The Pierre Governors did not lead in the entire 11AA state championship but had just four seconds left on the clock when Cole Peterson went out to attempt a 40 yard field goal…
Pandemonium ensued as the team stormed the field to celebrate the state championship victory. The Pierre Governors have now won five straight state championships with a 21 point comeback and a 20 point second half comeback.
The Tea Area Titans forced the first of three fumbles on the opening kick and scoring in its first drive taking a lead just two and a half minutes into the game. Tea would open up a 21-0 lead before the Governors would start its comeback. Lincoln Kienholz carried in his first touchdown from three yards out to send the game into halftime at 21-7. Yet, the Titans scored on a 50 yard pass from Cael Lundin to Jaxon Weber to give Tea a 27-7 lead not even two minutes into the second half. Kienholz found Jett Zabel twice for 48 and 25 yards to pull the Governors to a 27-21 score with just 3:45 left in the third quarter. Pierre’s halftime adjustment kept the Titans out of the end zone after the first possession and it gave the Governor offense a chance. Kienholz would tie the game on a 2 yard run with 3:27 left in the game but the extra point was blocked giving Tea an opportunity to just score to win. However, with just 37 seconds left, Jacob Mayer intercepted Lundin on Tea’s only turnover and Pierre turned it into a 51 yard drive and with just four second left, Peterson gave the Governors their best finish in any of the five state championships. Peterson nailed the kick which looked like it would have been good from 60.
Peterson says there are no words to describe the moment…
Steele says he’s still not sure how they got the job done…
Kienholz says there was just one adjustment to make at halftime…
Steele told Peterson after the extra point was blocked that he would have another shot…
Steele says this game and ending was a lot fun…
The Governors finish the season at 10-2 winning its fifth straight state title. Kienholz finished as the most valuable back with 190 yards on the ground and two touchdowns and the game’s MVP also throwing for 347 yards and two scores. Christian Busch was named the game’s most valuable lineman in the win. The Governors will have a welcome home on Monday at 6:00 at Riggs High School.
