Brandon Valley learned from last season on there way to another state title
BRANDON, S.D. (BVM) — Prior to the SDHSAA 11AAA football state championship game against Harrisburg, Brandon Valley head coach Chad Garrow made sure his players remembered what happened to them last year in the state championship.
“I just kept reminding the kids this is the same situation from last year,” Garrow said. “You can’t take anything team for granted.”
Last year, the Lynx were facing off against O’Gorman and looking to defend their state title from 2018. O’Gorman was a team that Brandon Valley had played and beaten during the regular season, which affected how it approached the game. O’Gorman came out and beat the Lynx 21-6, stopping them from winning back-to-back championships.
Everyone on the team remembered what happened last year, so when they saw that they would be facing Harrisburg in the final, a team they had beaten right at the end of the season, they weren’t taking it lightly.
“You can’t just show up and have the same results,” Garrow said.
Since they had just played Harrisburg, Brandon Valley came with a different look trying to catch the Tigers off guard. However, after entering halftime tied 14-14, the Lynx decided to do what they do best: run the ball.
Brandon Valley rushed for 371 yards and scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to win 35-14. It was the Lynx second state championship victory in three years and their third straight state championship appearance.
Even more impressive is the fact that entering the season, there were some questions about the effectiveness of their run game. Having lost a lot of their starting offensive linemen and quarterback to graduation meant that players would have to step up for the offensive line to play well.
Bringing back an elite running back in Tate Johnson was of course a huge help, but Garrow was very impressed with how his offensive line progressed.
“I thought they got better each week,” Garrow said.
However, it still took time for Garrow and the coaching staff to say that this team was ready to make a run at a third straight state championship berth. That moment came in a midseason game against SF Lincoln.
“That’s where I saw things turn around,” Garrow said. “At that point I knew we would be a strong contender for the championship.”
The Lynx never looked back on their way to a championship and added even more hardware to the Brandon Valley trophy case.
“These guys have done a good job of leaving a legacy,” Garrow said.
That legacy will include handling all the added complications of having a season during the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially when key players would have to quarantine.
“We talked a lot about the next man up,” Garrow said. “Our kids did a great job.”
Whether it was missing their starting quarterback or right tackle, the Lynx stayed focused and took advantage of their moments.
More than anything, they were just happy to be out there on Fridays playing the sport they love. In a year where nothing can be taken for granted, Brandon Valley certainly appreciated every moment it had on the gridiron.
“We’re just happy we could get through the season,” Garrow said.
