'We're history': Racine St. Catherine's wins second WIAA state football title

‘We’re history’: Racine St. Catherine’s wins second WIAA state football title

Posted by Admin November 22, 2024 Football

MADISON − For the second time in as many appearances at state, the Racine St. Catherine’s football program is Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state champions.

Angels senior Issac Cantu intercepted a last-minute heave on fourth-and-7 from the RSC 18 by Baldwin-Woodville’s Gavin Sell to seal a 26-22 state title win, preserving them in program immortality with the 2018 team that won the program’s first title.

“Those last plays were … time went by so slow, oh my gosh it was insane,” Cantu said. “The last play, I played my coverage perfect, he threw it up, I saw it coming toward me, and I just knew I had to go get that one.”

Along with a defense that forced four turnovers capped by Cantu’s leaping snag, RSC rode a heroic effort from junior Lamont Hamilton at Camp Randall Stadium to the win.

“He’s a dog. I mean, he’s been one of the most consistent players I’ve ever seen,” Cantu said of Hamilton.

The wide receiver/kick returner/defensive back eclipsed three WIAA Division 4 state final records with a performance amounting to 275 all-purpose yards. That effort included four catches for 155 yards and three receiving touchdowns, an 83-yard kickoff return touchdown, a team-leading 33 yards rushing on eight carries and a punt return of four yards. Hamilton also spelled quarterback Eddie Vinson Jr. on a passing play and connected with Cantu for a 28-yard first down completion, and converted two fourth downs with short runs on drives that later ended in touchdowns.

“It ain’t nothing new. I just knew I had to turn it up a notch to help my team,” Hamilton said. “We couldn’t really get anything going, so I just had to ball out.”

The receiving touchdowns, which came on connections with Vinson Jr. of 59, 23 and 49 yards, eclipsed a seven-way tie for the previous Division 4 state tournament record of two. The receiving yardage eclipsed the state tournament record of 150 by Scott Bestor of Platteville in the 1983 title game. Hamilton’s kick return that expanded the lead to 26-8 with 6:33 left in the third quarter bested the previous longest return of 74 yards by Peter Buyeske of Winneconne in 2013.

“He’s a special athlete. He can play football and basketball, and I think today he truly showed that he’s a phenomenal football player, exceptional athlete offensively, defensively and special teams,” RSC head coach Dan Miller said. “He’s one of the best players in the state of Wisconsin.”

Hamilton’s effort was nearly all for naught, however, as Baldwin-Woodville took over at its own 18 with 5:43 remaining and all three timeouts. The Blackhawks, who could have had their spirits broken by Hamilton’s third-quarter return that answered Baldwin-Woodville’s hard-fought first score of the game, had stayed the course and fought back within a score.

Two late drives to break through an RSC defense that had held them in check had the Blackhawks in position to snatch back the lead. A 12-play, 77-yard drive capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brody Everts cut the Angels’ advantage to 26-16 late in the third quarter. After the ensuing RSC drive stalled, the Blackhawks drove another 62 yards on 10 plays to pull within 26-22 on a Taden Holldorf plunge from a yard out early in the fourth.

The successful drives were a dramatic departure from a first half that began with a Mariano Talamantez interception on Baldwin-Woodville’s first offensive play, and two forced fumbles by Isaiah Taylor that were recovered by the Angels.

The third score was the first time RSC’s defense had surrendered three scores in a game all season, and the Angels would not abide by a fourth.

“Our defense is one of the best in the state. They’ve proven it statistically,” Miller said. “They proved it today, because they played defense like a heart of a champion.”

Former St. Catherine’s player and second-year defensive coordinator Jose Ramirez once promised Miller a day like Thursday when he was originally campaigning for the job.

“He said two years ago, he goes, ‘Coach, let me coordinate the defense, and I’ll bring home a ball, a golden ball for you,’ ” Miller said.

Defense was a hallmark for a team that had not allowed more than 14 points in a game all season going into Thursday. A stop on Cantu’s interception brought a year-long effort full circle.

“We bend but we don’t break. That was the goal of the season,” Hamilton said.

As the rare history they had accomplished set in, there was pride expressed in the individual efforts like Hamilton’s record-setting night, Vinson’s gutty effort weathering hits in the pocket and a defense that held when it counted. There was also acknowledgement that performing “Angel Strong” for an undefeated 14-0 run took the whole program to accomplish.

“I mean, we’re history, man,” Cantu said. “2024 is always going to be known in St. Cat’s books as a team that went undefeated and the second team to win state. These are my brothers and I’m super proud of everybody.”