responded with a nine play drive for 64 yards to get with eight points 38-30 on another TD run by Rottinghaus. Down by eight with 4:01 left the Falcons needed a score and got one from four yards out by a Rottinghaus run, successful two point conversion and tie ball game at 38-38.

Both teams had few chances at the end of regulation but came up short and we headed to overtime, were the great display of football continued. B&B started with the ball and quickly got down to a fourth and goal from the six when, guess who Rottinghaus rushed for the scored then lofted up a pass for the two-point conversion. Needing a stop the Falcons defense forced Hanover backwards and set up a fourth and goal from the 11 but Neiman for the Wildcats found the endzone on a run and successful two point conversion.

Double overtime in Baileyville the Wildcats started with the ball and got down to another fourth and goal, when this time the Falcons came up big with a sack by Cameron Haug to stop the Wildcats. Then on the first play on offense in double OT, Rottinghaus rushed 10 yards for the game winning score, as the Falcons improved to 8-0 with a 52-46 win.

While Rottinghaus was the story offensively for the Falcons, Dustin Deters had a great rushing day and Brand Bergman added 100 yards receiving.

For the Wildcats Zarybnicky rushed for 98 yards and TD, plus his punt return touchdown, while Neiman finished 10-15 with two touchdown passes and one rushing.

Both teams finished the game with two turnovers apiece but the B&B defense made a few more big plays with three sacks on the day.

With the win the Falcons dominance in football continues improving to 8-0 and winning the district title and now 57-2 over the last five years (includes this year). Hanover with the loss falls to 6-2, but despite the loss still locked up a playoff spot with other outcomes on Friday night in district one of 8-Man Division II.