The score was 30-30 after Michael Thiede's 2-yard touchdown plunge last season, with 3:29 remaining in the WIAA Division 2 State Championship game at Camp Randall Stadium. Cole Martin's extra point gave the Slinger High School football team the lead over Rice Lake. The Owls sealed a 31-30 win and their second state title in the program's history. 

Slinger won the Division 3 state championship in 1998.

Thiede threw for 181 yards and one touchdown and was equally dangerous on his feet. The Owls' quarterback scampered for 48 yards and two touchdowns. His last TD may have been the biggest of his impressive high school football career.

It was the kind of season you dream about. Undefeated, state champs and a North Shore Conference title.

Slinger Head Football Coach Bill Jacklin was named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association/Green bay Packers High School Coach of the Year and was selected as the Don Shula National High School Coach of the Year by the NFL for the NFC.

"It wasn't so much going undefeated," Jacklin said. "It was the way we played together all season. We played as a team and they responded to the ups and downs in every game. We knew early on that this was a special group."

The Owls' talented quarterback graduated, along with their two top receivers - Lucas Sonn and Brayden Schnorenberg. Thiede completed 69 percent of his passes last season for 2,113 and 23 touchdowns. Sonn had 38 receptions for 836 yards and 11 touchdowns while Schnorenberg collected 36 catches for 457 and two touchdowns. 

Running back Kobe Hendricks rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown in last season's state championship game. He returns for his senior season after leading the team in rushing last year with 1,006 total yards and 11 touchdowns. Hendricks averaged 7.2 yards per carry.

The Slinger football team opens up the season with a home game against Menomonee Falls on Friday, August 22 at 7 p.m.