Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Bishop Garrigan junior Ethan Marson leads the team in tackles for loss this season. He is shown here celebrating the team’s eight-player state title last season in Cedar Falls.

CEDAR FALLS — Marty Wadle had already put together a Hall of Fame football career well before Bishop Garrigan made the move down to the eight-player level four years ago.

But the legendary leader of the Golden Bears’ program has proven the head coach’s incredible ability to adapt and change with the times and playing field.

Last season, Bishop Garrigan reeled off 12 straight wins to end the year, with none bigger than the one inside the UNI-Dome to give Wadle his first state championship. A year later, the Golden Bears are back to defend their title.

Bishop Garrigan (11-0 overall) will face 2022 state champion Remsen St. Mary’s on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in one semifinal. The other game pits Lenox (11-0) versus Gladbrook-Reinbeck (10-1).

Never one to take credit for the achievements of his teams, Wadle again handed all the praise off to his players and fellow coaches.

“It’s just a credit to the kids, really,” Wadle said. “I’d like to tell you I did a zillon things different (to spark the turnaround), but I didn’t. They just got us going in the right direction, and success breeds success.

“Along with those kids that come in to work every single day, we have a coaching staff that is dedicated to making them the best players they can be. That’s really where it all started.”

Through the first two years of eight-player competition, the Golden Bears went just 6-11. Since that time, they are 23-1, with the lone loss coming to long-time rival St. Edmond at the beginning of the 2023 season.

Wadle does point to two key things that have helped with flipping the script on the field.

“No. 1 is we have a scout team that really pushes the starters,” he said. “We are playing a lot of older kids that are juniors or seniors on the scout team just because of the switch to eight-player. Those kids are sticking it out and doing a great job. I honestly credit so much about our (success) to our scout team.

“The second thing is not overthinking things. When you start to do something right, keep doing it and don’t try to overthink it too much. Last year, the senior class had never a winning season or even won a Homecoming game (before 2023), and they did both in their final year (then went on to capture a state championship).”

Back directing the offense is Tate Foertsch, as the junior stepped into the starting role last year and has been effective ever since. Foertsch has completed 60 of 92 passes for 964 yards with 16 touchdowns and just one interception, adding 379 yards and three scores with his legs.

Senior Trayton Cink, who missed most of his junior campaign with an injury, has 1,189 yards and 25 TDs. Junior Ethan Marso has 558 rushing yards with 16 trips to the end zone.

Owen Murphy, another senior who played a key role in the title run, leads the receivers with 309 yards and is tied with sophomore Michael Joyce with six TDs.

Wyatt Rosenmeyer, Drew Muller and Cink all have over 100 yards.

Keaton Helleseth, a returning all-stater, has 13 sacks. Joyce has five interceptions. Marso, Charlie McGregor and Isaac DeLange all have an interception return for a score.

This contest is a rematch of a second round playoff game from a season ago won by the Golden Bears, 21-18. That denied the Hawks a shot at repeating themselves.

A pair of fourth quarter TDs were the difference, as Caden Roethler ran for 147 yards and found the end zone twice.

Remsen St. Mary’s, which ran past Audubon in the quarterfinals, has reached the final four six of the last eight seasons overall. They are 66-3 during that span, including three championships.

Senior Landon Waldschmitt is the offensive catalyst, rushing for over 1,000 yards while throwing for over 900 with 31 TDs on the ground and 15 in the air. Keaton Harpeanau and Braxton Kneip have over 1,000 yards rushing, while Harpenau is the leading receiver with 390 yards on 24 catches.

Waldschmitt and Harpenau were focal points last fall, as Waldschmitt had 280 yards of total offense with three touchdowns vs. the Golden Bears while Harpenau caught eight passes for 98.