The Hawks of Colman-Egan defeated the Monarchs of Warner 32-28 in the 9A state championship game on Thursday afternoon from the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, SD.
Colman-Egan got the ball to start the game. After failing to convert on a fourth down gamble, Warner took over at their opponent’s 40-yard line.
The Monarchs would capitalize, capping off the short drive with a 13-yard touchdown run by Jack Braun. This gave Warner an early 6-0 lead, two-point conversion was no good, with 7:37 to play in the opening quarter.
Colman-Egan answered back at the 7:04 mark in the first when Bodee Groos found Cole Kriech for a 59-yard cold blooded connection. After converting the two-point conversion, the Hawks had the lead over Warner, 8-6.
End of 1st Quarter: Colman-Egan 8 Warner 6
Faced with a fourth and goal at the one-yard line, Warner scored on quarterback keeper by Micah Hoellein. That gave the Monarchs the lead back early in the second quarter over the Hawks, 14-8.
Colman-Egan was in need of a spark as their defense found themselves on the field again. Hawks linebacker Malik Poppenga garnered back-to-back sacks, forcing Warner to punt for the first time in the game. This led to Groos breaking free for a 26-yard touchdown, which tied the game at 14 with 5:33 to play in the half.
After another Warner drive stalled, Colman-Egan got the ball back. Quarterback Groos broke free again for a 62-yard touchdown blast. At the 42-second mark in the first half, the Hawks led the Monarchs 20-14.
It only took eight seconds for Warner to answer back. Tyler Rozell faked a reverse in the backfield and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Micah Hoellein. A missed point after kept this game tied 20-20 late in the half.
Halftime: Colman-Egan 20 Warner 20
Colman-Egan broke the tie in the second half when Walker Olivier took an option run into the end zone from 11-yards away. A failed two-point conversion gave the Hawks a 26-20 lead over Warner with 5:06 to play in the third quarter.
Needing a big drive, the Monarchs delivered. Daylin Simon scored on a wide receiver jet motion sweep from 20-yards away. The two-point conversion was good, giving Warner a 28-26 lead near the back end of the quarter.
End of 3rd Quarter: Warner 28 Colman-Egan 26
With 3:39 to play in the game, Colman-Egan retook the lead, thanks to a 2-yard quarterback keeper by Groos. This gave the Hawks a 32-28 spread over Warner.
It was now or never for the Monarchs. They began driving the ball, but it was Kade Groos of Colman-Egan coming up with a game defying interception with just over two-minutes to play, which sealed the win for the Hawks.
Final: Colman-Egan 32 Warner 28
Bodee Gross wins the 9A Joe Robbie MVP award with 198 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 185 passing yards, and a passing touchdown.
