The WACO Warriors know plenty about what it takes to win the biggest games of the season, and they’ll look to do so again when they welcome Baxter to Roth Field in Wayland tonight for the start of the 8-man football postseason. After reaching the state championship game in 2022, WACO is 6-1 this season and has won four straight.

Junior Louden Huisenga has been the Warriors’ go-to guy on offense, racking up over 740 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Clayton Miller has also had a strong first season as a starter. The junior has thrown for 616 yards and 14 TDs while also rushing for 236 yards and another four scores.

The WACO defense is a stout unit that gives up only 16-and-a-half points per game and has forced 18 takeaways. Senior lineman Colton Leichty continues to be one of the state’s most disruptive players with 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, while Huisenga and senior Chase Waterhouse have also caused problems for opponents with a combined 19 tackles for loss.

The Warriors will need to be at their best to take down a Baxter team that is 5-3. The Bolts can pile up the points, averaging 38 per contest behind quarterback Perrin Sulze throwing for over 2,100 yards and 31 touchdowns as well as receiver Treyton Travis hauling in 22 of those scoring tosses. WACO beat Baxter the last time that the two teams met in 2017. The Warriors look for another playoff win against the Bolts this evening starting at 7 o’clock.