VERMILLION -- The Winner Warriors hoisted another trophy on Friday. 

Behind its patented rushing attack and suffocating defense, Winner captured its second straight Class 11B state championship at the DakotaDome. The Warriors, who rushed for 369 yards, defeated Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, 40-8, for the second straight season at the Dome. 

It was Winner and BEE’s third consecutive season playing for the Class 11B state championship. But unlike the two previous thrillers, this one was all Winner. 

“I think we really just set a statement and said we are here to play,” Winner senior Charley Pravacek said. “They had three really good games on the way here and you have to tip your hats to them.”

Winner’s Riley Shippy converts at 2-point conversion attempt during the fourth quarter of the 11B state championship Friday at the Dakotadome in Vermillion. The Warriors won 40-8. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Six different Warriors combined for 47 carries, including Joe Robbie MVP Aiden Barfuss, who rushed 12 times for 126 yards and one touchdown. Outstanding back Kaden Keiser had 10 carries for 99 yards and one touchdown, while Riley Shippy had 50 rushing yards and quarterback Joey Cole scored two rushing touchdowns. 

“We didn’t play our best game,” Winner coach Trent Olson said. “But we played well enough obviously. We moved it for 370 yards rushing and if you rush for that many yards, it’s hard to beat you.”

Winner (12-0) bottled up Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan’s ground game, limiting the Seahawks to 83 rushing yards. The Warriors also racked up four sacks and had two interceptions. 

“That’s why I got this award,” said Pravacek, who won his second straight outstanding lineman award. “We just did our jobs. We just shut it down and then we just pinned our ears back and we just had fun out there.”

Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan’s Maddox Kihne runs for a few yardage during the second half of the Seahawks’ 40-8 loss to Winner in the 11B state championship Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The fun started right out of the gates. After the Warriors forced a three and out on BEE’s opening possession, Keiser busted a 61-yard touchdown run on their first play from scrimmage. 

“That was huge and that was one of our main goals,” Pravacek said. “We had to shut them down right away and we deferred and we knew we had to go out to prove something.” 

After blocking a punt, Barfuss was in the end zone two plays later for a 16-0 lead. Cole added a second-quarter rushing touchdown and Winner led 24-0 at halftime. 

Cole scored another rushing touchdown in the third quarter, while BEE got on the board on a Kaden Klumb quarterback sneak. Cole connected with Ethan Bartels for the game’s last touchdown in the fourth quarter. 

It was Winner’s ninth state football championship in school history, including sixth in Class 11B and its fourth since 2015. The Warriors also have three Class 11A state championships. 

“It is a lot of pressure,” Barfuss said. “Every year if we win one, it gets harder and harder. But our coaches do a great job keeping us calm, keeping our composure.” 

Friday’s matchup was the second meeting this season between Winner and BEE, which was making its fifth straight Class 11B appearance. Winner also defeated BEE, 44-0, on Aug. 27 in Winner. 

Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan’s Hunter Bailey catches a 2-point conversation attempt during the third quarter of the Seahawks’ 40-8 loss to Winner Friday in the 11B state championship at the Dakotadome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

BEE’s Maddox Kihne had 45 rushing yards, while leading rusher Koby Kayser was held to 40 yards on the ground. Klumb had 140 passing yards on 8 of 23 attempts and had an interception. Jay Storm hauled in four receptions for 101 yards. Sutton Arend had a team-high 10 tackles.

The Seahawks finished with an 8-4 record and they are 31-5 in the past three seasons, including three losses to Winner. 

Winner’s Riley Orel and Barfuss had five tackles apiece. Ashton Klein had a team-high 1.5 sacks, while Jackson Vesely and Keiser each had a sack. Blake Volmer intercepted two passes. 

For Winner, it capped off another undefeated season and it is 34-1 in the past three seasons, with the lone loss coming against BEE in the 2019 state championship. 

But the Warriors have reeled off 23 straight wins to continue its dominance in Class 11B. 

“It’s either you win your last one or you don’t in Winner,” Olson said. “It feels a lot better when you do win the last one.”