VERMILLION — The Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots were on a mission to repeat. 

Mission accomplished. 

Sioux Falls Lincoln handed Brandon Valley its first defeat of the season, securing a second consecutive Class 11AAA state championship on Saturday at the DakotaDome. 

“Last year’s team everyone was saying a lot of it was that senior class,” said senior defensive lineman Luke Krempges after Lincoln’s 31-21 win over Brandon Valley. “We said it from the beginning, we wanted to prove it ourselves and we did just that.” 

Behind a poised sophomore quarterback Brody Schafer, a goal line stand and a game-clinching 98-yard drive, the Patriots did just that on Saturday. Lincoln is now the first Class 11AAA team to repeat since Sioux Falls Washington won three straight from 2015-17. 

“It’s so amazing,” Schafer said. “These seniors especially have worked their butts off. They’ve been doubted this whole year.”

Sioux Falls Lincoln’s Edison Noll holds up two fingers to the Patriots fans after defeating Brandon Valley 31-21 to give Lincoln back-to-back Class 11AAA state championships Saturday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Last season, Schafer was on the sidelines watching his brother Tate deliver Lincoln’s first state championship since 2014. This season, Brody was the Schafer guiding the Patriots (11-1) to the state championship. 

A 6-foot, 170-pound dual-threat quarterback, Schafer finished 9-of-18 for 226 yards and threw three passing touchdowns. The Joe Robbie MVP and Outstanding Back added 122 rushing yards on 24 carries. 

“He’s so mature for a sophomore, man,” Krempges said. “He’s a great player and I am proud of him.”

Schafer and Krempges, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman, were both instrumental in Lincoln’s repeat. Schafer tossed a highlight reel five-yard touchdown catch to 6-foot-6 Samuel DeGroot, who snatched the catch over a Lynx defender in the corner of the end zone. 

The touchdown catch gave Lincoln a 24-21 lead with 1:02 left in the third quarter. Brandon Valley (11-1) marched down the field, and drove deep into Patriot territory.

But Lincoln’s defense stopped Brandon Valley short on 4th and 2, giving the ball back to their offense. 

“We brought in our heavy package,” Krempges said. “We brought in our big tackle from the O-line, Lincoln Schumacher and tried to wall them up. We did just that. We stopped them when it mattered.” 

Schafer and Lincoln’s offense, however, were pinned deep in their territory after the goal line stand. Schafer didn’t flinch and converted two third-down plays to keep the drive alive. 

“We kind of had to get out of the end zone, run a package to get some yards and we got playmakers all around,” Schafer said. “I just have to get them the ball and they're going to get open.” 

That’s when he found junior wide receiver Michael Roche for the game-clinching touchdown. Facing a 3rd and 16 at their own 37-yard line, Schafer delivered a pass to Roche and he sprinted 63 yards for a 31-21 lead. 

“We motioned a guy and they looked kind of lost,” Schafer said. “I saw Mikey run through the seam and the safety was nowhere to be seen. So I just had to put it on him.” 

Lincoln’s Tatum Bell and Gabriel Brunz both intercepted passes in the waning moments to help cement the championship. 

There was no shortage of explosive plays in the first half. Schafer connected with Everett Starks for a 63-yard TD strike, and a 7-0 Patriot lead. Brandon Valley’s potent offense answered right back on a Briggs Knutson to Kolton Welch nine-yard TD pass. 

Brandon Valley’s Landon Dulaney gave the Lynx a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, and Javin Augustus evened the score at 14-14 on Lincoln’s next possession. 

Lincoln’s defense pounced on a Lynx fumble, and the Patriots converted a field goal for a 17-14 halftime lead. 

“Brandon’s offense is good as well,” Schafer said. “They chewed a lot of the clock. So we have to capitalize when they make mistakes and that’s what we did. I wish we could have scored a touchdown, but a field goal is big. It puts us up going into half and you always want to be up at half.”

In the third quarter, Knutson connected with Dulaney for a TD reception, capping off a 16-play, 71-yard drive that lasted 9:18. The score made it 21-17 in Brandon Valley’s favor, but Lincoln’s defense and Schafer took it from there. 

“We knew we had to step up,” Krempges said. “We folded a few times in the first half, third and fourth down. But we had to learn from it, bounce back and make the play when it matters most.”