Cory Thiesse threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 2:47 remaining, as the underdog Wildcats stunned top-seeded Central Valley 28-21 in the Division II championship game Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
The junior quarterback completed 24 of 37 passes and added 47 rushing yards on eight carries to cap a remarkable postseason run that saw his team enter the playoffs as the seventh seed. Thiesse’s 12-yard touchdown strike to receiver Jake Martinez with under three minutes left capped a methodical 14-play, 89-yard drive that consumed nearly eight minutes of game clock.
Fourth Quarter Heroics Define Championship Drive
Trailing 21-14 entering the final quarter, Thiesse orchestrated two scoring drives to complete the comeback. His 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcus Rivera tied the game with 10:32 remaining, before the championship-clinching drive that will be remembered as one of the finest in school history.
“Cory stepped up when we needed him most,” head coach Tom Bradley said after the victory. “He’s been our leader all season, but tonight he showed championship composure.”
The Wildcats (11-3) had not won a division title since 2018 and entered the game as 10-point underdogs against Central Valley (13-1), which had allowed just 12.4 points per game during the regular season. Thiesse’s performance marked the highest passing yardage total surrendered by the Eagles’ defense all season.
Defensive Stand Seals Historic Victory
After Thiesse’s go-ahead touchdown, the Wildcats defense forced a crucial three-and-out, with linebacker Danny Chen recording a tackle for loss on third down to force a punt with 1:54 remaining. The defensive unit, led by defensive coordinator Mike Stevens, held Central Valley to 287 total yards after allowing an average of 445 yards in their previous three playoff games.
“Our defense kept us in the game all night,” Thiesse said during the postgame celebration. “When they needed a stop, they got it. That’s championship football.”
Central Valley quarterback Ryan Torres, who had thrown for 2,847 yards during the regular season, managed just 189 yards on 18-of-31 passing. The Eagles’ rushing attack, which averaged 198 yards per game, was held to 98 yards on 28 carries.
Season-Long Journey Culminates in Title
Thiesse’s championship performance capped a season in which he threw for 2,994 yards and 31 touchdowns while completing 64.2 percent of his passes. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound signal-caller overcame a slow start to the season, throwing four interceptions in the first two games before finding his rhythm.
“Those early struggles made me mentally tougher,” Thiesse explained. “Coach Bradley never lost faith in me, and my teammates always had my back.”
The victory marked the Wildcats’ first championship game appearance since 2019 and their third division title in program history. They advance to the state semifinals, where they will face the winner of Saturday’s Northern Division championship game between Mountain View and Oak Ridge.
For Thiesse, who has drawn interest from several Division I programs, Friday’s performance served as the perfect showcase on the biggest stage. His 318 passing yards represented the third-highest single-game total in championship game history.
The state semifinal matchup is scheduled for next Friday at 7 p.m., with the location to be determined based on Saturday’s results.
