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2016 9A Championship: Colman-Egan Wins Barn Burner Over Warner

High school football player

Follow @Nate_WekSDPB

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.

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Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and three sons, Braxan, Jordy, and Anders live in Canton, SD.