BROOKINGS, SD (Press Release) — Team Blue used a long touchdown and a short one to prevail over Team Red 14-8 in the South Dakota Football Coaches Association’s 2026 High School Senior Bowl.
The game, which featured eighty recently graduated seniors from across the state, was played on Saturday, June 6 at South Dakota State’s Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
Here’s some highlights from the game:
Scoring Plays
Team Blue opened the scoring with a 96-yard TD pass from Alec Austin of Centerville to Jesiah Baum of Warner and closed it with a 1-yard TD run by Carter Gross of West Central.
Team Red scored on a 55-yard interception return by Laythan Lucas of Spearfish and took an 8-6 lead with a successful conversion.
Baum received was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Game with his 96 yards receiving.
Lucas, who added another interception and four tackles, earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors.
Other statistics, honors
Team Blue finished with 75 yards rushing and 11 yards passing compared to 38 yards rushing and 48 yards passing for Team Red.
Brody Jacobson of Team Blue earned overall MVP honors with two tackles, including a game-ending stop, an interception and two pass breakups.
Other statistical leaders for Team Blue included Austin, who completed five of 14 passes for 96 yards. Gannon Knebel of Wagner rushed for 29 yards and Gross 21.
Other leaders for the Blue defense included Dylan Williams of Brandon Valley (five tackles), Weiland Benbo of Rapid City Central (four tackles, one interception), Troy Catches of Rapid City Central (quarterback sack and forced fumble), Stephen Anawski of Brookings (two QB sacks for a minus-20 yards) and Chase Leary of Brandon Valley (three tackles, one interception and one pass breakup).
Owen Eidsness of Yankton finished with 51 yards receiving and Lincoln LeBrun of Dell Rapids St. Mary recorded four tackles for Team Red.