VERMILLION – Dell Rapids St. Mary had the last chance in a tight championship game Thursday and made the most of it.
Nic Gaspar tied the game in the second overtime with his second rushing touchdown, then CJ Smith hit Gabriel Lindeman with a two-point conversion pass to give the Cardinals a 44-42 win over Potter County for the 9B championship at the DakotaDome for the first football championship in school history.
Neither team ever had a lead of more than eight points, and the Battlers’ lead was 28-20 before Smith hit Gaspar with a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:06 left in regulation. Smith then passed to Lindeman for the tying conversion.
With 12 seconds left, Potter County appeared to have a tying touchdown when Grant Luikens found Drake Bassett in the end zone, but the score was negated due to holding. Luikens then found Ryder Falkenhagen for a first-down pass at the DRSM two yard line, but time ran out before the Battlers could run another play.
With the ball first in overtime, the Cardinals scored on Gaspar’s first rushing touchdown, then Smith threw to Gaspar for two. Potter County (10-3) then equaled the game again at 36 on a Luikens TD pass to Bassett followed by a Luikens two-point run.
Luikens gave PC a 42-36 lead to start the second overtime on a touchdown pass to Luikens to Ryder Falkenhagen, but the Battlers missed the two-point conversion to set up the winning score for St. Mary (8-3).
Luikens was named the game’s Joe Robbie MVP, passing for four touchdowns and 297 yards on 16-of-25. He also rushed for two scores.
Bassett had nine receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Falkenhagen had four catches for 77 yards and two scores.
Cooper Logan had 21 tackles for Potter County. Luikens had 11 tackles, plus an interception.
Potter County was vying for its second state title. The Battlers won the 9A championship in 2013.
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