VERMILLION, S.D. — In another tense, back-and-forth showdown between familiar foes, Sioux Falls Christian stormed back from a 17-0 first-quarter deficit to defeat Lennox 28-24 in the Class 11A state championship Saturday at the DakotaDome, securing the program’s first-ever title at the 11A level.
A year after Lennox edged the Chargers for the 2024 crown, Sioux Falls Christian flipped the script behind a resilient defense and the all-around brilliance of junior Canyon Prins, who was named both the Joe Robbie MVP and the Outstanding Back.
Lennox (9-3) delivered an explosive start, scoring on its first two possessions. Quarterback Jhaimann Huntington connected with Drake Mikkelsen for touchdown passes of 20 and 21 yards, and kicker Cloy McVey added a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the opening quarter for a commanding 17-0 lead.
The Chargers (12-0) finally settled in during the second quarter. Prins, one of the state’s most dynamic dual-threat players, sparked the momentum shift with a 2-yard touchdown run midway through the period. After a defensive stop, Jensen Pixler capped an 11-yard drive with a 4-yard rushing score to pull Sioux Falls Christian within 17-14 at halftime.
Lennox extended its lead early in the third when Huntington broke free on a 6-yard keeper, pushing the Orioles ahead 24-14. But Sioux Falls Christian answered quickly. Quarterback Cooper Strande found senior lineman and playmaker Nicholas Popkes downfield for a 45-yard touchdown strike, cutting the deficit back to three.
With the defense generating stops and the Chargers winning field position, Sioux Falls Christian mounted the game’s decisive drive early in the fourth. Eleven plays and 95 yards later, Prins rolled out and hit his brother, Jude, in stride for a 45-yard touchdown, giving the Chargers their first lead with 6:49 remaining.
From there, the Sioux Falls Christian defense—led by Lincoln Olseth, Jude Prins, and Popkes—held firm, stuffing Lennox on consecutive fourth-down tries. The Chargers bled the final seconds to finish a perfect 12-0 season.
Prins accounted for two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing, while Strande added 199 yards through the air. Popkes, who was named the Outstanding Lineman, caught two passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Huntington threw for 263 yards and two scores for Lennox, both to Mikkelsen, who finished with a game-high 130 receiving yards. But the Orioles were limited to just 48 rushing yards against an aggressive Chargers front.
The victory marks Sioux Falls Christian’s first Class 11A championship and caps another chapter in what has quickly become one of South Dakota’s premier high school football rivalries.