<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0yRuvf_1H5tjoCP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0yRuvf_1H5tjoCP00" width="1200" height="800" ></figure><p><i>(Photo credit: SDPB Sports/Josh Jurgens Photography) </i></p><p><b><i>First things first:</i></b> <i>Coverage of the 2026 state championship football games is brought to you by</i> <i>Lloyd Properties</i><i>. Find your new home today by calling 605-334-RENT.</i></p><p><b>Simplified:</b> Jefferson is now 2-0 in championship games in high school football, and they got there Saturday night in dramatic fashion.</p><p>The Cavaliers erased a 13-0 second half deficit and outscored Lincoln 35-6 in the fourth quarter to claim the 11AAA title. Jefferson also won the title in 2022, but this is head coach Eric Struck’s first at the helm for the Cavaliers.</p><blockquote><p>“Nothing worth having comes easy,” he said. “We had to earn it. So proud of our kids and the way they battled, the way they kept their composure and stuck together. I feel like we’re a complete team, and that showed in the second half. You dream of these moments, and that was probably everything it could have possibly been.”</p></blockquote><h2>'We knew we could come back'</h2><p>Quarterback Cason Mediger was 16-for-32 for 247 yards and three touchdown passes. Freshman wide receiver Isaiah Blackburn was named the Joe Robbie MVP, and deservedly so. He finished with five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and one of his five was a monster. </p><ul><li>Trailing 21-20 on 4th-and-6 from the Lincoln 33, Blackburn made the play of the game when he hauled in a Mediger pass down to the six-yard line. Two plays later, running back Anthony Patron scored for a 28-20 lead the Cavs would never relinquish.</li></ul><blockquote><p>“We knew the game wasn’t over,” Blackburn said of Jefferson’s 10-0 halftime deficit. “Whole half to go. We knew we could come back. We have all the players. Everyone can do it. We just gotta fight. What a day. I can’t speak, it’s amazing. Let’s party tonight. Let’s party.”</p></blockquote><h2>Lincoln led 'til the end</h2><p>The total of 68 points scored is a bit of a shocker considering how this one started. Neither team could get anything going and were tied 0-0 after the first quarter. The first period included three punts and two turnovers, but both teams were just getting started offensively.</p><p>Jefferson finished with 383 yards of total offense. The Patriots went for 392.</p><p>Brody Schafer, the MVP in 2024’s championship game as a sophomore, had a difficult night. Despite throwing for 309 yards and a touchdown, the senior threw four interceptions. He had only three during the regular season in 245 attempts.</p><p>Lincoln is now 6-2 overall in championship games in history after winning in its first six tries. </p><h2>Miss the game? <b>Here's a look back at our live updates:</b></h2><h2>First quarter: Lincoln 0, Jefferson 0</h2><p>As potent as Lincoln and Jefferson’s offenses were this year, both teams went quietly to open Saturday night’s 11AAA championship game.</p><p>In five possessions, Jefferson punted twice and threw an interception in the red zone. Lincoln punted once and also threw an interception in the red zone. The result? A 0-0 game when both teams entered averaging more than 40 points per game during the regular season.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2cLOfs_1H5tjoCP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2cLOfs_1H5tjoCP00" width="2000" height="1333" ><figcaption>Photo credit: SDPB Sports/Josh Jurgens Photography</figcaption></figure><p>Lincoln’s Dexter Johnson intercepted Jefferson quarterback Cason Mediger at the Lincoln eight-yard line at the end of the quarter. Earlier in the quarter, Lincoln’s Brody Schafer was picked off, just his third interception of the season in 245 pass attempts.</p><p>Add it up, and it looks like we may be in for a defensive struggle in Vermillion.</p><h2>Halftime: Lincoln 10, Jefferson 0</h2><p>Oh, those tricky Patriots.</p><p>On a 4th-and-4 from the Jefferson 47, Lincoln pulled off a fake punt, resulting in a 32-yard gain and a first down. Of course, it helps when one of the state’s top quarterbacks is also your punter. Brody Schaefer hit Everett Starks on the big play, setting up Lincoln in the red zone…again.</p><p>This time, instead of coming up empty, Lincoln’s Jacob Burchett drilled a 32-yard field goal and the Patriots went up 3-0 with 8:29 to play in the half.</p><p>And then at the end of the quarter, Brody Schaefer did Brody Schafer things. On a 4th-and-6 from the Jefferson 13, the Patriots went for it. Schafer was flushed out of the pocket, forced back to the 34 yard line and heaved a prayer. Brody Nour hauled it in at the three for a first down. One play later, of course, Schaefer ran it in for a score and a 10-0 lead.</p><p>It’s been a bit of a surprising first half where both offenses are struggling to get things going. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2c8vUN_1H5tjoCP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2c8vUN_1H5tjoCP00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Photo credit: SDPB Sports/Josh Jurgens Photography</figcaption></figure><p>Raise your hand if you had this on your bingo card tonight: Jefferson has just 77 yards of total offense. In their first 11 games, the Cavs have averaged 404 per game. Meanwhile Lincoln has 184 yards of total offense compared to their 411 per game.</p><p>Weird, indeed.</p><p>Should this hold, there’s only been one shutout in 11AAA history. In 2021, Harrisburg defeated Brandon Valley 27-0.</p><h2>Third quarter: Lincoln 20, Jefferson 7</h2><p>A turnover early in the third period looked like it might just be the difference in Saturday night’s 11AAA final.</p><p>Down 10–0, Jefferson got the ball to start the third, but Quentin Hudelson fumbled at midfield. The Patriots recovered and drove it inside the Jefferson 10, but the Cavs defense held. Lincoln’s Jacob Burchett hit his second field goal of the night - a 29-yarder - to end the drive, and Lincoln led 13-0 with seven minutes to play in the quarter. </p><p>But Jefferson responded and cut it to 13-7 with five minutes to play in the quarter when Cason Mediger hit Isaiah Blackburn on a 10-yard touchdown pass, and things got interesting in Vermillion.</p><p>But … in the final moments, Lincoln quarterback Brody Schafer may have just ended things when he hit Ike Weiss for a touchdown on a 2nd-and-10 from the 21 to put the Patriots up 20-7 to start the fourth. The drive went 84 yards in 11 plays as Schafer went 5-for-5 passing for 55 yards.</p><p>Through three quarters, Schaefer is 21-for-33 for 199 yards. Jefferson’s Cadon Mediger is 5-for-16 for 96 yards.</p><h2><b>Final:</b> <b>Jefferson 42, Lincoln 26</b></h2><p>Jefferson erased a 13-point second half deficit and outscored Lincoln 35-6 in the fourth quarter to prevail in Saturday night’s Class 11AAA championship game, 42-26.</p><p>After going up 28-20 with just over three minutes to play, Lincoln, again, made things interesting. The Patriots drove it 80 yards and Brody Schafer scored from one yard out with 1:35 to play to cut it to 28-26. But a great play by Jefferson’s Matnel Jensen broke up the 2-point conversion, essentially securing the championship for the Cavaliers.</p><p>The Cavs added late touchdowns to make it 42-26, a surprising score considering how close it was with just 95 seconds to play.</p><p>Schafer, widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in South Dakota history, was intercepted four times. He had only three entering the game in 245 attempts. Schafer ended 30-for-49 for 309 yards and a touchdown. His counterpart, Cason Mediger, was 16-for-32 for 247 yards and three touchdowns.</p><p>Jefferson’s Anthony Patron rushed for 60 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. Jefferson finished with 383 yards of total offense. Lincoln had 372, both teams well below their season average. </p><h2>Find earlier state football coverage:</h2><h2>Special thanks to Lloyd Properties!</h2></div></body>

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(Photo credit: SDPB Sports/Josh Jurgens Photography) 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: Jefferson is now 2-0 in championship games in high school football, and they got there Saturday night...

Jefferson pulls past Lincoln for perfect season

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(Photo credit: SDPB Sports/Josh Jurgens Photography) First things first: Coverage of the 2026 state championship football games is brought to you by Lloyd 

Jefferson pulls past Lincoln for perfect season

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