PIERRE – The Bobcats knew coming into Friday’s Class 11AA semifinal game against top-seeded Pierre that they would have to play a near-perfect game to pull off an upset.
But the Governors lived up to their top billing by rolling to a 40-7 win as Brookings ended the season with a 6-5 mark.
After both teams were forced to punt on their first possessions, Pierre converted a second-and-nine from the Bobcat 22 when quarterback Garrett Stout kept the ball and swept left for a first down at the 6-yard line.
Two plays later, Maquire Raske bulled in from the 2 to get the Governors on the scoreboard with 4:50 to play in the first quarter. Mack Rath’s first of five PAT kicks made it 7-0.
Stout had the big play on the Governors’ next possession, scooting around the left side for a 21-yard TD to put Pierre up by two scores with 1:38 left in the quarter.
The ‘Cats had a chance to cut into that lead early in the second quarter when their drive fizzled out at the Governor 9-yard line, but Justin Devine’s 26-yard field goal try went wide right.
Stout then broke off an 80-yard TD run on Pierre’s next play from scrimmage and the Govs led 21-0 with 9:43 left in the half.
Brookings responded with a 71-yard scoring drive, helped out by a defensive pass interference call and a Jacob Schoon 32-yard run deep into Governor terriotry. Carter Eidem’s 15-yard jaunt to the end zone capped off the drive and Devine kicked the PAT to make it 21-7, which was the score at halftime.
On Pierre’s second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, it was Stout on a 65-yard run to the end zone to push the lead back to three touchdowns.
Rath added a 28-yard field goal with 2:41 to play in the third to make it 31-7.
An errant snap on a Bobcat punt attempt led to Pierre’s next score as Jack Maher blocked Tyler Kreutner’s punt attempt and then recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown with 10:17 left in the game.
Another snap sailed over Kreutner’s head and out of the end zone for a two-point safety on the ‘Cats’ next possession to provide for the final margin.
“They’re just a good football team and we never really got anything going,” said BHS head coach Lee Schmidt. “We had a nice drive and didn’t get any points out of it… they’re just a good team.
“Toe-to-toe, we just weren’t able to battle with them for the whole game and they got some big plays. There were just a lot of things tonight emotionally that we didn’t handle very well, but I think it was just frustration – sometimes you get frustrated when you play a team that’s better than you and they’re putting it to you – but like I told the kids, it’s a good season.”
Schoon ran for 70 yards and threw for 58.
Eidem added 32 rushing yards. Preston Helmbolt had 50 yards on four receptions
The Governors totaled 388 yards of offense, including 358 on the ground.
Stout picked up 231 yards on 14 carries. Raske added 88 yards.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, Nov. 2
CLASS 11AAA
Sioux Falls Washington 28, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 14
Brandon Valley 29, Sioux Falls O’Gorman 15
CLASS 11AA
Pierre 40, Brookings 7
Huron 28, Yankton 23
CLASS 11A
Tea Area 28, West Central 0
Dell Rapids 25, Dakota Valley 22
CLASS 11B
Sioux Falls Christian 38, Canton 20
Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 41,
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 6
CLASS 9AA
Bon Homme 43, Wolsey-Wessington 14
Kimball/White Lake 42, Garretson 14
CLASS 9A
Canistota/Freeman 44, Timber Lake 20
Howard 12, Britton-Hecla 8
CLASS 9B
Sully Buttes 48, Faulkton Area 14
Colome 74, Wall 28
CHAMPIONSHIP
DakotaDome, Vermillion
Thursday, Nov. 8
Class 9A
No. 4 Canistota/Freeman (10-1) vs. No. 6 Howard (8-3), 10 a.m.
Class 9AA
No. 4 Bon Homme (10-1) vs. No. 7 Kimball/White Lake (8-3), 1 p.m.
Class 11A
No. 1 Tea Area (10-1) vs. No. 7 Dell Rapids (7-4), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 9
Class 9B
No. 1 Sully Buttes (11-0) vs. No. 2 Colome (11-0), 10 a.m.
Class 11B
No. 2 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (10-1) vs. No. 4 Sioux Falls Christian (9-2), 1 p.m.
Class 11AA
No. 1 Pierre (9-2) vs. No. 6 Huron (6-5), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10
Class 11AAA
No. 3 Brandon Valley (9-2) vs. No. 4 Sioux Falls Washington (9-2), 7:30 p.m.
