The peninsula's last football champion was the state's first in one aspect.

 

The WIAA was hosting its first-ever tournament to determine the top eight-man football team in the state when the Sevastopol Pioneers prevailed in 2018. Prior to defeating traditional eight-man power Luck 38-30 in the state championship, it dealt Newman Catholic its first-ever loss since switching from 11-man and shutting out Oakfield in the playoff opener.

 

The team's first W on the season was actually a forfeit with Bowler-Gresham forfeiting its entire year due to a lack of numbers. The Pioneers won their first two games before running into Newman Catholic, losing that contest 26-6. The Pioneers would not lose again that season, capping the regular season off with a commanding 64-16 homecoming win over Door County rival Gibraltar. 

 

In the state championship game, the Pioneers found themselves down 16-0 before they clawed their way back into their game. Their first lead of the game after Nathan Stenzel scampered in from a couple of yards out to give the Pioneers a 36-30 lead with just over two minutes remaining. The rest is history. Stenzel was a dual-threat, tossing for 1286 yards while rushing for another 1606 on the ground.