The Pierre Governors defeated the Brookings Bobcats at Dana J Dykhouse stadium on Friday afternoon with a final score of 32-16. For the Gov’s, they finish the season at 12-0, and by scoring a record high of 710 points throughout the 2019 campaign. This is also the first time in Pierre’s football history that they’ve had a team go undefeated and win the state championship.
Brookings won the coin toss but deferred to the second half. Pierre took their first drive of the game 80-yards over the course of nearly six minutes. Quarterback Garrett Stout finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Governors and early 7-0 lead.
The Bobcats would go three-and-out on their first drive of the game. However, a fumble on the punt return by Pierre gave the ball back to Brookings in the opposition’s territory. The Governors turnover led to a 27-yard field goal by Payton Theodosopoulos to make it a 7-3 game.
End of the 1st Quarter: Pierre 7 Brookings 3
Pierre found the end zone at the 6:54 in the second quarter with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Stout to Josh Rowe. The pat after was missed, but the Governors still extended their lead to 13-3.
It wouldn’t take long for Pierre to get the ball back. Needing a big play defensively, Brookings defensive back Koby Bartels stepped in front of a Garrett Stout pass for an interception. The Bobcats were unable to do anything with it though before the half.
Through the first two quarters of play, Pierre had 170-yards of total offense, while Brookings had just 20-yards on the offensive side of the ball. As lopsided as the overall yardage was, the score margin was only separated by ten points.
Halftime: Pierre 13 Brookings 3
Brookings received to start the second half. The Bobcats put together an 80-yard drive that took nearly half the quarter, and it was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by Parker Rykhus. The point after try was no good, but the touchdown made it a four-point game.
Just when it looked like momentum had shifted, Stout returned the ensuing kickoff 87-yards for a score. This made it a 20-9 game with Pierre on top, halfway through the third quarter.
The Governors scored again on their next possession as well. Stout once again – this time a 13-yard quarterback keeper that made it a 26-9 advantage for Pierre.
End of the 3rd Quarter: Pierre 26 Brookings 9
Trailing by 17-points, the Bobcats desperately needed to get something going. Brookings would go 80-yards and do exactly what they needed. Carter Eidem punched it into the end zone from the 3-yard line to cut the deficit back to 10-points.
Garrett Stout would answer right back though with his fifth touchdown of the game coming off an 8-yard quarterback keeper. This put Pierre’s lead to 32-16 with just under nine-minutes to play.
Ultimately, Brookings ran out of gas and came up short and was unable to find any more points in this contest.
Final: Pierre 32 Brookings 16
Garrett Stout, who scored five touchdowns in the championship showdown, set a new record for most points scored by an individual in an 11AA title game with 30-points. This breaks Chris Sitzman’s record of 26-points scored for O’Gorman in the 1988 11AA championship.
For the Pierre Governor’s as a whole, this was their third straight state football title – all in Class 11AA.
Outstanding Lineman: Grey Zabel (Pierre)
Outstanding Back: Garrett Stout (Pierre)
Jim Langer Player of the Game: Garrett Stout (Pierre)
