Saturday, November 15, 2025
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605 Sports
605 Sports
Canyon Prins ‘a swiss army knife’ for state champion Sioux Falls Christian Chargers
Sioux Falls Christian's Canyon Prins (11) and Sioux Falls Christian's Nicholas Popkes (87) celebrate a Chargers touchdown against the Lennox Orioles during the Class 11A state championship game on Saturday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
(Matt Gade / 605 Sports)
Nov 15, 2025
 

 

By Jon Akre

605 Sports

VERMILLION — Canyon Prins did it all in Sioux Falls Christian’s banner season.

The senior tight end/linebacker played a multitude of positions for the Chargers (12-0) en route to a 28-24 Class 11A championship win over Lennox (9-3) .

In the title game, Prins took snaps at quarterback, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker and defensive end, powering SFC from a 17-0 first quarter deficit to the ‘ship.

“It feels so good, we had a lot of fire under us,” Prins said of the win. “But at the end of the day we just want to glorify God in how we play and we did.

“Our coaches and all of us teammates, we have faith in each other, we knew we weren't out. It was just one play at a time, next play, and that’s just what we did and we kept building on it.”

And Prins was efficient wherever SFC head coach Jared Smith put him. He caught four passes for 40 yards, rushed three times for 15 yards and a touchdown, threw a touchdown pass, recorded two tackles, a half a sack, and one pass break-up in the win.

“He’s just been willing to do whatever is asked of him,” Smith said of Prins. “Being willing to play whatever and learn so many positions. Having guys like that who are willing to do whatever.”

But no play was bigger than Prins’ only pass attempt of the game. Midway through the final quarter down by three points, Canyon Prins connected with Jude Prins for a 45-yard touchdown and the eventual game-winning score.

“They said I was going to throw, so I quickly took my gloves off and wiped off my towel,” Prins said of the go-ahead score. “I dropped back, I faked it and the safety bit, and I just threw it up there and he went and got it.”

And for Canyon, it wasn’t the first time he played the quarterback position. Canyon was the backup quarterback two years ago and took drives with the starting offense when SFC was up big on teams this season.

So when Smith needed a big play, he knew who to look to.

“He wants to be in pressure situations, he absolutely lives for it,” Smith said. “He stays totally flatline. He doesn’t get too high or too low, his face stays the same. He just looks at you like ‘Give me the ball.’ ”

Starting quarterback Cooper Strande added postgame how versatile Canyon is and has been for the Chargers.

“That’s my guy right there,” Strande said. “Whatever we need out of him, he’s like a swiss army knife and I love that guy.”

But for Prins, a Dordt football commit, it was a humbling moment following his championship performance, winning both Joe Robbie MVP and Outstanding Back of the game.

“I’m very honored,” Canyon said. “I just want to give the glory to God because without him I wouldn’t be able to do this.”