Pierz as good as advertised

PAYNESVILLE - Pierz is the defending Class AAA state champions and, at least if Friday is any indication, the Pioneers are as good as ever.

Pierz controlled Friday's game with Paynesville from the jump, sprinting away with a 47-14 win to move to 7-0 and extend their win streak to 20 games.

Reese Kapsner kicked off the scoring with a 65-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage and that display of excellence proved to be a theme for the night.

Kapsner added two more touchdowns as he ran the ball 16 times for 198 yards. The Pioneers dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball, evident in their 407-yard rushing total.

Paynesville knocked on the door early, but the Pierz defense proved to be as formidable as the offense and stuffed the Bulldogs in the end zone near the end of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs showed bursts of energy throughout the night. Daltin Christinsen, who carried the ball five times for 90 yards, broke off for a 40-yard run that set up a 34-yard strike to Sam Oehrlein from Max Weidner to make it 28-6. It wasn't meant to be, though, as Pierz followed that up with a 34-yard touchdown pass of their own after a failed onside kick.

Pierz kept the generally high octane Paynesville offense quiet most of the night, limiting the Bulldogs to 282 total yards.

Pierz 47, Paynesville 14

Pierz (7-0) 14 20 7 6 - 47

Paynesville (5-2) 0 6 0 8 - 14

Scoring Plays

Pierz - Reese Kapsner 65 run (kick good)

Pierz - Carson Hulz 1 run (kick good)

Pierz - Alex Gross 5 run (kick good)

Pierz - Kapsner 23 run (kick good)

Pay - Sam Oehrlein 34 pass from Max Weidner (PAT failed)

Pierz - Preston Veith 34 pass from Derek Schommer (kick failed)

Pierz - Kapsner 8 run (kick good)

Pay - Zach Schroeder 22 run (Oehrlein run)

Pierz - Michael Leidenfrost 43 run (PAT failed)

Pierz

First downs: 21 ... Penalties: N/A ... Rushing (Individual and team): Reese Kapsner 16-198, Carson Huls 12-46, Michael Leidenfrost 2-45, Matthias Algarin 9-44, Alex Gross 9-38, Carter Moulzoff 3-21, Alex Poster 3-7, Adam Funk 2-5. 60-407 ... Passing (Individual and team): Derek Schommer 1-2-34-0 ... Receiving (Individual and team): Preston Veith 1-34 ... Interceptions: NA ... Fumble recoveries: NA ... Tackles (solo-assist): NA ... QB sacks: NA

Paynesville

First downs: 14 ... Penalties: 2-20 ... Rushing (Individual and team): Daltin Christinsen 5-90, Zach Schroeder 11-53, Max Weidner 17-9, Grady Fuchs 1-2, Levi Bast 1-0. 35-154 ... Passing (Individual and team): Weidner 9-21-128-1 ... Receiving (Individual and team): Sam Oehrlein 4-79, Mitchell Schlangen 1-22, Schroeder 2-18, Fuchs 1-0. ... Interceptions: None ... Fumble recoveries: None ... Tackles (solo-assist): None ... QB sacks: None

1/3: Paynesville's Levi Bast runs a sweep in Friday's game against Pierz at Paynesville High School. Jake Schultz / Tribune

2/3: Paynesville's Sam Oehrlein hauls in a touchdown in Friday's game against Pierz at Paynesville High School. Jake Schultz / Tribune

3/3: Paynesville's Max Weidner looks for space to run in Friday's game against Pierz at Paynesville High School. Jake Schultz / Tribune