Gilman won its first eight-player WIAA state football championship on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Wisconsin Rapids, beating Belmont 34-6.
The Pirates led 14-6 at halftime and shut out Belmont in the second half to finish the season 13-0. Gilman had been runner-up in last year's final and previously won 11-player state titles in 1986, 2006 and 2010.
After a scoreless first quarter, Gilman defensive lineman Tayden Angell intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards for the first touchdown. Belmont tied the game on a 15-yard scoring pass, but Gilman quarterback Logan Halida ran 6 yards for a touchdown just before halftime.
Gilman opened the second half with a 64-yard drive capped by a 14-yard run from Trevin Duellman. Halida then threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Jossiah Jackson, the longest pass play in the history of the eight-player championship game, and Duellman added a 45-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Duellman led Gilman with 90 rushing yards on 10 carries, and Halida ran for 65 yards and passed for 91. Belmont quarterback Wyatt Temperly ran for 73 yards and passed for 81. Gilman outscored its opponents 646-38 over the season.
