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Mark Lusic has been the head coach at Amherst for seven years, and prior to today, the Falcons had never made a field goal under his watch. That all changed when junior kicker Carter Zblewski drilled a 26-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to lift Amherst to a 38-35 victory over Cedar Grove-Belgium and second straight Division 5 state title.

It capped off a wild and controversial final minute of the game, which began with an attempted hook and ladder play from Cedar Grove-Belgium from their own 29-yard line. Ruled a fumble, it appeared on replay that the Rockets receiver, Reid Hilbelink, never gained full possession of the ball.

Returned to the 14-yard line, Amherst faced third and seven when a pass from Brandon Piotrowski to Marcus Glodowski was ruled just short of the first down marker, but not before a measurement stopped the clock with 15 seconds remaining and the Falcons out of timeouts.

After Cedar Grove-Belgium called a timeout, a false start pushed the ball back for Zblewski, but his kick was true.

It allowed Amherst to withstand a record-setting passing attack from Cedar Grove-Belgium, as quarterback Josh Weiss set new all-division state finals records for completions (36), attempts (51), yards (383), and touchdowns (5). He also threw two interceptions however, though one came on a final desperation heave.

The most important interception of the game was thrown by Cedar Grove-Belgium h-back Jason von Heimburg. In the last minute of the first half on 3rd and 25 from their own 27-yard line, the Rockets tried a double pass, but von Heimburg's attempt was picked off, setting up an Amherst touchdown on the next play as the Falcons took a 28-14 lead to halftime.

Cedar Grove-Belgium battled back to take a 35-28 lead early in the fourth quarter before Amherst answered with a tying score, setting the stage for the late-game craziness.

Reid Hilbelink (14 catches) and Ethan Brochtrop (13 catches) both broke the previous all-division state finals record for receptions of 11. Hilbelink finished with 164 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while Brochtrup had 155 yards.

Weiss set new single-season records for passing yards (4,231) and extended his state record for passing touchdowns to 59. He broke records previously held by Xavier's Matt Ferris (2013). 

Speaking of records, Hilbelink is now the single-season record-holder for receiving yardage with 1,985 as well as receiving touchdowns with 24.

The Amherst rushing attack racked up 208 yards, with Devin Ostroski, Chandler Benn, and Marcus Glodowski doing damage. Quarterback Brandon Piotrowski threw for 168 yards and a score.

It is the second straight Division 5 title for Amherst, who have three titles in the last five years to go with a runner-up finish in 2014.

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