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DakotaDome Memories - 20 Years Ago Clark upset continued championship streak of Northeast Conference
The Clark Comets hoist the 2002 Class 11B state football championship at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
(South Dakota Public Broadcasting Photo)
Nov 7, 2022
 

By Jacob Wuertz and Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Editor’s note: Prior to Thursday’s state football championships, the 605 Sports Staff will unveil a series of DakotaDome memories. The series will feature a look back at memorable moments from 10, 20 and 30 years ago. Today’s installment will look back at the 2002 Clark Comets, who won their first state football title and continued a streak of championships for the Northeast Conference.


It's fair to say that most people enjoy an underdog story, and during the 2002 South Dakota high school football championships, the Clark Comets took satisfaction in playing the underdog role against Parkston in the Class 11B championship game.

The Clark Comets entered the championship game with a 9-2 record, while the Parkston Trojans came in ranked No. 1 and 11-0. However, when the game was over, the Comets had forced eight turnovers and pulled away from the top-ranked Trojans for a 27-18 win. The Comets forced four fumbles and four interceptions in their upset bid, solidifying the Comets first and only state football title.

“We went from honorable mention to state champions,” then-Clark junior Garrett Howardson said in an interview after the game. “This is a great feeling, especially because nobody saw it coming. Everybody thought Parkston was just going to roll over us.” 

The Clark Comets pose for a team photo after winning the 2002 Class 11B state football championship at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting Photo)
 

Howardson was named the Joe Robbie MVP after intercepting two Parkston passes and adding a touchdown run. Aaron Gruenwald hauled in a touchdown reception from Lee Schlagel, Jason McHenry scored on a fumble recovery and Matt Lindgren booted a pair of field goals, including a record-tying 42 yarder. 

Clark’s Tony Jenkins rushed for a team-high 67 yards on 22 carries. Defensively, Schlagel also intercepted two passes and McHenry posted two sacks. Eric Warren and Nick Merkel logged nine tackles apiece. 

Jenkins and Corey Flatten were the lone two all-state selections for the Comets. Jenkins was an all-state defensive lineman, while Flatten was an all-state linebacker. 

The win solidified two key winning streaks, with the first being the finish of a nine-game winning streak for Clark. The Comets began the season 1-2 before rattling off nine straight wins. Clark would begin the 2003 season with a loss to Webster, ending the winning streak. The second winning streak was the continuation of state championship wins for the Northeast Conference.

Clark reserves hold up four fingers to signify the fourth quarter of the 2002 Class 11B state football championship at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting Photo)

From 2000-2009, Northeast Conference schools qualified for state championship games every year except for 2004, with those schools winning a combined seven state titles, while adding three runner-up finishes. Webster claimed the Class 11B title in 2000, while Britton won its first state title in 2001.

Clark followed that up with their aforementioned performance in 2002, while Webster added another state championship in 2003. After NEC member Aberdeen Roncalli was denied a shot at the Class 11B title in 2004 after losing to eventual state champion Howard in the semifinals, the Cavaliers cruised to state championships in 2005 and 2006.

Milbank advanced to the Class 11A title game in 2005, losing to West Central, 49-13. Groton Area qualified for back-to-back 11B championship berths, losing to Tri-Valley in 2007 and 2008. Milbank captured its first state title the following year, winning the Class 11A title in 2009.


Other memorable moments from the 2002 high school football championships:


Class 11A - West Central claimed its third consecutive state championship and its sixth in seven years with a dominating 42-7 win over Lead. West Central obtained a 42-0 halftime lead and held the Golddiggers to just 31 total yards of offense, including minus-8 yards rushing, and three first downs. Joe Robbie MVP Zak Morken led the Trojans with three touchdowns, including a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown that fueled a 28-point second quarter.

Class 9AA - Plankinton/White Lake overcame a 16-14 fourth quarter deficit by scoring two touchdowns in the final seven and a half minutes to pull away from De Smet, 26-16. Jacob Gillen’s 54-yard TD pass to Joe Robbie MVP Reid Suelflow with 7:30 remaining propelled the Warriors to a 20-16 lead, and Colte Haines added a 47-yard TD run with 1:36 left to clinch the win.

Class 9A - Avon earned its first state title with a 44-22 win over Gettysburg. The Pirates broke a 22-22 halftime tie with three Paul Van Gerpen touchdowns in the second half to give Avon the victory. Van Gerpen rushed for 79 yards and four touchdowns, while Joe Robbie MVP Terry Voigt rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries to lead the Pirates.

Class 9B - Tripp-Delmont won its seventh and final state championship by running past Dell Rapids St. Mary, 43-13. After leading 8-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats used a 29-point second quarter outburst to pull away from the Cardinals to take a 37-6 halftime lead. Joe Robbie MVP Justin Horn rushed for 131 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries to lead the Wildcats.