CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Backup quarterback Jason Hess scored on an 8-yard run with 17 seconds left Thursday to lift Newell-Fonda to a 39-35 victory over Fremont-Mills and the eight-player state championship. Hess filled in for injured starter Brady Dicks and made several big plays, including a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cole Wise and a 33-yard heave to Wise to set up his winning touchdown.

Fremont-Mills used two hook-and-laterals to drive to the Newell-Fonda 9-yard line with 4 seconds remaining. But the Mustangs stripped the ball from quarterback Jason Rusten on the final play and Dustin Johnson recovered to end it.

Newell-Fonda ran off 11 straight victories after starting 0-3 to win its first state championship and deny Fremont-Mills (13-1) a second title in four years.