Pierre, 11AA's easy No. 1, dominates first test of the season in 48-0 win over Brookings

BROOKINGS — Pierre senior quarterback Lincoln Kienholz thought Friday would be more of a test. After the Governors beat Brookings 48-0 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, Governors head coach Steve Steele said that the Bobcats are still "a good football team." This season Pierre, however, will beat a lot of good football teams. Sometimes 48-0.

Pierre (2-0), the preseason No. 1 which hasn't yet come close to proving otherwise, has been the assumed best team in Class 11AA and one of the top teams in South Dakota since mid-summer. Armed with maybe the best player in the state in Kienholz, a stacked offensive line and a dominant defense, the five-time defending state champions always were in a class of its own, but a group of potential challengers would line up throughout the season for a shot at them.

Brookings (1-1) was the first, and the Governors passed by them with ease. Without playing the rest, it's not yet known — still — if Pierre is that-much-better than everyone in the rest of the class. But if the Bobcats were supposed to be a test, Pierre aced it.

More: South Dakota high school football scores, schedule, updates Sept. 2

"We're just trying to make a statement right now," Kienholz said. "It's kind of everyone's ball game still. So, we're just gonna try and make statements with every single team we play."

Kienholz had five total touchdowns, two passing and three rushing (all in the first half). He completed 18-for-28 passes for 257 yards and rushed eight times for 49 yards. Junior running back Brock Moser had 14 rushes for 62 yards and a score, while senior wide receiver Jack Merkwan led the Governors in the receiving game with 94 yards and a score.

For about five minutes, it looked like the Governors would have to work for their points. Pierre led a strong opening drive all the way to the red zone before Kienholz hit tight end Jeff Zabel for a touchdown. Pierre got points, as expected, but Brookings didn't allow the Governors to carve them up immediately.

A few plays before the touchdown, even, Bobcats senior linebacker Jaxton Eck seemingly recovered a fumble to end the drive entirely, but the Pierre runner was ruled down by contact. All in all, it seemed like a tough break for the Bobcats, who with a strong offensive drive to respond, might just find enough ways to slow Pierre.

Then their next drive began. Two plays in, a ball ricocheted off a Bobcats player and into the arms of Governors senior linebacker Gavin Stotts, who nearly returned it all the way to the end zone. Kienholz finished off his first rushing touchdown of the game to make it 14-0, and Pierre had officially set the tone.

"Our defense is for real," Steele said. "I think we knew our offense was."

Governors junior defensive back Spencer Easland picked off a pass the next drive. Then Kienholz threw a pick, but two holding calls negated two would-be touchdowns for Pierre before it. The next drive, Brookings fumbled on a mistimed handoff. Kienholz scored his second rushing score. Then his third. Then, before the end of the first half, Kienholz handed to Moser who ran in for the touchdown to make it 34-0.

New faces on the offensive line were one of the question marks going into a season without many, and Kienholz said there were running lanes all over the field.

"Our offense showed we can run the ball tonight too," Steele said.

Kienholz hadn't used his arm in a whole, so after Pierre forced a three-and-out to start the half by Brookings, Kienholz aired out a pass to senior wide receiver Jack Merkwan to make it 41-0. With just over eight minutes to go in the half, the running clock began.

Pierre had the game won a long time ago, but still added a score to senior wide receiver Brecken Krueger (pass from Kienholz) before the end-of-regulation clock blared, sending the sound of the only thing that could stop the Governors all across the stadium.

Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota high school football: Pierre dominates Brookings 48-0