The Pierre Governor football team is heading back to the state championship for a tenth straight year as the Govs would knock off the Sturgis Scoopers 39-13 in a dominating second half.
Sturgis did what they came out to do to open the game, win the toss and control the ball. The Scoopers had a 16 play drive that went nearly nine minutes and Gage West had a one yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 in the first quarter. However, Pierre didn’t take long to answer on offense. A seven play drive with a seven yard run from Porter Hunsley made it a 7-7 game at the end of the first quarter. After a punt from Sturgis and fourth down fumble from Pierre, the Scoopers again controlled the clock milking it down to the final minute and a fourth down play from the nine. Pierre stopped it and within seconds went 91 yards down the field in three plays with a 65 yard touchdown reception from Carter Schiefelbein to make it 13-7 at the half.
In the second half, Pierre missed a 40 yard field goal in the first possession of the half, but Logan Witte picked off Austin Flohr keeping the Govs in front with the very next play being a 74 yard touchdown reception from Hunsley to make it 19-7. Pierre scored on every possession from there on out. Hudson Stoeser had a 47 yard touchdown reception, Jerren Deal with a 50 yard run and Hayden Northrup from 23 yards out. Tucker Swenson also had an interception for the Governor defense who was not rattled after the opening score of the game.
Deal finished 7-11 with 250 yards and three touchdowns while running for 67 yards. Hunsley ran for 123 yards on 12 carries while Northrup finished with 66 yards. Schiefelbein made four catches for 104 yards as Pierre had under 200 yards of offense in the first, but still finished with 506 yards overall.
The Governors, now at 11-0, will face the three seed Watertown Arrows in the 11AA state championship on Friday at 7:30 with the game on KCCR and on YouTube at KCCR Sports.
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