GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – At the end of last season, Notre Dame Academy’s (NDA) football team achieved a monumental milestone — its third state championship in school history.
For senior quarterback Max Pierce, the journey was nothing short of unforgettable.
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“It was super special,” Pierce said. “Being part of that team, getting to experience all of that… words can’t really describe it.”
Max first stepped into the starting quarterback role during his junior year at NDA, leading his team to an undefeated season and, ultimately, a state title. But believe it or not, Pierce began his young football career on the offensive line before eventually switching to quarterback.
“Until like seventh grade, I actually played on the offensive line,” Pierce added. “One of my coaches told me to try quarterback since I wasn’t that big. I tried it, and I’ve stuck with it since.”
This fall, Notre Dame Academy is moving up from Division 3 to Division 2, meaning the Tritons will face tougher competition during both the regular season and postseason. NDA Head Coach Mike Rader says the transition will be a challenge—but nothing, he believes, his starting quarterback can’t handle.
“He’s a senior. He’s ready for this, this is his time,” Rader said.
“A lot of teams are circling our game, knowing that we’re the team on top,” Pierce added. “Being in that center spotlight, knowing every team is out to get us, pushes us to our maximum potential.”
One-upping NDA’s undefeated season and state title will be a tall task, but the Tritons believe they can do just that. And more importantly, they believe Max is the guy who can lead them there again.
“Out on the field, the guys look to the quarterback to make the play calls and step up in big moments,” Rader said. “He’s done that, and he’s ready for more opportunities this year.”
For Pierce, the goal is clear.
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“We’ve got what it takes [to go back to state],” Pierce said. “As long as everyone stays healthy and we keep doing what we’re doing in practice, I think we can go back to Camp Randall and win another one.”
With Pierce leading the offense, Notre Dame Academy shouldn’t see a drop-off at all—and there’s a good chance the Tritons can make it back to Madison in November.
Learn more about our Xceptional Athlete of the Week in the video above.
