Hanover defeated Victoria 28-20 to capture the Kansas Eight-Man II state championship Saturday night at Greensburg-Kiowa County High School Stadium.
Hanover finished undefeated with a 13-0 record. Victoria finished the season with an 11-1 record.
Hanover never quit in this game and had some big- time plays in big moments including two interceptions from Hunter Kickhaefer, one of them to seal the win.
Hanover captured its seventh state title under Eight-Man coaching legend Matt Heuer and first since 2020. The Wildcats won their eighth state title in school history.
Tom Young was the coach when the Wildcats won their first Eight-Man state title in 1979.
Victoria struck first with a rushing TD from Weston Scherrer and led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Hanover came back with a long drive that ends in a rushing TD from quarterback Kadrick Cohorst. Victoria and Hanover are tied 6-6 with 5 minutes left in the first half.
Hanover scored on a 50-yard TD pass to Landen Stallbaumer and led at halftime 12-6.
The Victoria defense got a big Pick-6 by Ethan VonLintel to lead Hanover 14-12 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter.
Hanover scored on a 56-yard passing TD to Cooper Bruna. Hanover led Victoria 20-14 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
Scherrer punched in a rushing TDÂ for Victoria to tie the score at 20-20 with 10 minutes left in the game.
Hanover scored the game-deciding TD on a 50-yard pass play to Hunter Kickhaefer. Hanover led Victoria 28-20 with 4 minutes remaining.
Hanover outscored its 2025 opponents 611-110.
2025 Kansas High School State Football Championship Scores
Class 6A: Manhattan 27, Olathe Northwest 0
Class 5A: Salina Central 51, Bashor-Linwood 34
Class 4A: Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel 56, Shawnee Mission Bishop Miege 21
Class 3A: Andale 38, Topeka Hayden 0
Class 2A: Nemaha Central 25, Southeast of Saline 6
Class 1A: Sterling 35, Rossville 34
Eight-Man I: South Central 34, Lincoln 8
Eight-Man II: Hanover 28, Victoria 20
Six-Man: Cunningham 51, Weskan 8
