VERMILLION – Brandon Valley running back Tate Johnson and quarterback Joe Tolbeck combined for four rushing touchdowns and 368 yards Saturday in a 35-14 win over Harrisburg at the DakotaDome in the 11AAA championship game.
Kolbeck’s second rushing touchdown gave Brandon Valley (9-1) the lead for good in the third quarter after Harrisburg (7-4), who had upset Sioux Falls Roosevelt in the semifinals, had the game tied at 14-14 at halftime. Kolbeck rushed for 143 yards and also passed for a score. Johnson ran for 225 yards.
Quarterbacks Jack Teigen and Jacob Knuth ran for scores for Harrisburg, who made the title game in only their second season playing in 11AAA.
The Lynx won their second title in the last three seasons and the eighth in program history, tied for the third-most championships. This was the first time since 2003 that the championship game in the state’s largest classification did not include a Sioux Falls public school.
