<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0oRzz8_1H4R1OYT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0oRzz8_1H4R1OYT00" width="1782" height="1524" ></figure>Photo credit: SDPB Sports livestreamFirst things first: Coverage of the 2026 state championship football games is brought to you by Lloyd Properties. Find your new home today by calling 605-334-RENT.Simplified: Pierre prevailed over Watertown to clinch its ninth title in 10 years after a 45-21 win. During the regular season, Pierre rolled Watertown 55-14 on Sept. 18. So a rematch in the state title game seemed like a formality.But not so fast.Watertown showed a lot of grit in Friday night’s title bout, only to see Pierre win 45-21 for their ninth title in 10 years. It’s the Govs’ 10th state title in school history after getting their first in 2013.<blockquote>“This has been such a special group of guys,” Pierre head coach Steve Steele said. “This is bittersweet. You want to go home happy, but at the same time it’s the last time with this family. I’m just so proud of these guys for setting a goal and doing everything they could to go get it.”</blockquote>For the Govs, it’s obviously a time to start building a streak again, one that went seven straight years between 2017 and 2023 by claiming the 11AA championship.<blockquote>“We’re starting a streak again,” said Joe Robbie MVP Porter Hunsely, who finished with 227 yards rushing on 17 carries and a staggering five touchdown runs. “To be able to go out here and play with this group, it’s different every year, being able to go out there and put together a team like this. You can’t explain it.”</blockquote>Hunsley also caught two passes for 12 yards.For as high scoring as this one ended up, it didn’t start that way. The game was tied 0-0 after one quarter and the two teams combined for four punts with just two first downs, one each.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3VEjYq_1H4R1OYT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3VEjYq_1H4R1OYT00" width="1456" height="1348" ><figcaption>Photo credit: SDPD Sports livestream</figcaption></figure>But Pierre built a 14-7 lead at halftime when Hensley scored from 30 yards. It was a lead the Governors would never relinquish. After Pierre built a 21-7 lead in the third quarter, Watertown kept it close and cut it to 21-14 when Kaeden Himmerich hit Kye Paulson for a seven-yard strike, but that would be the Arrows’ last gasp at a win.Pierre amassed 494 yards of total offense in the win. Watertown finished with 291.<h2>Miss the game? Catch up on our quarter-by-quarter updates:</h2><h2>First quarter: Pierre 0, Watertown 0</h2>Pierre has won eight of the last nine Class 11AA championship games. They’ve won 17 straight heading into tonight’s game against Watertown.And how did the Governors open?With an onside kick, of course, which was successful. The Govs got it at the Arrows’ 44-yard line, but the Watertown defense held, forcing a Pierre punt. In fact, they forced two punts in the opening quarter, as did Pierre.The first - and only earned - first-down of the quarter didn’t come until the 3:13 mark when Watertown got one. Pierre got a first down late in the quarter on a pass interference call, but that’s it.Prior to that penalty with under a minute to play, the total yardage was abysmal for both teams. Pierre had 34, Watertown with just 21.We’re scoreless at the dome …<h2>Halftime: Pierre 14, Watertown 7</h2>The second quarter opened with the game’s first turnover. Pierre’s Porter Hunsley dove into the line and looked to pick up a three yards, but as he was stood up, Watertown’s Tyson Miller snatched the ball from Hunsley’s grasp, forcing the fumble. Watertown took over at their own 36.But again, Pierre held, forcing Watertown’s third punt in as many possessions.Pierre took over, and finally, somebody broke through. Hunsley scored from 30 yards out for the game’s first score to make it 7-0 with 7:40 to play in the half.But Watertown had a solid response when their ensuing drive was fueled by a 40-yard gain when Hunter Peterson hit Gavin Robinson. The Arrows later scored on a four-yard pass from Kaeden Himmerich to Tyson Miller, and things were tied 7-7 with five minutes to play in the half.But Pierre responded when Hunsley scored from 13 yards out to make it 14-7. The drive was set up by a catch and run from Penn State-commit Cooper Terwilliger on a 3rd-and-21.At the end of two, the stats have ramped up a bit. Pierre has 193 yards of total offense led by Jerren Deal’s 71 yards passing and Hunsley’s 73 yards on the ground. Watertown’s Tyson Miller has 50 yards rushing on 12 carries.<h2>Third quarter: Pierre 28, Watertown 14</h2>Pierre began to flex its muscles to open the third quarter, taking the opening drive 74 yards for a score, capped by a four-yard rush from Porter Hunsley, his third of the game to make it 21-7 with nine minutes to play in the quarter.On perhaps a last gasp, Watertown converted a 4th-and-6 from the Pierre 42 when Kaeden Himmerich hit Kye Paulson for a first down. That combination later connected again for a seven-yard score, completing a 14-play, 68-yard drive to cut it to 21-14 with just over two minutes to play in the third.Barring a miracle from Watertown in the fourth quarter, Pierre may have put it away late in the third when Hunsley scored his fourth touchdown of the night with 54 seconds to play when he ran in from five yards out for a 28-14 lead. The drive was a quick one for Pierre, covering 51 yards in five plays.Through three quarters, Hunsley has 90 yards rushing on 12 carries and four touchdowns for Pierre. Jerren Deal is 11-for-18 for 152 yards passing for the Govs. Watertown is led by Tyson Miller’s 63 yards rushing on 16 carries. <h2>Fourth quarter: Pierre 45, Watertown 21</h2>A Carter Templeton 24-yard field goal pushed it to 31-14 early in the fourth, and that seemed like more than enough for Pierre to win its ninth title in 10 years.But Watertown responded, cutting it to 31-21 on a 39-yard touchdown strike from Kaeden Himmerich to Gavin Robinson midway through the fourth quarter, but that was it.Pierre scored two more times - a 66-yard run from Porter Hensley, his fifth of the night - to make it 38-21, and then Carter Schiefelbein scored on a 19-yard pass from Jerren Deal to make it the final 45-21 in the final minutes.After a tight first half, Pierre poured it on in the second. The Govs finished with 494 yards of total offense, led by Hunsley’s 227 yards on the ground. Deal finished 12-of-21 for 171 yards and a touchdown pass.<h2>Catch up on other championship games</h2><h2>Special thanks to Lloyd Properties!</h2></div></body>

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First things first: Coverage of the 2026 state championship football games is brought to you by Lloyd Properties. Find your new home today by calling 605-334-RENT. Simplified: Pierre prevailed over Watertown to clinch its ninth title in 10 years after a 45-21 win. During the regular season, Pierre rolled Watertown...

Pierre prevails in 11AA championship

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First things first: Coverage of the 2026 state championship football games is brought to you by Lloyd Properties. Find your new home today by calling 605-3

Pierre prevails in 11AA championship

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