PIERRE, S.D. — The Pierre Governors officially began defense of their latest state football title by opening the season with a convincing 42-6 win over Sturgis Saturday. With several familiar names and faces back this season, particularly in the skill positions, the Govs showed why many feel they will be favored to repeat, although it did take a short while to get things going. The Scooper defense came to play early on, forcing a punt and intercepting a pass on Pierre’s first two possessions, but the Govs found their rhythm beginning with their third drive. After a missed field goal attempt by Sturgis, Pierre took over on the 20-yard line and engineered a 7-play scoring possession, ending in a 49-yard gallop by Porter Hunsley for a 7-0 lead. A long return from Parker Anderson on the ensuing kickoff had the Scoopers quickly in Pierre territory again, but Sutton Sonnenschein intercepted a Tate Johnson pass to give the Governors the ball back. Two plays later, Jerren Deal hit Will Danburg in stride in the middle of the field and Danburg outran everyone for a 67-yard receiving score and a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Deal kept dealing in the second quarter, hooking up with Thomas Snyder, who backed his way into the end zone against two defenders for the last five yards of a 21-yard touchdown connection and a three possession lead. The Scooper offense showed their capability at that point, finding standout tight end Gage West in the passing game and Zhoel Irion grinding hard yards on the ground. Irion capped an 8-play drive with a 25-yard scoring run, but the point-after attempt failed, and the Govs led 21-6. Pierre came right back as Deal motored in from 45 yards out, and Pierre took a 28-6 lead into intermission. In the second half, the big plays continued for the Governors when Deal hit Carter Schiefelbein for 46 yards to set up a Hunsley 5-yard run to the right-side pylon. Then Deal and Schiefelbein connected from 32 yards out for Pierre’s sixth straight possession ending with a touchdown. From there the Scoopers put an impressive 15-play drive together, but three straight incomplete passes stalled the drive at the Pierre 12-yard line, and the Governor second string was able to run the clock out in the fourth quarter. Irion led Sturgis in the loss with 93 rushing yards and the one score, while West caught six passes for 95 yards. For Pierre, Deal tossed three touchdowns and totaled 216 yards in the air, plus another 101 on the ground and another TD. Hunsley ran five times for 69 yards and two scores and Schiefelbein finished with 124 yards and a score among his four catches. Max Schmitz led the defense with two QB sacks along with Sonnenschein’s interception. Pierre’s depth was a decisive advantage with a heat index around 100 degrees for the entire game. Sturgis will host Rapid City Central in their home opener next Friday night while the Governors travel to Yankton for a state championship rematch against the rival Bucks. Kickoff Friday night will be at 7:00 with coverage beginning at 6:25 on RIVER 92-7 FM and https://drgnews.com/river. ...read more read less