In a game that saw over 100 points and 1,200 total yards it seemed strange that it all came down to a defensive stop to decide the Class 3A state title game on Friday night.

But Byron got that stop and that coupled with an amazing effort from Caden Considine allowed the Tigers to claim a 56-50 win over the Rockets.

“It was a great year, a great game and all credit to Tolono Unity,” Byron coach Jeff Boyer said. “All the respect in the world to their program and their kids and their coaches because they played one heck of a game and probably deserved to win too.”

Considine ran for a Class 3A state record 367 yards, breaking the previous record of 270 yards held by IC Catholic’s Jordan Rowell in 2016.

Considine did it by powering through tacklers and in some cases simply running them over in a game that turned into much more of an offensive shootout than most expected.

“I’m happy that this wasn’t a blow out tonight like a lot of people expected it to be and I’m happy that they played us down to the wire,” Considine said. “It makes this game so much more special to win.”

Byron (14-0) turned the tide of the game after trailing 29-28 at halftime by getting a pair of 6-yard touchdowns, one by Andrew Talbert and the other by Considine that went unanswered by Tolono Unity.

Unity (12-2) had managed to keep the game close largely due to a prolific passing effort by Dane Eisenmenger.

Eisenmenger eclipsed the 3A passing yardage record by the end of the third quarter by throwing for 340 yards through three quarters, eclipsing the previous record set by Williamsville’s Conor McCormick of 335 from 2019.

Eisenmenger’s final numbers of 42 for 65 for 545 yards and seven touchdowns, also gave him 3A records for completions and touchdown passes.

That fifth touchdown did allow Tolono to climb within 42-36, but after Considine broke a long run to give him the Class 3A record for rushing yardage in a game, Talbert scored from seven yards out to increase the Byron lead to 50-36.

Eisenmenger tossed his sixth touchdown pass to once again turn it into a one-score game once again only to see Byron answer quickly on Considine’s third touchdown run on a drive that broke another record, total yardage achieved by both teams with the final tally ending up at 1,211 yards.

Tolono still had a little left in the tank and Eisenmenger tossed his seventh touchdown pass to pull the Rockets to within 56-50 with two minutes to play. Unity then recovered an onside kick and drove all the way down to the Byron 13-yard line before being denied on a fourth down and goal play with the deciding play being shut down ultimately by Considine.

The two teams battled through an explosive first half that saw Tolono emerge with a 29-28 lead.

The two teams have combined for 633 yards of first hald offense as Tolono’s Eisenmenger threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns and Byron’s Considine ran for 145 yards on just 10 carries.

The loss was tough to swallow for Tolono, its seventh time in a state title game without a victory. But first-year coach Tony Reetz focused on the accomplishments his Rocket team put forth.

“I never had a doubt that we’d be right there at the end,” Reetz said. “I think these kids have never given us any reason to believe that we’re out of a game and think that is was very figtting for us to be in a game that nobody gives us a chance to be in.”