VERMILLION — The Bison buckled down with their backs against the wall and delivered Hot Springs a long-awaited Class 11B state championship. 

Hot Springs used two fourth-quarter defensive stops to knock off Elk Point-Jefferson, 13-7, in a heart-pounding Class 11B state championship game. 

“This is everything,” Hot Springs coach Ben Kramer said. “This is the exclamation point. Four years ago we were 1-7. So just continuously building and having these kids shows up to their workouts and all the hard work. Everybody that shows up here has a story of hard work and we are one of those.”

On Friday, the Bison’s defense delivered the state championship. The Huskies (10-2) drove into Hot Springs (11-1) territory twice in the final six minutes, but both times Bison’s defense stiffened up. On the EPJ’s final drive, Braden Peterson’s interception sealed it for Hot Springs and it celebrated the elusive title.  

“It’s surreal, man,” Hot Springs senior running back/linebacker Camron Maciejewski said. “I still haven’t let it sink in completely, but it’s just amazing.” 

Hot Springs Camron Maciejewski celebrates the Bison’s 13-7 win over Elk Point-Jefferson to capture the 11B championship Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Maciejewski, the Joe Robbie MVP, finished with 99 rushing yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. The future Augustana University linebacker added an interception on defense. 

In the fourth quarter, Hot Springs was clinging to a 13-7 advantage. To start the fourth quarter, Elk Point-Jefferson faced 4th down at Hot Springs’ 16-yard line. 

EPJ quarterback Keaton Gale, who finished with 112 passing yards, threw an incomplete pass to Ashton Fairbanks. The Huskies quickly got the ball back after Hot Springs bobbled the snap on a punt, with EPJ recovering at the Bison’s 20. 

The Huskies again drove into Bison territory, but Jacob Gale was stopped by Maciejewski and Aidyn Janis at the two-yard line on fourth down. 

“We’ve been in those situations before,” Maciejewski said. “We know that big plays can happen, but it’s how we react that’s really going to determine the outcome of the game.”

The Huskies, however, had one last-gasp effort. EPJ forced another punt and took over at Hot Springs 23-yard line with 1:17 left. With no timeouts left, the Huskies pulled off a double pass play on their first play and were aided by a facemask penalty on the play. Gale’s next pass attempt was broken up by Caleb Rickenbach.

On second down at the 24-yard line, Matt Close batted Gale’s next pass attempt and Peterson intercepted it for the win. 

“We play as a unit and if everyone does their job right, the job gets done,” Peterson said. “We are all so close we are like brothers and we just play super well together and that’s what we did today.”

Rickenbach, the game’s Outstanding Lineman, wasn’t sure Peterson intercepted the pass until Close informed him. 

“I was depending on my guys in the back,” Rickenbach said. “Because on the line we need a pass rush, but at the end they are getting those quick passes down on the sides and you have to rely on the guys in the back. I really put all my faith in those guys and it paid off in the end.”

Elk Point-Jefferson’s Jacob Gale finished with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Garrett Merkley hauled in 68 receiving yards.

For Hot Springs, Peterson hauled in a 79-yard touchdown reception from Colin Iverson, who passed for 102 yards. 

Kramer anticipated a shootout in a rematch of last season’s Class 11B semifinals. It started out that way. On its opening possession, EPJ marched down the field and Keaton Galed punched in a touchdown. 

Hot Springs answered on its first drive. Maciejewski broke through for a 32-yard touchdown run and a 7-7 tie. 

“It was not really what we expected,” Kramer said. “We knew it was a good team. It wasn't anything like I expected, but fortunately our defense showed up. We got a couple points on the board on them. That’s a very good team. Nothing but all the respect in the world for coach (Jake) Terry has been able to do.” 

After the first quarter, the defenses buckled down and the teams traded missed field goal attempts. In the second quarter, Iverson tossed a 79-yard touchdown bomb to Peterson for a 13-7 lead. 

In the third quarter, the teams both chewed up the clock after long possessions. In the fourth quarter, the Bison’s defense bent and didn’t break. 

“Fantastic,” Kramer said about his defense. “That’s two weeks in a row. It was very, very good. They just show up to play. They are so hard-nosed. Coach (Levi) Klippenstein does such a great job calling the defense and it was phenomenal.”

It was the Bison’s first-ever state football championship in the playoff era. Hot Springs won a mythical state championship in 1974. 

“It’s great,” Rickenbach said. “Our town isn't used to this. It’s really great for the community and it’s great for our people to get together like this.”

Hot Springs, which was the lone West River team in the DakotaDome, also won one for that side of the state. 

“We had everyone West River supporting us,” Maciejewski said. “So we were really just completing the mission for us. I think it gives a lot of confidence and momentum for West River.”