PIERRE, S.D. – The Pierre Governors have dominated their football opponents through the first half the season with an unmatched collection of team speed, but coach Steve Steele had said that if there was a team that could run with the Govs, it would be Tea Area. The Titans lived up to the coach’s concern Friday night, but the top-ranked Governors finished with a flurry in a 38-17 Homecoming victory.
Pierre moved the ball early, but lost fumbles on handoff exchanges to end each of their first two possessions of the game. The Titans capitalized on the second takeaway with a 75-yard drive and took a 7-0 lead on a quarterback sneak by Mitch Grant.
Pierre countered on their ensuing possession as Jerren Deal broke free for a 37-yard score and a 7-7 tie, but Landon DeRuyter kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 10-7 Titan lead going into halftime.
Tea Area received the second half kickoff and executed a perfect play-action pass to surprise the Governor defense for a 48-yard gain, but the promising drive was thwarted when Logan Witte intercepted a pass in the end zone to give the home team some new life.
Pierre responded by tying the score on a Carter Templeton 34-yard field goal. But the Titans kept coming, as they pieced together a few more brilliant pass plays and ended an 82-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run by Miles Jelen and a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Titan head coach Brent Johnson knew going into the game that they had to find ways to slow the Govs down, which is exactly what they had done for three quarters. But Pierre found their rhythm in the final quarter as Jerren Deal hit Cooper Terwilliger for 35 yards to set up three straight Porter Hunsley runs, including a 3-yarder to tie the score at 17.
The Pierre defense then forced a Titan punt, and the Governors took their first lead with seven minutes to play. Facing a 3rd-and-9 situation, Carter Shiefelbein finally got past the defense, and Deal found him for a 74-yard bomb and a 24-17 lead.
A perfectly placed pooch kick from Jacoby LaRoche led to the Governors recovering the loose ball and another Hunsley touchdown for back-to-back scores without a Tea Area possession.
Pierre scored on their last drive on a 28-yard hookup from Deal to Schiefelbein to put the game on ice. Deal ended the night with 302 passing yards and Schiefelbein caught 10 passes for 177. Hunsley added 103 yards on the ground, 94 of which came after halftime, and the two trips to the end zone.
The Titans came into the game dealing with injuries and unfortunately left with at least two more to key players, but they certainly proved their worth as perhaps the one team that can indeed “run with the Govs” this season.
Tea Area is now 4-1 on the season and hosts Brookings next week. Pierre improves to 5-0 and faces another test next week when Huron comes to town Friday night.
Coverage will begin on RIVER 92-7 with a 6:25 pregame with video coverage available at https://drgnews.com/river.
Comments