VERMILLION, S.D. — The Wall Eagles cemented their place among South Dakota’s football powerhouses Friday morning, overwhelming Howard 60-6 in the Class 9A state championship at the DakotaDome. Behind a career performance from senior star Jace Mohr, Wall claimed its fourth state football title and first since 2022 in dominant, wire-to-wire fashion.
Mohr was unstoppable, rushing for 211 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries, earning both Outstanding Back honors and the Joe Robbie MVP award. Quarterback Tanner Volmer added five total touchdowns—two on the ground and three through the air—as Wall exploded for 26 first-quarter points and never looked back.
By the time the opening quarter ended, Wall led 26-0, outgaining Howard 188 to -minus-4. The Eagles scored on their first four possessions, highlighted by long Mohr touchdown runs of 23 and 48 yards and a 35-yard strike from Volmer to Teelan Kjerstad.
Howard briefly stopped the bleeding with an 11-play, 67-yard drive capped by quarterback Drew Maier’s 1-yard keeper early in the second quarter, making it 26-6. But Wall responded immediately, scoring three more times before halftime—including a 74-yard bomb to Dawson Handcock—to take a commanding 47-6 lead into the locker room.
Wall finished with 478 total yards on just 37 plays, averaging a remarkable 12.9 yards per snap. The Eagles ran for 302 yards while Volmer completed seven of eight passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Kjerstad (63 yards, 2 TDs) and Handcock (83 yards, 1 TD) led the receiving corps.
Defensively, Wall swarmed Howard from the start, recording 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. Brand Hilgenkamp, named the Outstanding Lineman, anchored a front that held Howard to minus-1 rushing yard and just 78 total yards.
The Tigers (9-3) were plagued by negative plays, losing yardage on 10 rushing attempts and finishing 4-of-13 on third down. Maier completed nine passes for 79 yards but was under constant pressure.
Wall (12-0) controlled every phase, even recovering two fumbles and returning a punt to the 8-yard line to set up another score. The Eagles led 54-6 by late in the third quarter before Mohr’s third touchdown—a 35-yard run—closed out the scoring early in the fourth.
With the victory, Wall caps an undefeated season with one of the most lopsided championship wins in 9A history and adds another banner to a growing legacy of postseason success.
CLASS 9A AWARDS
• Joe Robbie MVP: Jace Mohr, Wall
• Outstanding Back: Jace Mohr, Wall
• Outstanding Lineman: Brand Hilgenkamp, Wall