Waldron captures 8-man football state championship

Waldron football’s dream of winning a state championship came true Saturday.

The Mohawks defeated the Tri-State Crusaders, 34-6, on their home field and avenged its 2024 state title game loss to the same opponent.

Hunter Dodson passed for 141 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 50 yards and another touchdown and notched 10 tackles on defense.

Troy Atwood had 99 yards rushing and three touchdowns and had six receptions for 63 yards.

Tad Crosby had four receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Most of that offensive output did not come in the first half Saturday. Waldron (9-0) had five drives end in turnovers or failed fourth down conversions in the red zone.

The Mohawks’ defense limited Tri-State (9-2) to just one rushing touchdown until the offense got in gear in the second half.

Atwood had a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter that left the game tied at 6-all at halftime.

Dodson connected with Crosby twice in the third quarter for touchdowns receptions of 35 and 7 yards. That pushed the Mohawks to a 20-6 advantage.

Atwood had touchdown runs of four and three yards in the final quarter to put the game out of reach.

Operated by the Indiana Football Coaches Association, the grass roots league consisted of six teams this fall. Also competing were Dugger Union, Indiana Deaf, Rock Creek Academy and first-year competitor Morristown.

First Team All-State

Following the conclusion of the season, 27 players were honored as All 8-Man First Team selections.

Representing Waldron are Tad Crosby, Troy Atwood, Hunter Dodson, Lawson Denison, Brayden Smith, Maddox Openshaw and Joey Worley.

Davis Stover, Thane Cole and Dylon Palmer were selected from Morristown.

Also named to the First Team were Rock Creek Academy’s Titus Horton and Cohen Washcell; Tri-State’s D.J. Graber, Kylen Zimmerman, Donovan Sproul, Elias Kroeker, Layton Kolb and Izayah Castro; Indiana Deaf’s Matthew Seaty, Cameron Sharer, Anthony Silvay, Keaton Maish; and Dugger Union’s Jerry Pearison, Easelon Smith, Hudson Head, Elysh Eads and Weselon Smith.

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