CAM and Audubon went toe-to-toe for the first half of their state semifinal on Wednesday morning. The Cougars then hit on some big plays to pull away in the second half and advance to their first ever state championship game with a 66-29 win.

Both teams traded blows in the first half with both teams hitting on some long scoring plays. Audubon drove to the CAM three on the opening drive of the game but fumbled on the 9th play of the drive. Two plays later Lane Spieker sprinted down the left sideline 73 yards for the first score of the game and go up 8-0 with the 2pt conversion. Audubon answered right back on the next play with a beautiful 65-yard pass from Gavin Smith to Matthew Beisswenger to get with 8-7. Both teams then traded scores twice more in the half. Gavin Smith had two touchdown runs for the Wheelers and Lane Spieker and Cade Ticknor added rushing scores for CAM. Smith scored on the 16th play of their last drive on a 4th and goal from the 1. A 2pt conversion by Braden Wessel knotted it up at 22.

CAM scored on their first possession of the second half on a Spieker 13 yard pass to Cade Ticknor on a 4th down play to make it 28-22. Audubon answered again with an 11 yard touchdown run by Gavin Smith to take the lead back at 29-28. That would be the last points that the Wheelers would score. CAM scored on their next possession on an 18-yard run by Spieker to take the lead back for good. Colby Rich forced a Wheeler fumble on the next possession to set CAM up with a short field at the 28. Three plays later Spieker plunged in for a 5 yard score to put CAM up 44-29. The Cougars forced a punt on the next possession and scored again on a 42-yard Spieker run. Rich forced another fumble that Gabe Rouse recovered for a score in the end zone. Spieker added one more before the finish. CAM Head Coach Barry Bower said they just needed to calm themselves a little after the first half.

Coach Bower said it’s a dream to reach the finals.

Gavin Smith finished with 246 yards on the ground with 3 scores and threw for 94 and 1 score and 1 interception in his final game as a Wheeler. Audubon finishes the year at 10-2 with both of their losses coming to the Cougars. Smith said it’s tough to think about now but will appreciate what his team has accomplished over his four years in the next few days.

Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks gave a lot of credit to the Cougars for their second half burst.

Coach Birks was very grateful for this team’s accomplishments and the bar that they set for the future.

Lane Spieker racked up 299 yards rushing with 6 scores and threw for 136 and 1 score. With his 299 yards rushing he now set the all-time single season rushing record for all classes with 3,250 now on the season. He passed the previous mark of 3,238 set by Brandon Wegher of Bishop Heelan in 2008. Spieker talked about the difference in play the second half.

CAM improved to 12-0 on the year and will play for the state title next Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. against Easton Valley. Easton Valley knocked off defending champion Remsen-St. Mary’s in the second semifinal 42-36. We’ll have coverage of the title game on KJAN with pregame at 8:30 a.m. next Thursday morning.