VERMILLION — The Huron Tigers made their first trip to the DakotaDome in 1991, 10 years after the football playoffs began in South Dakota, and won their first title a year later.
They returned Friday night, falling behind early, clawing their way back into a halftime lead, but ultimately coming up on the short end of a 38-20 score in the Class 11AA state title game.
“This game was a testament to these kids,” said Huron Coach Michael Schmitz. “They never gave up and fought together against a very good Pierre team tonight.”
After a Huron three-and-out on its first possession, the Governors put the ball in the hands of junior quarterback Garrett Stout. The 6-1 signal caller ran the ball a half dozen times, handed off a couple times and then, just as the Tigers began to crowd the line to stop the run, lofted a 15-yard pass to senior tight end Jack Maher with 5:39 remaining in the quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Huron was unable to gain a first down on its next drive, turning the ball back to the Governors on the Pierre 32. Tiger defensive tackle Gabe Reiger sacked Stout, setting the Governors up with a third-and-18. Instead of playing it safe and then punting, Stout reared back and found Andrew Coverdale streaking down the left side for a 76-yard touchdown, and with 3:22 left in the quarter, the Governors held a 13-0 lead after the missed PAT.
The teams traded possessions and then in the second quarter, the Tigers got on a roll. Starting at its own 19, Huron went to the air, as quarterback Jett McGirr connected down the left side with Cooper Fryberger. Fryberger tipped the ball to himself and came down with both feet inbounds for a 22-yard gain.
On the next snap, Fryberger executed a double move on the right sideline and McGirr hit him in-stride for a 58-yard gain that set the Tigers up first and goal at the Governor 1-yard line. Two running plays pushed Huron back to the 10. Then McGirr lofted a pass to tight end Derick Siemonsma, who was heavily covered. The ball was tipped, however, into the waiting arms of Daynon Huber at the Pierre 5-yard line and Huber stepped into the endzone for the score.
The Tiger defense that had difficulty stopping the Pierre attack early began to control the high octane Governor offense, as Steffen and Reiger created chaos in the Governor backfield. After an exchange of possessions, Huron punter Bryce Steffen lofted a kick high in the air and gunner Hayden Hegg downed it inside the Pierre 1-yard line.
Huron’s defense forced a three-and-out and then took possession near midfield. Blake Larsen collected a McGirr pass on a crossing pattern and stepped out at the Pierre 26-yard line. On the next snap, McGirr sought Siemonsma down the seam again and this time the rangy tight end came down with the ball in the endzone that gave Huron a 14-13 lead that it carried into the halftime break.
“I thought we did a great job of adjusting after Pierre got off to a good start,” Schmitz said. “We got playing a bit quicker on the defensive line and that put some pressure on their quarterback.”
The Tiger defense continued its dominance to open the second half, quickly forcing a fourth-and-short play. Huron was whistled for an encroachment penalty that gave the Govs a first down but the Huron defense stiffened again and Pierre was forced to punt.
After a short Huron possession, Pierre embarked on a 64-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes and was capped by a two-yard plunge by Stout. The Govs went for the two-point conversion, but were whistled for an ineligible receiver downfield and the eight-yard conversion play failed.
The Tiger offense continued to sputter, and Pierre took advantage, feeding the ball to Maguire Raske, with a run by Stout sprinked in. The Govs ended the drive, connecting with Raske on a 24-yard scoring pass, for a 25-14 Pierre lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Just when it seemed the sputtering Huron offense was going go three-and-out again, McGirr connected with Fryberger, who lifted the ball off the Pierre defender’s helmet, turned and trotted into the endzone.

Huron’s attempt a a two-point conversion, to cut the deficit to three points, was unsuccessful and the Tigers trailed Pierre 25-20 with ten-and-a-half minutes to play.
Then the Governors took a lot of wind out of the Tigers’ sails, going on a 10-play drive that covered 71-yards and more importantly, took more than five minutes off the clock.
Gage Gehring collected a Stout pass and rumbled to the one-yard line, and Stout took it from there to shut the door on the Tigers, as Pierre went up 31-20.
If the Stout touchdown shut the door, the Governors nailed it shut on the first Tiger play from scrimmage, as Coverdale stepped in front of Larsen to intercept the pass from McGirr. The Govs converted two first downs and a Raske run put the ball on the Huron one-yard line.
Stout put the icing on the cake with a plunge for the final points of the night.
McGirr ended the night 11-28 through the air for 215 yards and three touchdowns. The Governors shut down the Huron rushing attack, holding the Tigers to negative yards on the ground.
Stout closed the night with 111 yards on the ground and 248 in the air.

Score by quarters
Huron           0 14 0 6 — 20
Pierre         13 0 6 19 — 38

Scoring summary
1st quarter
Pierre - 5:39 - Jack Maher, 15-yard pass from Garrett Stout (Mackenzie Rath PAT)
Pierre - 3:22 - Andrew Coverdale, 76-yard pass from Stout. (PAT failed)
2nd quarter
Huron - 9:28 - Daynon Huber, 10-yard pass from Jett McGirr. (Thacher Dramstad PAT)
Huron - 2:13 - Derick Siemonsma, 26-yard pass from McGirr (Dramstad PAT)
3rd quarter
Pierre - 2:55 - Stout, 2-yard run. Conversion run failed.
4th quarter
Pierre - 11:52 - Maguire Raske, 24-yard pass from Stout. (PAT failed)
Huron - 10:35 - Cooper Fryberger, 54-yard pass from McGirr. Conversion pass failed.
Pierre - 5:32 - Stout, 2-yard run. (PAT failed)
Pierre - 1:05 - Stout, one-yard run. (Rath PAT)