VERMILLION – The Gorillas galloped and now are champions.
Quarterback Rylan Peck rushed for 162 of Gregory’s 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns Thursday as Gregory held off Warner 36-23 in the SDHSAA 9A Football Championship at the DakotaDome.
Peck, the Joe Robbie Most Valuable Player of the game, rushed for scores of 81, 23 and 1 yards. His first two touchdowns, combined with the first of two from Kade Stukel, gave Gregory (11-1) a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Hunter Cramer passed for a touchdown and ran for two for Warner (11-1). His two running scores in the third quarter cut Gregory’s lead from 30-8 to 30-23.
Peck then scored with 6:12 to go for the final margin. He rushed 15 times for 162 yards. Owen Hanson had 16 carries for 95 yards.
Cramer was 9-of-22 for 175 yards passing for Warner, who was held to just 29 yards rushing.
Gregory has its fifth championship in school history and its first since 2017, when the Gorillas won the 9AA title for the second straight year and third time in four seasons.
Warner lost for the fourth time in as many championship games.
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