Kimberly overcomes slow start, beats Franklin 29-14 for WIAA D1 crown

MADISON — D.J. Stewart rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, and Kimberly overcame a disastrous start by scoring 29 unanswered second-half points to defeat Franklin 29-14 in the WIAA football Division 1 championship game on Friday.

The Papermakers (14-0) completed a fourth straight undefeated season, earning their third straight Division 1 crown after winning the Division 2 title in 2013. Kimberly's 56-game winning streak is the longest in the nation among high school teams.

It wasn't easy for the Papermakers, who went three-and-out on their first drive before turning the ball over three straight times as Franklin (12-2) built a 14-0 lead.

Kimberly roared back in the second half, as Danny Vanden Boom threw a pair of touchdown passes and Stewart ran for TDs of 43 and 24 yards.

The Papermakers intercepted three passes and forced a fumble in the second half, setting up two of their scoring drives.