Wayne's magical run through the Class C-1 playoffs came to an end Friday in the same place where the season started.
Wayne's offense was frustrated by a stingy Wahoo defense for much of the night, and the host Warriors were able to advance to the state finals with a 21-7 win over the Blue Devils Friday at Warrior Stadium in Wahoo.
Wahoo scored with the help of a blocked punt in the second quarter and held a 7-0 lead at the half. They made it 14-0 early in the third period before the Blue Devil offense came to life with a 48-yard touchdown run by Blake Bartos, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with :40 left in the third period.
Wahoo got an insurance touchdown early in the fourth quarter, then held Wayne scoreless the rest of the way to post the win and advance to the state championship game against Pierce, who beat Adams Central 54-14 in the other semifinal to set up the Tuesday, Nov. 26 championship game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
Bartos led the Wayne offense with 104 yards on 14 carries, while Reid Korth added 33 yards on 14 carries.
The loss ends Wayne's season at 9-3, the best season in school history with two playoff wins and a first-ever trip to the semifinals.
(Complete coverage in next week's edition of The Wayne Herald.)
