White rushes for 240 yards and a TD, as Aquinas wins third consecutive state title

MADISON, Wis. — For the third consecutive season, the Aquinas High School football team is state champs.

Kyle White rushed 32 times for 240 yards as the Blugolds defeated Wrightstown 32-13 to win the Division 5 state title Thursday at Camp Randall stadium.

D5 gold ball is headed home to Aquinas! ???????? #wiaafb #statechampions pic.twitter.com/EweOowdYv1

— WIAA State Tournaments (@wiaawistate) November 17, 2023

It’s the 18th consecutive playoff win for Aquinas, which now has four state titles in its four championship appearances.

Aquinas (12-1) was down 13-0 five minutes into the game, but quickly took the lead early in the second quarter and kept the pressure on.

White capped off the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, as the Blugolds outgained the Tigers (11-2) 428-255.

Wrightstown got up 13-0 after running back Trevor Vande Hey scored on a 59-yarder with 7:35 remaining in the second quarter.

The Blugolds answered that deficit immediately with a six-play, 59-yard drive capped off by a Brady Lehnherr touchdown.

Aquinas took the lead on its next possession, a ridiculous 13-play, 94-yard drive that took 4 minutes, 26 seconds. Lehnherr capped that one off, too, with another short TD run.

The Blugolds rushed 53 times for 378 yards, while the Tigers ran 41 times for 236 yards. Both teams only attempted six passes, each.

Last year, Aquinas finished 13-1, winning state 22-14 over Mayville. In 2021, they were 14-0, beating Mayville 28-26.