For the first time in more than four decades, the Lennox Orioles have won a state football championship. It was a game that saw both offenses struggle, but it was the Orioles who made enough plays on offense to secure the 14-6 victory in the 11A championship game in Vermillion on Saturday.
The last time Lennox won it all, it was 1982 – just the second year of the playoff format for high school football in South Dakota.
“We made some magic. We’ve got some great playmakers, and I would say execution is there, but it was a tough game for both sides. It was hard to move the ball and if we got a yard, we earned it,” said Lennox head coach Shawn Flanagan. “I think just the belief and just keep on pushing. That second half we kind of wore them down a little bit. We believe a lot that we’re a second half team, and it’s great.”
Lennox had two losses on the regular season, Sioux Falls Christian and Dell Rapids, but come playoff time their defense was playing at an all-time level. Including Saturday’s championship game, the Orioles defense gave up just six-points during post-season play.
Coach [Jason Mellegard] and the defense coaches, it’s amazing. Especially in the playoffs, what they’ve done,” stated Flanagan. “It is absolutely amazing, our defense, how they fly around. They apply pressure on the quarterback and they stop the run.”
The top performer on Saturday for the Orioles was quarterback Boston Katzer. He threw for 187-yards and two scores, but was also a force on the defensive side of the ball as well – recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery. His performance in the 11A title game earned him Joe Robbie MVP honors.
“I have never seen a team like this,” exclaimed Katzer. “The amount of pride we have, it was truly a family here. Every quarter we were like “we’ve got this, we’re going to lean on each other.” Everybody played a part in this game, and it’s amazing. I’m on a high right now, this is great.”
One of the most impressive stat-lines from the game was Sioux Falls Christian having just nine-yards of net rushing yards. This made the Chargers one dimensional at times, which is when the interceptions started to come.
Each team went three-and-out to start the game. Lennox also had a quick three-play drive on their second possession, and then a short punt set up Sioux Falls Christian with great field position. But on the very next play, Brayden Witte fumbled the football, forced by Jevyn Lefers, and recovered by Boston Katzer to give the Orioles the ball right back.
Lennox was able to move into Chargers territory on their third drive of the game, but a sack on fourth down near midfield by Canyon Prins turned it over on downs.
Sioux Falls Christian was once again unable to capitalize on the great field position. A big third down stop by Nathaniel Haar in the backfield forced a Chargers punt. Lennox picked up one first down on a slant pass from Katzer to Drake Mikkelsen, but two plays later Brant Wassenaar intercepted Katzer’s shot down field.
End of the 1st Quarter | Sioux Falls Christian 0 Lennox 0
The Chargers were able to pick up a first down for the first time in the game on their next drive, but that was it.
Lennox moved the ball downfield on their next possession getting close to the red zone, but on a third and long situation, Wassenaar picked off Katzer for the second time in the half. The Chargers started their next drive on their own three-yard line.
Sioux Falls Christian quickly went three-and-out, again, and were forced to punt.
The Orioles were able to get into field goal range with 2:34 to play in the half. Cloy McVey’s 40-yard attempt, however, missed left of the uprights.
At the 43-second mark of the second quarter, faced with a third down, the Chargers found the end zone. Brayden Witte delivered a halfback pass to Cole Snyder for a 15-yard touchdown. The extra-point was blocked, but it gave Sioux Falls Christian the first points of the ball game.
Lennox tried to get into scoring position before the break, but time expired.
Halftime | Sioux Falls Christian 6 Lennox 0
Sioux Falls Christian received to start the second half, but their drive went backwards and led to a punt. Lennox started near midfield for their first possession of the third quarter. The Orioles got on the board when Katzer hit Mikkelsen for a 30-yard touchdown. After the extra-point, Lennox took a 7-6 lead.
On the first play of the Chargers next drive, Katzer picked off a Snyder pass near midfield to give the ball back to the Orioles.
Katzer then hit Chase Faulds for a 14-yard strike near the left pylon, and with 5:24 to play in the third quarter, Lennox led 14-6.
It was déjà vu for Sioux Falls Christian following the second Orioles score. Katzer again snagged an interception, this time from Prins, on a pass that had no receiver in the vicinity. This time, however, the Chargers defense held the Orioles from scoring, forcing a turnover on downs.
On the final play of the quarter, Maxwell Weeldreyer forced a fumble on Witte, which was recovered by Weston Richarz of Lennox.
End of the 3rd Quarter | Lennox 14 Sioux Falls Christian 6
The Orioles went to work on the ground and were consistently getting five to eight yards a carry, but the drive came to a halt near the red zone.
On Sioux Falls Christian’s first play back on offense, Prins was picked off again, this time by Tate Gerdes, on the Orioles side of the field.
The Chargers defense would hold, but the turnover led to another two-and-a-half minutes coming off the clock.
Sioux Falls Christian, desperate for points, started to move the ball downfield. With the game on the line in a crucial fourth down situation, Gerdes intercepted Prins to put a stamp on the victory for Lennox.
The Orioles picked up one first down and it was victory formation.
Final | Lennox 14 Sioux Falls Christian 6
The Lennox Orioles were led by senior quarterback Boston Katzer. He threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 58-yards, recorded two interceptions on defense, and had a fumble recovery as well on the defensive end.
For Sioux Falls Christian, Lincoln Prins threw for 128-yards and three interceptions. Cole Snyder also recorded 80-yard receiving and caught a touchdown for the Chargers as well.
Outstanding Lineman | Nathaniel Haar (Lennox)
Outstanding Back | Boston Katzer (Lennox)
Joe Robbie MVP | Boston Katzer (Lennox)
