Governors Win Wild Game Over Watertown

PIERRE – In a game full of big offensive drives, the Pierre Governors had the biggest one of the night on Friday.

Lincoln Kienholz scored a two-yard touchdown run to cap an 80-yard drive in the last two minutes of the first half to give Pierre a 31-28 lead over Watertown and the Governors never trailed again in a 52-42 win at Hollister Field at Phil Trautner Stadium.

A 38-yard pass from Kienholz to Jack Merkwan set up the go-ahead score.

Pierre then led 38-28 after Trey Lewis scored on the first play from scrimmage of the second half, a five-yard touchdown run that was set up by a 94-yard kickoff return by Jayden Wiebe.  Watertown scored later in the third quarter before Kienholz first passed for a touchdown to Merkwan, then ran for another to give Pierre a 17-point lead.

Pierre (6-1) tallied 581 yards of total offense, including 314 yards rushing.  Kienholz had 18 carries for 161 yards.  Lewis had 18 carries for 126 yards.  Kienholz was 10-of-20 passing for 267 yards and three touchdowns.  Merkwan had four catches for 124 yards and a score.

The Governors had seven sacks, including two by Chase Carda.  Austin Foley had an interception.  Jacob Mayer led Pierre in tackles with 12, 11 solo.

The Governors will play Friday at Aberdeen Central.  Coverage will begin at 6:30 on The Official Voice of the Pierre Governors, River 92.7.  Live and archived video will be available at the River 92.7 page at the DRG News app and at drgnews.com.

FIRST QUARTER
Pierre – Kienholz 20-yard TD pass to Matthew Hanson (Cole Peterson XP) 9:10 7-0 Pierre – Drive: 5 plays, 57 yds, 0:58
Watertown – Drew Norberg 36-yard TD pass to Cole Holden (Andrew Czech XP) 6:00 7-7 – Drive: 9 plays, 76 yds, 3:10
Pierre – Kienholz 68-yard TD pass to Hanson (Peterson XP) 5:41 14-7 Pierre – Drive: 1 play, 68 yds, 0:19
Watertown – Norberg 50-yard TD pass to Holden (Czech XP) 4:27 14-14 – Drive: 3 plays, 63 yds, 1:14
Pierre – Peterson 27-yard FG 2:24 17-14 Pierre – Drive: 7 plays, 63 yds, 2:03

SECOND QUARTER
Watertown – Norberg 36-yard TD pass to Colin Dingsor (Czech XP) 6:03 21-17 Watertown – Drive: 7 plays, 73 yds, 1:22
Pierre – Lewis 4-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 3:56 24-21 Pierre – Drive: 5 plays, 75 yds, 2:07
Watertown – Norberg 39-yard TD pass to Holden (Czech XP) 1:14 28-24 Watertown – Drive: 2 plays, 34 yds, 0:41
Pierre – Kienholz 2-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 0:09 31-28 Pierre – Drive: 7 plays, 80 yds, 1:05

THIRD QUARTER
Pierre – Lewis 5-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 11:40 38-28 Pierre – Drive: 1 play, 5 yds, 0:20
Watertown – Owen Spartz 6-yard TD run (Czech XP) 8:15 38-35 Pierre – Drive: 2 plays, 8 yds, 0:27
Pierre – Kienholz 57-yard TD pass to Merkwan (Peterson XP) 2:15 45-35 Pierre – Drive: 1 play, 57 yds, 0:10

FOURTH QUARTER
Pierre – Kienholz 1-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 7:33 52-35 Pierre – Drive: 8 plays, 56 yds, 3:29
Watertown – Norberg 40-yard TD pass to Holden (Czech XP) 5:54 52-42 Pierre – Drive: 8 plays, 80 yds, 1:39

Individual Statistics

RUSHING
Watertown – Spartz 13-36-TD, Holden 1-17, Juven Hudson 3-5, Colin Dingsor 1-(-3), Norberg 12-(-17)
Pierre – Kienholz 18-161-2 TD, Lewis 18-126-2 TD, Wiebe 4-27

PASSING
Watertown – Norberg 25-41-395-5 TD-INT
Pierre – Kienholz 10-20-267-3 TD

RECEIVING
Watertown – Holden 10-250-4 TD, Dingsor 9-96-TD, Reese Stark 4-29, Ashton First In Trouble 2-20
Pierre – Merkwan 4-124-TD, Hanson 3-91-2 TD, Kade Kaiser 1-20, Jett Zabel 1-17, Wiebe 1-15