PIERRE – For most of the 2021 season, Pierre Governor football has attained success through its strong passing game. On Friday, Pierre used the run to rally from a two-touchdown deficit to advance to the program’s fifth consecutive 11AA championship game.
Trey Lewis rushed for his third touchdown of the game from four yards with 5:01 remaining and Pierre rallied to defeat Aberdeen Central 28-21 in the 11AA semifinal round at Hollister Field at Phil Trautner Stadium.
Sam Rohlfs threw two touchdown passes to Alec Voegele and Austin Erickson rushed for a 55-yard touchdown for the Golden Eagles to help them to their lead.
Lewis’ second touchdown, a four-yarder, brought the Governors back to within 21-14 with 1:27 left in the first half.
Jayden Wiebe rushed in from eight yards for the tying score late in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Aberdeen Central (4-7) drove for a potential go-ahead score, but Rohlfs was picked off in the end zone by Jacob Mayer, his second interception of the game. Pierre (9-2) then drove 80 yards for the winning points.
Pierre will play Tea Area Friday in the 11AA championship game at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. The Governors will attempt to be the second program since playoffs began in South Dakota in 1981 to win at least five straight titles. West Central won six 11A championships consecutively from 2000-2005.
Coverage will begin Friday at 6:55 on The Official Voice of the Pierre Governors, River 92.7. The game can be heard online at the River 92.7 page at the DRG News app and at drgnews.com.
| Aberdeen Central | Pierre | |
| First Downs | 20 | 22 |
| Rushing Yds | 231 | 163 |
| Passing Yds | 159 | 210 |
| Total Yds | 390 | 373 |
| Att/Comp/Int | 12/23/2 | 14/20/1 |
| Punts/avg | 1/21.0 | 1/29.0 |
| Fumbles/lost | 0/0 | 1/1 |
| Penalties/Yds | 9/71 | 2/10 |
| Aberdeen Central | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 |
| Pierre | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | – | 28 |
FIRST QUARTER
Aberdeen Central – Rohlfs 21-yard TD pass to Voegele (Tayden Brownson XP) 5:12 – 7-0 Aberdeen Central – 10 plays, 78 yds, 6:48
Pierre – Lewis 5-yard TD run (Cole Peterson XP) 2:17 – 7-7 – 9 plays, 62 yds, 2:55
SECOND QUARTER
Aberdeen Central – Erickson 55-yard TD run (Brownson XP) 6:12 – 14-7 Aberdeen Central – 5 plays, 96 yds, 2:25
Aberdeen Central – Rohlfs 31-yard TD pass to Voegele (Brownson XP) 3:23 – 21-7 Aberdeen Central – 4 plays, 52 yds, 2:17
Pierre – Lewis 4-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 1:27 – 21-14 Aberdeen Central – 7 plays, 58 yds, 1:56
THIRD QUARTER
Pierre – Wiebe 8-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 8:50 – 21-21 – 9 plays, 83 yds, 3:10
FOURTH QUARTER
Pierre – Lewis 4-yard TD run (Peterson XP) 5:01 – 28-21 Pierre – 10 plays, 80 yds, 3:48
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
Aberdeen Central – Karson Carda 27-159, Erickson 4-61-TD, Rohlfs 8-11
Pierre – Trey Lewis 16-101-3 TD, Kienholz 13-101, Wiebe 1-8-TD
PASSING
Aberdeen Central – Rohlfs 12-21-159-2 TD-2 INT
Pierre – Kienholz 14-20-163-INT
RECEIVING
Aberdeen Central – Drew Salfrank 5-46, Alec Voegele 4-77-2 TD, Avery Ligon 1-18, Mason Huff 1-15, Carda 1-3
Pierre – Jack Merkwan 6-73, Cade Kaiser 2-23, Jett Zabel 2-21, Wiebe 2-12, Lewis 1-24, Matthew Hanson 1-10
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