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One of the wildest and most exciting finishes to a state finals game ever left the crowd gasping and Stratford holding a second straight Division 6 football state championship trophy, as the Tigers shocked Darlington 10-7.

German foreign exchange student Laurenz Plattner made his first career field goal from 32 yards out on an untimed down to lift Stratford to victory, putting a bow on a thrilling final couple minutes after a defensive slugfest most of the way.

Reagan Jackson ran for a five-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter, as Darlington took a 7-0 lead into halftime. Stratford tied things up early in the third when Koehler Kilty scored from nine yards out.

It remained knotted at seven when Stratford took over with 11:50 left in the game. The Tigers embarked on a 22-play, 89-yard drive that lasted 11:27 but ended when head coach Jason Tubbs eschewed  going for it on fourth and two from the seven-yard line, instead attempting the first field goal of the season with 23 seconds remaining. 

However, Darlington rose to the occasion, as Breylin Goebel blocked the attempt by Laurenz Plattner and the Redbirds took over at their own 20-yard line with 23 seconds left. After a rush up the middle and an incomplete deep ball, the Redbirds attempted to run out the remaining time. However, Jackson fumbled after a nine-yard game, as Stratford's Cole Tichy forced the miscue and Alec Chapel recovered it, taking it to the Darlington 25-yard line.

With just six seconds left, Stratford inexplicably had another chance, though likely just one play to make it happen. Tubbs threw deep to Chapel, who caught it and was tackled at the three-yard line as time expired. However, a flag on Darlington for defensive holding was enforced, and Stratford had one more opportunity from the 15-yard line on a rare untimed down.

That's when Plattner, a foreign exchange student from Germany, trotted back out with a chance to make history. His 32-yard kick was good, and Stratford stormed the field after capturing a second consecutive Division 6 state title.

It is the ninth WIAA state championship for Stratford, tying Saint Mary's Springs for the most all-time. Darlington settled for the silver ball as runner-up for the ninth time overall and seventh straight since winning the 1995 championship in Division 5.

The teams combined for just 293 total yards, a new Division 6 state finals record for fewest combined yardage between two teams. Stratford put up 195 yards of offense, most by senior running back Koehler Kilty, who rushed for 85 yards and a score. Darlington finished with just 98 yards, all on the ground.

Video of Laurenz Plattner's game-winning field goal is below, as well as his postgame interview with WKOW's Karley Marotta.

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.