Tate Hawf knows the bitter taste of defeat all too well. After four consecutive years of losses, the senior from West Lyon finally tasted success. In the Class 2A state championship game, Hawf and his teammates emerged victorious, defeating Spirit Lake with a resounding 42 - 7 score.

From Setbacks to State Champions - West Lyon's Inspiring Story

The Road to the Championship

Hawf's freshman year was filled with promise as the Wildcats reached the state championship game but fell just short, finishing as runners-up behind Southeast Valley. His sophomore and junior seasons ended in the quarterfinals, leaving the team hungry for more. However, fate had other plans when Hawf broke his collarbone in a preseason scrimmage, costing him almost the entire season. But he returned in the playoffs and kept chipping away, getting better with each game.The Wildcats' defense was a force to be reckoned with. They held Spirit Lake to just eight total rushing yards and one touchdown, while racking up seven sacks. Hawf himself finished the game with a team-high 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading the team to a perfect 13 - 0 record and the state championship trophy.

The First Half: Setting the Pace

It took just over three minutes for West Lyon to score. Jorden Meyer's 30 - yard kickoff return gave the Wildcats possession on their own 40 - yard line. They marched downfield, with Bryson Childress finding the end zone on a 41 - yard rush. Although the point - after attempt hit the left upright, the Wildcats were up 6 - 0 early.Spirit Lake's first possession was less successful as quarterback Caden Lundt was sacked twice for a total loss of 13 yards. West Lyon's Ridge Kramer was a key part of both takedowns. The teams then traded punts for the remainder of the first quarter, with neither able to find the end zone.In the second quarter, a massive catch in coverage from Dylan Stecker sent Spirit Lake to the red zone for the first time. But West Lyon defenders bobbled a possible interception in the end zone. Meyer knocked away the next pass attempt, and Spirit Lake settled for a 42 - yard field - goal attempt that was unsuccessful.The Wildcats' defense held strong, allowing Spirit Lake to net just two yards on their next drive. But the Wildcats' defense did the same, keeping Spirit Lake out of the end zone yet again.

The Second Half: Sealing the Deal

Jared Ciesielski made a crucial play on the opening drive of the second half. He intercepted Lundt at the 3 - yard line, stepping one foot in bounds and then tapping down the toes of his right foot as he fell over the white line.On the ensuing drive, West Lyon scored again, this time off a 7 - yard run up the middle by Hawf. Spirit Lake blocked the extra point, but the Wildcats still held a convincing lead.Then, things went from bad to worse for Spirit Lake. West Lyon's Drendan Van Wyhe forced a fumble of the kickoff return and Childress recovered. The Wildcats took over on Spirit Lake's 30 - yard line and scored again in just three plays, all by Hawf. With a successful two - point conversion, the Wildcats led 28 - 0 with less than three - and - a - half minutes left in the third.Stecker broke Spirit Lake's scoreless streak less than a minute after West Lyon's fourth touchdown. He pulled in a 63 - yard pass from Lundt and into the end zone.The fourth quarter saw more of the same, with strong defense from West Lyon and turnovers going their way. Spirit Lake's quarterback fumbled on a sack, which West Lyon recovered. The Wildcats punted on that drive, but Spirit Lake fumbled the return and Carson Meyer recovered for West Lyon. On the next play, Evan Hildring ran 19 yards for another touchdown, giving the Wildcats a running clock in the state championship game.In a game that featured six touchdowns, the Wildcats' defense was the star. "Our front guys did a great job of coming off the ball and pushing the pocket to the quarterback," said head coach Jay Roozeboom. "It was a great group effort by our defense."Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.