Pierz Pioneers capped its undefeated season with an exclamation point.

Noah Boser had 156 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns to lift Pierz over Jackson County Central. It’s the second state title for Pierz and first since 2004.

“Offense wins ball games, but defense wins championships,” Pierz coach Leo Pohlkamp said. “That’s what this was about.”

Pierz (13-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead three plays into the game on Aaron Weber’s 70-yard touchdown pass to Michael Meyer. But Jackson County Central (10-3) answered a few drives later and took an 8-7 lead on Easton Bahr’s 37-yard pass to Ryan Salzwedel.

The Pioneers were in control from there, though, with a stout defense helping an efficient offense. Pierz had two scoring drives of three plays and another one-play touchdown drive. The Pioneers outgained the Huskies 426-281 in total yards.

Boser scored two second-half rushing touchdowns, including a 26-yard scamper that made it a 29-8 Pierz lead. He also caught a 49-yard touchdown.

Key to the game: Three turnovers were too much for Jackson County Central to overcome. A key fumble inside the 5-yard line halted a potential Huskies scoring drive in the third quarter.

Quote: “I can probably count on one hand how many people are in Pierz right now because everyone came down here.” — Pierz’s Boser

One thing to know: Jackson County Central senior running back Keegan Moore, who rushed for 84 yards, is one of the top-ranked wrestlers in the state. He’ll wrestle for Oklahoma State next year.

TYLER MASON

Pierz capped off an undefeated season with an exclamation point.
 
Noah Boser had three touchdowns to lift the Pioneers to a 36-8 victory over Jackson County Central in the Class 3A championship on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. It’s the first 3A title for Pierz, which won the 2A crown in 2004.
 
Pierz (13-0) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead just minutes into the game. Quarterback Aaron Weber found senior wide receiver Michael Meyer for a 70-yard touchdown pass with 10:33 to play in the first.
 
Jackson County Central answered a few drives later and took an 8-7 lead. Easton Bahr’s pass to Ryan Salzwedel went 37 yards for the score. The Huskies went for two and converted when Keegan Moore plunged in from a few yards.
 
But Pierz scored again in the second quarter to take a lead into halftime that it never relinquished. Boser caught a 49-yard pass from Weber with 4:57 left in the second quarter to put the Pioneers up 15-8.
 
Pierz took advantage of two Huskies turnovers in the third quarter to add to its lead. Pioneers senior Michael Meyer intercepted Bahr on a deep pass downfield and returned it to the JCC 14-yard line. Three plays later, Boser scored on a short run.
 
With the Huskies driving and poised to cut into the Pierz lead, running back Keegan Moore fumbled the ball inside the Pierz 5-yard line. The Pioneers recovered on the 3-yard line. Though Pierz didn’t turn the fumble into points, it halted a potential scoring drive by Jackson County Central.
 
Boser sealed the victory for Pierz with his third touchdown of the game with a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter. Jonny Kasper added a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 36 seconds remaining to cap the scoring.
 
Pierz was playing in its fourth consecutive state tournament. Jackson County Central (10-3) last won the 3A championship in 2001 and returned to the state tournament this year after missing out in 2014.