5 hours Ago By Nathan Swaffar
VERMILLION — A Class 9AA football state title defense wasn’t to be for No. 1-seeded Parkston on Thursday night. For the first time in 10 years, Hamlin hoisted a state football title trophy following a 32-8 victory over the Trojans in the Class 9AA title game in the DakotaDome and snapping a 23-game win streak for Parkston in the process.
ADVERTISEMENT Charger quarterback Jackson Wadsworth finished the day with 216 yards on 17-for-22 passing with a touchdown pass as well. Turner Stevenson led the way on the ground for Hamlin with 57 yards, but also found the endzone twice. Evan Stormo finished with a team-high 80 receiving yards while Boden Stevenson nabbed a touchdown.
Hamlin wasted little time getting to work on offense on the opening drive. With steady gains accompanied by three plays of 10 or more yards, the Chargers found the endzone first off a short run from Evan Stormo to make it 7-0. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Kolter Kramer took it back 97 yards for the touchdown to immediately put Parkston in front 8-7 following a successful two-point conversion in the first quarter.
After the two traded punts on multiple possessions, the Chargers eventually were back in the endzone. Stevenson carried it in from seven yards out to go back in front 15-8 with 9:40 left in the second half. Hamlin would find the scoreboard twice before the end of the half with a another score from Stevenson from three yards out.
The other would come on the last play of the half as Hamlin kicker Easton Neuendorf nailed a Class 9AA title game record 45-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 25-8 advantage at half. Out of the locker room, the Parkston offense stalled once again and was forced to punt. On the ensuing Charger drive, Hamlin went down the field and appeared to score yet another touchdown, but it was called back due to holding.
But on the very next play, Hamlin capped off an eight-play, 78-yard touchdown drive with a 12-yard pass to Boden Stevenson to extend the lead to 32-8 with 5:06 left in the third quarter. The Trojan offense was finally able to find some success on the next series, driving down to the Charger 28-yard line with a first down. However, the drive stalled there and a few plays later Parkston turned the ball over on downs.
But, Parkston still had fight left. Even though Hamlin drove down deep into Parkston territory at the 14-yard line, the Trojans held firm stopping a third and fourth down attempt with only a yard to go. Hamlin would get the ball back shortly after with another stalled Parkston drive, but once again, the Trojan defense held deep in its own territory again to get the ball back with 3:03 left to play.
Despite driving down into Charger territory in the final three minutes, Parkston couldn't find the end zone, ending the game with 153 yards, doubled up by Hamlin's 330 yards of offense. For Parkston, Kramer finished with a team-high 46 rushing yards and the lone touchdown of the day. Parkston had 90 yards rushing on 33 carries as a team.
Quarterback Brycen Bruening finished with 48 yards on 8-for 13 passing. Kramer had a game-high 15 tackles, with 10 stops for Mason Jervik. ADVERTISEMENT Hamlin finished the season a perfect 12-0, while Parkston finished the year with an 11-1 mark.
No. 2 Hamlin 32, No. 1 Parkston 8 Scoring summary First quarter HAM: Evan Stormo 1 rush (Easton Neuendorf kick), 7:59 PARK: Kolter Kramer 97 kick return (Gage Reichert rush), 7:45 Second quarter ADVERTISEMENT HAM: Turner Stevenson 7 rush (Zac VanMeeteren pass from Jackson Wadsworth), 9:37 HAM: Stevenson 3 rush (Neuendorf kick), 1:49 HAM: Neuendorf 45 field goal, 0:00 Third quarter HAM: Boden Stevenson 12 pass from Wadsworth (Neuendorf kick), 5:06.
