VERMILLION – The Pierre Governor Football championship dynasty is now historic.
Pierre scored on five consecutive possessions as their defense was dominant Friday and the Governors set a record with their seventh consecutive state championship, defeating Yankton 35-7 in the SDHSAA 11AA Football Championship at the DakotaDome.
West Central had previously held the record for consecutive championships, winning six straight 11A titles from 2000-05.
The championship is the eighth overall for Pierre, who also won in 11AA in 2013.
Trey Lewis rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns for Pierre (11-1) and was named the Joe Robbie Most Valuable Player. Cade Kaiser threw for two touchdown passes and Jett Zabel passed for a touchdown and caught another.
Pierre and Yankton (10-2) each punted on their first possessions. Pierre punted again after their second possession, but Yankton’s Connor Slaba muffed the return and Lewis recovered for the Governors at the Yankton 47.
Pierre then scored in nine plays, ending the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run by Lewis with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Yankton punted again with Josue Trujllio-Melgoza booting a 45-yarder to back Pierre up to its own two yard line. A false start penalty moved Pierre back a yard, then Zabel hit Kaiser with a state championship record 99-yard touchdown pass, putting Pierre up 14-0 with 11:27 left in the first half.
Yankton had another punt, then Pierre put together a 13-play, 66-yard drive. On his ninth carry of the drive, Lewis had a two-yard touchdown run and Pierre’s lead was 21-0 with 3:15 left in the first half.
After another Yankton punt, Pierre put together another scoring drive. With 22 seconds left in the half, Kaiser, after dropping the snap, hit George Stalley with a pinpoint 37-yard touchdown pass and the Governors led 28-0, which was the halftime score. Zabel had an interception on the last play of the half.
A Spencer Easland interception gave Pierre the ball back early in the third quarter. Two plays later, Kaiser threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Zabel and Pierre led 35-0.
Carson Stoeser had another Pierre interception later in the third quarter.
Yankton’s only touchdown was a 13-yard pass from Lucas Kampshoff to Carson Ness with 10:30 remaining.
Kaiser, named as the Most Outstanding Back, was 7-of-12 passing for 78 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 63 yards on 10 carries, along with his touchdown reception.
Zabel had three catches for 29 yards and was 2-of-2 passing for 107 yards. Brock Moser had three catches for 12 yards.
Ryann Barry made all five of her extra points.
Chance Carda led Pierre with eight tackles. Lewis had six. Lucas Chamberlin had one and a half sacks, with EJ Boutchee having a half sack.
Pierre’s Matthew Brewer was named as the Most Outstanding Lineman.
Kampshoff passed for 171 yards for Yankton, which was seeking its first state championship since 2015.
Comments