A pattern of state Class AAA championships in odd number years continued for the Pierz Pioneers Saturday afternoon when Mathias Algarin scored the game winning touchdown with :38 left in regulation time to lead them to a 28-27 win over the Dassel-Cokato Chargers Saturday afternoon at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The Pioneers won state Class AAA titles in 2015, the last season the Prep Bowl was held at TCF Bank Stadium and 2017. It was also the first state title for new head coach Dan Saehr, who replaced Leo Pohlkamp after he retired at the end of last season.
The Chargers came charging out of the starting gate on sophomore Eli Gillman's 71 yard run and Algarin would tie the game, scoring on a two yard run. Dassel Cokato would take the lead as they faced a fourth down and 17 situation and they would convert on Sanders Asplin's 37 yard pass to Gillman to put them ahead 14-7.
Both teams would reach the end zone in the second quarter. Pierz would tie the game on Algarin's two yard run and Dassel-Cokato went ahead on Josh DeBoer's three yard run with 1:19 left to take a 21-14 halftime lead.
Pierz would plow ahead in the third quarter on a couple of outstanding runs from Michael Leidernfrost. The junior, who scored the game winning touchdown against Jackson County Central in the semifinals had a 32 yard gain and went left from four yards to put the Pioneers in front 22-21. Dassel-Cokato would vault back in front as Asplin kept the ball, broke through four Pierz tacklers and scored from 32 yards to put the Chargers ahead 27-22.
It would be Algarin who would earn Pierz another Class AAA title trophy in the fourth quarter. First, he caught a 22 yard pass from quarterback Peter Schommer that spotted the ball at the Dassel-Cokato three yard line. He would get the hand off from Schommer and score on the next play with :38 to go. The two point conversion was a success. Now the Chargers had the ball and a chance to head home happy down Highway 12. But Preston Veith pressed a sack on Asplin and it would preserve the Pierz win.
Pierz ended the regular season 14-0 and Dassel-Cokato concluded the season with a record of 10-4.
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