Dome Bound Again: Orioles punch ticket to State for third straight year
The Lennox High School Oriole football team is headed back to the DakotaDome for the Class A State Championship after earning an 18-15 victory over West Central on Friday, Nov. 6.
With the win, the Orioles advance to the state championship game for the third consecutive year, setting up another showdown with Sioux Falls Christian. The two teams will meet for the state title for the third straight season.
Lennox got off to a strong start against West Central, taking a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. The Orioles opened the scoring with a one yard touchdown run by Levi Simonsen. The two-point conversion failed, but Lennox led 6-0 at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, Lennox scored again; this time Cayden Huls found Shayden Olean for the touchdown. The two-point conversion failed again, but Lennox took a 12-0 lead over the Trojans.
West Central managed an answer on a one yard touchdown run late in the second quarter to cut Lennox’s lead to 12-7 at halftime.
The Orioles extended their advantage early in the third quarter when Huls connected with Drake Mikkelsen for a 20-yard touchdown pass, making it 18-7. West Central responded with a touchdown of its own, but Lennox held on to its three-point advantage through the fourth quarter to secure the 18-15 victory.
Huls led the Lennox offense, completing 16 of 24 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Brennen Juffer was his leading receiver with six catches for 112 yards. Bennett Hanssen added four receptions for 29 yards, while Olean and Mikkelsen each had two catches for 26 yards. Jevyn Lefers also hauled in two passes for 24 yards.
On the ground, Olean led the Orioles with 48 yards on 19 carries. Huls added 22 yards on 15 carries, while Simonsen finished with 14 yards on four carries.
Defensively, Jevyn Lefers led Lennox with 13 total tackles, including 10 solo tackles. Leif Karlson recorded six total tackles and three sacks, while Benjamin Heibult added four tackles and a sack. Juffer also contributed an interception for the Orioles, and Heibult had a blocked punt.
As a team, Lennox finished with 301 yards of total offense, compared to 227 for West Central.
Lennox (9-2) will now turn its attention to the state championship, where it will face an undefeated Sioux Falls Christian team (11-0). Sioux Falls Christian won last year’s match-up between the two teams, with Lennox claiming the title the previous season.
The Class A State Championship game is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.