PIERRE – The top-rated Pierre Governors showed once again why they are the premier football program in Class 11AA Saturday night.

The five-time defending state champs scored early and often on the way to a 54-15 Eastern South Dakota Conference football victory over Aberdeen Central.

“It was a rough start to the season. We have to tip our hat to Pierre and how they executed their game,” said Central coach Justin Briese. “They are a very well-coached team.”

Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, bound for the University of Washington next season, had a huge night, throwing for six touchdowns and rushing for another score in the triumph. Kienholz connected with Jett Zabel on a 2-yard pass less than three minutes into the game setting the tone for the evening.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles had a difficult time sustaining drives throughout the contest.

“We made mental errors and did not execute our game plan very well and that falls on my shoulders,” Briese said. “We didn’t have our guys ready to go. Offensively, we had trouble getting going, especially in the run game. Karson Carda did have a couple of nice runs and a long one for a TD. We found our most effective gains in the pass game. Dustin Hermansen did a good job of finding the open receivers.”

Kienholz was spot on in the passing department all night. He fired a 15-yard pass to Jack Merkwan about four minutes after his first TD strike of the game, and then spotted Zabel for a 33-yard score before the end of the quarter.

Kienholz hooked up with Merkwan for a 24-yard TD in the second period before Central got on the scoreboard. Hermansen threw a short pass to Spencer Barr who broke free and sprinted down the sideline for a 76-yard touchdown, picking up a key block from Drew Salfrank along the way.

That momentum was short lived, though, as Kienholz connected with Merkwan on an 80-yard touchdown pass on Pierre’s next play from scrimmage. Kienholz capped his first-half exploits with another TD pass to Zabel for 17 yards.

Kienholz then added a rushing touchdown in the second half, getting in just in front of the pylon in the corner of the end zone.

The Golden Eagles added another touchdown near the end of the third quarter when Carda broke through the line and bolted 64 yards for a score. However, just like Central’s first score, the Governors answered immediately as Jayden Wiebe took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown.

Central did have a couple of highlights in the special teams category, blocking an extra point and also getting a 70-yard punt from Jett Carlson.

Things will not get easier for Central as the Golden Eagles will host the second-rated team in 11AA on Saturday when Tea Area comes to the Hub City. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Brownell Activities Complex. Tea Area lost to Pierre in last year’s state title game.

“We’ll review film and learn from it, and then on to Tea,” Briese said of his team’s season-opening contest.

Aberdeen Central 0 7 8 0 – 15

Pierre 20 21 13 0 – 54

First Quarter

P – Jett Zabel 2 pass from Lincoln Kienholz (kick blocked), 9:20.

P – Jack Merkwan 15 pass from Kienholz (Andrew Campea kick), 5:29.

P – Zabel 33 pass from Kienholz (Campea kick) :34.

Second Quarter

P – Merkwan 24 pass from Kienholz (Campea kick), 10:13.

AC – Spencer Barr 76 pass from Dustin Hermansen (Tayden Brownsen kick), 8:54.

P – Merkwan 80 pass from Kienholz (Campea kick), 8:41.

P – Zabel 17 pass from Kienzholz (Campea kick), :33.

Third Quarter

P – Kienholz 7 run (kick missed), 7:07.

AC – Karson Carda 64 run (Max Leberman run), :13.

P – Jayden Wiebe 98 run (Campea kick), :00.