VERMILLION, S.D. – Wall won their third state football title in history on Friday in Vermillion at the Dakota Dome with a 34-14 victory over Parkston.
The Eagles received to start the game and quickly moved the ball downfield. But the drive came to a screeching halt in the red zone as Wall turned it over on downs. Parkston quickly went three-and-out as well, but Wall’s Quinn Moon blocked the punt, recovered it, and ran it into the end zone to give the Eagles a 7-0 first quarter lead.
With one-second left in the opening period, Blair Blasius added a 34-yard field goal for the Eagles.
End of the 1st Quarter | Wall 10 Parkston 0
Parkston got on the board near the midway point of the second quarter off a four-yard quarterback keeper from Kaleb Weber. The two-point conversion was good, which made it a 10-8 game.
The Eagles got their first offensive touchdown of the game when Burk Blasius connected with Thane Simons from 22-yards out.
Wall would get the ball back late in the half after a strip sack by James Livermont and recovery by Quinn Moon, his second fumble recovery of the game. This set the Eagles up with excellent field position. Rylan McDonnell grabbed a 9-yard touchdown catch from Blasius as time expired.
Halftime | Wall 24 Parkston 8
Parkston received to start the second half. Kolter Kramer would cap off a six-and-a-half-minute drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good, but the score by the Trojans made it a 10-point game.
The defense for Parkston would force a three-and-out to quickly get the ball back. Kramer had a burst of 55-yards to put the Trojans deep into Eagles territory.
End of the 3rd Quarter | Wall 24 Parkston 14
Wall’s defense came up with a huge stand inside their own 10-yard line to force a Parkston turnover on downs. The Trojans got the ball back after they forced a three-and-out, but their next offensive possession was halted when Brodi Sundall picked off a Weber pass that set Wall up near midfield. This led to a 40-yard field goal by Blasius to make it a 27-14 game.
Norman Livermont then came up with a huge strip sack on Weber, which gave the Eagles the ball back in more than favorable field position. With 2:15 to play Sundall scored from three-yards out to put the game on ice for Wall.
Final | Wall 34 Parkston 14
Wall was led by quarterback Burk Blasius, who had two passing touchdowns and 149-yards through the air. Cedar Amiotte had 111-yards rushing for the Eagles.
This is Wall’s first state football championship since 1994. They also won it in 1990.
