MADISON, WIS. — The WIAA State Football Championships kicked off Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

Thursday’s first matchup was a familiar one for Edgar High School. The Wildcats took on the Blackhawk/Warren Warriors, two teams who have met in Madison for a state crown three times in the last six seasons.

“They’re kind of a thorn in our side,” said head coach Jerry Sinz. “I thought today that the message was we’ve got to match their physicality early. I thought we did that and then kind of set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Expectations were already high for Edgar. The team set a record with their 14th appearance at state, the most of any other team. That didn’t change how much work they put in to get there.

“Seems like all our division seven teams have just gone to a physical style of playing,” Sinz said. “We prefer to play a little more wide open to tell you the truth, but when you when you meet them, you got to play the same way they do, or it’s going to backfire on you.”

Luckily, that would prove successful for the Wildcats. They pulled ahead early and never looked back. Senior Karter Butt said it was a bittersweet ending.

“I figured it’s my last game throwing on the green and gold, so I kind of got to lay my life on the line for these guys because they did so much for me growing up,” he said.

Butt said it was the Edgar community’s support that played a big hand in their victory Thursday.

“That just means so much because we put in the work and they support us and it all just kind of works together,” he said.

The community couldn’t have been prouder and showed great pride for their small school in Marathon County.

“We just are super excited for all of our kids are they’ve all worked so hard,” said Kristine Hafferman, the aunt of six Edgar football players, including Butt.

Football has been a huge part of Hafferman’s family’s life, and it made the win that much sweeter.

“When you see people working together, it’s life changing,” she said.