VERMILLION — Sioux Falls Lincoln completed an undefeated season on Saturday.

The No. 1 Patriots pulled away from Sioux Falls O’Gorman, 31-7, for their first Class 11AAA state championship since 2014. 

It was the fourth state football championship for Lincoln (12-0) and concluded an ascension to the top of the state's largest class. The Patriots were 2-7 in coach Jared Fredenburg’s first season in 2017. 

“A lot of hard work went into this that nobody sees and you do the work when nobody is looking,” Fredenburg said. “So that you can win when everybody is looking.” 

Lincoln’s Tate Schafer was named the Joe Robbie MVP, finishing 23-of-34 for 187 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Schafer has been one of the key Patriots that helped turn the program around. 

“To finally get here this year and win it all … I don’t have any words,” Schafer said. “This is wonderful. It’s amazing.” 

Jack Smith hauled in six catches for 53 yards. Dawson Siem recorded 50 receiving yards on six receptions and caught two touchdowns. 

But Lincoln’s defense spearheaded the win and held O’Gorman’s high-powered offense in check. The Patriots won the regular-season meeting in a 58-35 shootout. 

“They were doing things on defense,” said Schafer, who will play next season at the University of Sioux Falls. “They were getting underneath things and at halftime it was about making adjustments.” 

The Patriots overcame a sluggish start, which included multiple turnovers by both teams. But Lincoln received the first big break. Lincoln’s Sawyer Tolk, the Outstanding Back, scored a rushing touchdown on a botched field goal snap in the second quarter. 

Tolk corralled the snap and scampered for the touchdown, lifting the Patriots to a 14-0 halftime lead. 

“That’s happened a couple of times,” Fredenburg said. “But that just goes to show the caliber of athlete Sawyer Tolk is. He’s a competitor and a great athlete.”

Schafer hit Siem for a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter. O’Gorman got on the board moments later, on a Hayden Groos-to-Ryland Satter 19-yard touchdown. 

Schafer and Siem connected for a fourth-quarter touchdown and Schafer hit a 31-yard field goal for the final scoring. 

O’Gorman’s Maverick Jones rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries. Groos completed 16-of-25 passes for 199 yards and Ryland Satter hauled in 77 yards receiving. Jones added 90 receiving yards. 

Lincoln’s Luke Krempges was named the game’s Outstanding Lineman. Krempges will return next season, but the Patriots will look to replace a number of key seniors. 

“This senior group is special and they are such great kids,” Fredenburg said. “They just believe in each other and they are so fun to be around. They work their tails off and they are going to be missed.”