Reese Kapsner ran for three touchdowns and Jalen Jansen added two more to lead the Pierz Pioneers to a 34-21 win over the St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders 34-21 Saturday afternoon in the Class AAA championship game in the 2017 Prep Bowl at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
It was the third state title for the Pioneers in their 14th trip to state. Last time Pierz won a state championship was 2015 when the Prep Bowl was held at TCF Bank Stadium.
Neither team would score in the first quarter. The Pioneers would break the scoreless tie in the second quarter following a fourth down Crusader fumble that was recovered by Teryl Scholl and Jansen would cash in with a 52 yard touchdown run up the middle. Kapsner would put Pierz up by 14 as he would cut to the left side and score from 38 yards. St. Croix Lutheran would get on the scoreboard as James Chermohorsky ran like he was headed to Chicago Ave. and scored a 58 yard touchdown run. Pierz would wrap up the first half scoring on Jansen's 49 yard run to the right side with 2:52 left and the Pioneers would lead at halftime 21-7.
Following a turnover plagued first half, it looked like the Crusaders would bounce back as quarterback Jonathan Liesener would throw a 21 yard touchdown pass on fourth and goal to Garett Maag, capping a 7:54 drive.
But fumbleitis would be St. Croix Lutheran's undoing in the fourth quarter as Kapsner would go around left end and score from 10 yards and he would recover a Crusader fumble and score his third touchdown of the game on a one yard run. Mike Stern would wrap up the scoring for St. Croix Lutheran on a one yard run.
Pierz was led by Jansen who ran 16 times for 178 yards and Kapsner with 20 carries for 128 yards. St. Croix Lutheran was led by Chermohorsky with 13 rushes for 92 yards.
The Pioneers conclude the season with a 13-0 record and the Crusaders conclude the season with a record of 12-1.
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