Canistota/Freeman defeated Britton-Hecla 46-34 in the 9A state championship game on Thursday in Brookings. This is the second straight state title for The Pride.
The Braves received to start the game and would go 73-yards on their opening possession for a score. Running back Cole Fosness found the endzone on a 6-yard run. The two-point conversion was good giving Britton-Hecla an early 8-0 lead.
Canistota/Freeman would score on their first offensive possession of the game as well. Bailey Sage dove forward for a one-yard touchdown run to cap off a 65-yard drive, tying the game at 8-8.
End of the 1st Quarter: Britton-Hecla 8 Canistota/Freeman 8
The Pride would take their first lead of the game off a 64-yard touchdown pass from Trey Ortman to Tyce Ortman. After an unsuccessful two-point conversion, the score sat at 14-8.
Britton-Hecla would answer right back though, as it was Mason Jones who found the end zone for the Braves from 5-yards out. The two-point conversion was good to give Britton-Hecla a 16-14 lead with 11:12 to play in the half.
It would only take a little over a minute for Canistota/Freeman to answer right back. Tyce Ortman took it in from the 5-yard line. This time, the Pride’s two-point conversion attempt was good to give Canistota/Freeman a 22-16 advantage.
With 5:17 to play before halftime, Britton-Hecla would tie it up. Fosness found the endzone for the second time of the game on a 8-yard run. The two-point conversion was no good to keep the score at 22-22.
Trey Ortman would put Canistota/Freeman back in front when he broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run. The Pride was successful on the two-point conversion to give the maroon and orange a 30-22 lead with just over three-minutes to play in the second quarter.
Back and forth they would go... Britton-Hecla would then find the end zone again, courtesy of a 3-yard quarterback keeper by Aidan Fredrickson. However, the two-point conversion attempt failed, which kept the lead with Canistota/Freeman.
In an attempt to increase their lead before halftime, Canistota/Freeman worked their way down field quickly. Stanley Haskins Jr would spoil The Prides drive with a 96-yard pick six. This gave Britton-Hecla a 34-30 lead going into halftime.
Halftime: Britton-Hecla 34 Canistota/Freeman 30
Both teams traded offensive possessions to start the second half. Canistota/Freeman would find the end zone with 2:57 to play in the third quarter when Tyce Ortman got loose for a 25-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was good to give The Pride a 38-34 lead.
End of the 3rd Quarter: Canistota/Freeman 38 Britton-Hecla 34
The Braves had a promising drive early in the fourth quarter, but it halted near midfield. With the clock on their side, Canistota/Freeman went to work. The Pride put up an impressive 13-play, 6:55 drive that was finished off with a one-yard touchdown run by Trey Ortman. With 1:32 to play, Canistota/Freeman held a 46-34 lead.
Britton-Hecla had another opportunity as they searched for a miracle, but it was to no avail as time would expire.
Final: Canistota/Freeman 46 Britton-Hecla 34
Outstanding Lineman: Micah Swenson (Canistota/Freeman)
Outstanding Back: Trey Ortman (Canistota/Freeman)
Jim Langer Player of the Game: Trey Ortman (Canistota/Freeman)
