VERMILLION — The Big Green Dynasty continues. 

The Pierre Governors again etched their name in South Dakota football lore and captured their sixth consecutive Class 11AA state championship. Behind another dazzling performance by all-everything Lincoln Kienholz, the Governors pulled away from Tea Area for a 35-20 win at the DakotaDome Saturday. 

The Governors (12-0) became the second team in state history to claim six straight state football championships, joining West Central from 2000-05. 

“It feels amazing because we were preaching perfection all year and we just went 12-0,” Kienholz said. “We kind of set those goals early and I think we all bought into that.”

Kienholz, a future University of Washington quarterback, again powered the Governors on the state’s biggest stage. Kienholz completed 14 of 28 passes for 274 yards and threw three passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 121 yards on 32 carries and scored two more scores. 

Kienholz, who was named the Joe Robbie MVP for a third consecutive season, added a fourth-quarter interception on defense to help seal the victory. 

Pierre's Lincoln Kienholz delivers a pass against Tea Area on Saturday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“He’s just an incredible athlete,” Pierre coach Steve Steele said. “It would be hard pressed to find anybody that does not agree that he’s the best player in the state.”

Kienholz connected with his reliable receiver Jack Merkwan, who hauled in eight catches for a Class 11AA title game record 234 yards and two touchdown receptions. Merkwan caught two touchdown receptions of 92 and 65 yards from Kienholz in the first half. Merkwan was named the game’s most outstanding back.

“Lincoln has been my best friend since we were little,” Merkwan said. “Every day we are together. We are working for moments like these. The past 10 years we’ve been working for moments in the Dome when all the lights are on and the eyes are on you. We have to perform under pressure and we just work for that.”

The Governors again performed when the lights were bright and against a familiar foe. It’s the second year in a row Pierre and Tea Area locked horns in the Class 11AA state championship. 

Last season, the Governors rallied from a 27-7 deficit to stun the Titans on a field goal as time expired in overtime. Pierre also edged Tea Area, 35-30, on Oct. 14 during the regular season. 

Saturday’s edition was more of the same. 

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight and we knew we had to come out and punch them in the mouth,” Kienholz said.  

The Titans (10-2) absorbed Pierre’s punches and landed some of their own in an entertaining first half. Tea Area’s Reis Kirschenmann forced a Kienholz fumble and Nike Rosas recovered it.

Tea Area couldn’t capitalize and went three-and-out on its first possession. That’s when it got fun. 

Pierre was backed up on its own eight-yard line and Kienholz threw a 92-yard touchdown strike to Merkwan, a Class 11AA title game record for longest pass play. 

Merkwan had 1-on-1 coverage and that’s all Kienholz needed to see. 

“He’s a great receiver and when he has a 1-on-1 matchup I am taking him 100% of the time,” Kienholz said. 

On Pierre’s next possession, Tea Area’s Blake Thompson intercepted Kienholz for just his sixth interception of the season. The Titans capitalized and a Maddix Slykhuis-to-Wyatt Stuntebeck 59-yard touchdown strike evened it at 7-7. 

In the second quarter, Kienholz found Merkwan for a 65-yard touchdown reception and Pierre retook the lead, 14-7. 

Merkwan caught his second touchdown reception over a pair of Tea Area defenders and it was again improvised. 

“Lincoln looked at me and I just knew he meant to go deep and I know he is going to put it in my hands,” Merkwan said. 

Tea Area quickly answered just 20 seconds later on a Slykhuis-to-Chase Van Tol 83-yard touchdown reception. Van Tol’s extra-point kick was no good and the score stayed at 14-13 for halftime. 

“We understand that there was going to be adversity,” Steele said. “There always will be, especially when you come here and there’s no easy wins here. This is always a challenge. This is always a fight.”

In the third quarter, Kienholz’s two-yard pitch pass to Brock Moser stretched Pierre’s lead to 21-13. Tea Area again responded with a Slykhuis-to-Van Tol 68-yard touchdown and cut the deficit to 21-20. 

After Kienholz added a three-yard touchdown run for a 28-20 lead, Pierre’s defense closed out the championship. In the fourth quarter, Kienholz, Deegan Houska and Emmit Andersen all intercepted Slykhuis. 

“Our defense was incredible,” Steele said. “I know we scored 35 points, but our defense won us the game, especially in that first half when we were struggling to get things going.”

Pierre’s Trey Lewis (26) and Jacob Mayer (9) react following Emmit Andersen’s (51) interception in the fourth quarter that sealed the Governors’ sixth 11AA state championship on Saturday at the DakotaDome Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Kienholz tacked on another rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to reach the final margin. 

Slykhuis completed 6 of 14 passes for 248 yards and three passing touchdowns. Van Tol hauled in three receptions for 166 yards and two touchdown passes. Blake Thompson rushed for 52 yards. 

Tea Area was playing in its fourth state championship game in five years and third consecutive appearance.

And once again it was Pierre that spoiled Tea Area’s quest at its first Class 11AA state championship. The Governors have now won seven of the past 10 Class 11AA state titles. 

“I am glad I get to experience it with all these people and it will hit me very hard at some time,” Merkwan said. “It will be emotional, but I wouldn’t want to play for any other fanbase. I am blessed that I am wearing green.”