The Yankton Bucks defeated the Pierre Governors 21-20 in an overtime barn burner for the 11AA State Football Championship on Friday night. This is back-to-back championships for the Yankton Bucks football program, and their eighth title overall.
Running Back Tanner Frick got things going for the Bucks midway through the first quarter when he took a direct snap out of the wildcat formation and ran it 10-yards for a touchdown. The Bucks led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter Yankton had a chance to make it a two-possession game, but kicker Jarred Raffery missed from 48-yards away.
The Bucks milked a five-minute drive before half, and it was finished with a one-yard touchdown run by Nate Stephenson. Yankton led Pierre 14-0 going into halftime.
Both teams traded possessions until 55 seconds left in the third quarter. Governors quarterback Brevin Kaiser connected with Derek Schreiner for a 15-yard touchdown, which made it a one-possession game.
Pierre tied it up with 3:42 to play in the game off a 5-yard quarterback draw by Kaiser.
With seconds remaining in regulation, the Governors had a chance to win the state title with a 46-yard field goal. Unfortunately for Pierre, the kick came up short.
Yankton scored first in the overtime period, thanks to a one-yard plunge by Sheldon Gant. Pierre answered right back on an 8-yard touchdown run by Kaiser. The Governors decided to risk it all and attempt a two-point conversion (déjà vu to last year’s 11AA title game with Yankton vs Brookings). Yankton’s Tanner Frick broke up the two-point conversion pass in the end zone, and the Bucks are the 2015 Class 11AA champions.
This is the eighth championship in thirteen appearances for Yankton, who have now won back-to-back 11AA titles.
