Pierre quarterback Lincoln Kienholz fires a pass during the first half of the Governors’ 61-7 win over Huron on Friday night in Pierre. Kienholz ended the night throwing for 356 yards and eight touchdowns. (Rodney Haas/605sports.

By Rodney Haas
605sports
rheas@605sports.com

PIERRE — For the past four years, the Class 11AA title has rested in Pierre.

The Governors appeared ready to make five years and counting on Friday night. 

Pierre scored early and often against Huron — jumping out to a 19-0 lead with 5:33 left in the first quarter and rolled to a 61-7 win in a game where the second half was played with a running clock.

“We found out how good we can be,” Pierre coach Steve Steel said. “We were doing everything right and we were clicking on all cylinders, both offensively and defensively. It was good to see our kids execute through out the entire game.”

Lincoln Kienholz continued his dominance on Friday — accounting for all but one of the Governors’ scores.

Kienholz put Pierre up 6-0 with 9:04 left in the first quarter when he found Cade Kaiser for a 20-yard strike. He would later add a 43-yard touchdown pass two minutes later when he found Jack Merkwan, and two minutes after that he found Matthew Hanson for a 51-yard strike.

“The other thing good about (the win) is it wasn’t just one person,” Steel said. “I think five guys had a touchdown reception so we were able to spread the ball around.”

Kienholz ended the night completing 15 of 23 passes for 356 yards and eight touchdown passes to six different receivers.

“That was a pretty special performance,” Steel said of Kienholz’s night. “He didn’t miss. I don’t know if he had a bad throw the whole night.”

Kienholz completed 8 of 12 passes for 251 yards in the first quarter and was 7 of 11 for 105 yards in the second quarter. He didn’t play at all in the second half.

Huron’s lone score of the night occurred with 7:29 to play in the second quarter when Mason Davis found Jayden Beck for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Pierre will host Watertown next week and travel to Aberdeen Central on Oct. 15. The Governors will close out the regular season at home against Brookings on Oct. 21. 

“We found out how good we can be and we won’t settle for anything less than this,” Steel said. “None of (reaming teams on the schedule) are going to be easy. If we play the way we played tonight we will be okay.”