LCAA shares the crown for the first time since 2018

Written by:John Gilroy

Edited and Published by:John Gilroy Photos taken by:Phil Marteney of Gilroy Media, Jackson Dopp

LCAA Championship Friday: Clinton and Hudson Claim a Share of the Crown

This past Friday night, two championship matchups took center stage in the LCAA: Clinton vs. Madison and Hudson vs. IDA. These two games were shaping up to be the biggest matchups of the conference season, especially with the possibility of seeing co-champions for the first time since 2018.

Clinton Edges Madison in a Thriller at Wegner Field

Let’s start at the historic Wegner Field, where Clinton and Madison faced off in a battle for a share of the LCAA title.

This game was much closer than I expected. Madison came in with a game plan that I believe caught many people by surprise, pushing Clinton to the limit in what turned out to be a tightly contested matchup. Ultimately, the Redwolves held on to secure a 24–21 victory and claim their share of the LCAA championship.

Unfortunately, I’m unable to highlight any individual standout performances from this game, as no player statistics were provided to me. However, the final score alone shows just how competitive this matchup was.

Hudson Shuts Down IDA to Secure Its Share of the Title

Now, let’s head over to Hudson, where two heavyweights were set to face off: the Hudson Tigers and the IDA Bluestreaks.

Coming into the week, I expected this to be the more competitive of the two LCAA championship matchups. Instead, Hudson delivered a dominant performance, shutting out IDA and putting up 26 points of its own.

Hudson is, without a doubt, the most talented team in the LCAA. The Tigers showcased their depth and physicality on both sides of the ball, led by a dominant performance from star running back Beckett Campbell. Campbell carried the ball 29 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns, putting together an outstanding performance when his team needed it most.

The other half of Hudson’s rushing attack, Owen Loop, contributed 13 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown of his own. Up front, Iowa State football commit Koen Hinzman helped anchor an impressive blocking effort that allowed the Tigers to control the game on the ground.

Defensively, Hudson was just as impressive. Bradley Pickford and Lucian Hepker led the way with 12 tackles apiece. Loop contributed six tackles and a sack, while Wyatt Kimble recorded eight tackles and a tackle for loss. It was a complete team effort that left IDA unable to find the end zone.

Who Is the True Champion of the LCAA?

A debate that has recently sparked discussion among my team and me is a simple one: Who is the true champion of the LCAA?

There are plenty of arguments to be made on both sides. Some have pointed out that Clinton defeated Madison, making a case for the Redwolves as the rightful conference champion. However, my response is that Hudson looked dominant against Clinton for much of their matchup earlier in the season. Although the Redwolves showed signs of life late in the game, the Tigers controlled much of the action, ultimately coming away with a 38–30 victory.

Of course, the LCAA will recognize both Clinton and Hudson as co-champions. But does sharing the title truly settle the debate over which team is the best in the conference?

In my opinion, the results leave plenty of room for discussion. Clinton earned its share of the championship by defeating Madison, while Hudson made a statement of its own by shutting out IDA. Both teams accomplished what they needed to do, but the question of who would come out on top in a head-to-head rematch remains an intriguing one.

A Conference Championship Week: The Future of the LCAA?

Looking ahead, I believe one solution worth exploring in the future of high school football would be turning Week 10 into a dedicated conference championship week.

Rather than leaving teams to debate who truly deserves the crown, a designated championship week could give conferences an opportunity to settle the standings on the field. A matchup between the top two teams would provide a definitive conclusion to the conference race and give players, coaches, and fans an exciting game to close out the regular season.

The LCAA may officially have two champions this year, but that doesn’t mean the debate has to end here. If anything, this season has shown why a dedicated championship game could be worth considering.

Until then, congratulations to both the Clinton Redwolves and the Hudson Tigers on earning their share of the LCAA title.