VERMILLION — The empire struck back. 

Pierre’s motto this season was “The Empire Strikes Back”, a reference to the 1980 Star Wars movie and to signify the Governors’ goals of bringing back another Class 11AA state championship. 

On Friday, one season after falling to Watertown by one point in the Class 11AA state championship, Pierre won its eighth title in the past nine years at the DakotaDome. 

“It feels great,” Pierre sophomore Porter Hunsley said after the Governors’ 56-35 win over Yankton. “We all had the same goal to come back here and win the championship. I am glad we were able to come here, put our work together and get the win.”

The win not only was Pierre’s eighth state championship since 2017, it was also special because the Governors honored their former teammate: Aiden Van Balen. Van Balen died in a car accident in June, and the team honored him this season by bringing his No. 95 jersey to the coin toss. The AVB decals were also littered across the Pierre community.

On Friday, the Governors honored Van Balen again when his younger brother, Jacob, was sent out by coach Steve Steele to accept the championship trophy. 

“It definitely feels phenomenal, and just seeing Jacob go get that trophy was everything,” Steele said.

The Governors (9-3) and Bucks (9-3) met for the second time this season. In the first meeting, Yankton clipped Pierre (35-28) on Sept. 26. 

The Eastern South Dakota Conference sequel delivered in record-setting fashion. The 91 combined points are the most in a Class 11AA state championship. 

“I love scoring,” said Pierre senior Max Bogenhagen, the game’s Most Outstanding Lineman. “That was the most fun game of my life. I am glad we got to end it off in a good way.” 

In the first half, the teams combined for 49 points in a wildly entertaining first 12 minutes. The first quarter featured five touchdowns within four minutes and 14 seconds: a LaCroix kickoff return for a touchdown, a Jerren Deal-to-Carter Schiefelbein 78-yard touchdown strike, a Hunsley nine-yard touchdown run, a Tate Beste-to-Owen Eidsness touchdown and a Schiefelbein kickoff return for a score. 

Schiefelbein’s kickoff return gave Pierre a 28-14 lead with 4:06 left in the first quarter. 

“We felt big plays were going to be the calling card for this game,” Steele said. “I think our defense did a really good job at halftime making adjustments and getting things shored up a little bit. On offense that was kind of our hope was get a little bit ahead and then start pounding Porter.”

The Bucks answered with two Jace Sedlacek touchdown runs to even the score at 28-28. The Governors capped off the high-scoring first half with a Hail Mary as time expired.

Pierre forced the Bucks to punt the ball back, and took over at midfield with six seconds left. Deal took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right and fired a pass down the field. Terwilliger, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound tight end, collected the ball at the five-yard line and plowed into the end zone as time expired. 

“We practiced it during this week and Coop made a great catch and went and scored,” Deal said. “That gave us a lot of confidence. We were really feeling it after that one.”

In the second half, the Govs were on cruise control toward another state championship. In the third quarter, Deal connected with Hunsley for a touchdown reception and Hunsley added a touchdown run. Hunsley scored his fourth rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing another Pierre championship. 

In the second half, Yankton was held to just one touchdown after erupting for 28 points in the first half. 

“We definitely just wore them down,” Hunsley said. “We worked harder. We got our adjustments in and really we tried to stop the run game because that’s what was getting us the most.” 

Deal completed 14-of-20 passes for 287 yards and three touchdown passes. Schiefelbein hauled in seven catches for 172 yards and one touchdown. Terwilliger finished with five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.