Thursday,  Dec. 26, 2013 • Vol. 16--No. 163 • 12 of 28

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that they hadn't in 31 years.
• Severyn began his 2013 calendar year by breaking Troy Schaefer's 30-year record for most points in Governors' history. The senior didn't stop scorching the nets there, as he eventually put himself in elite company by becoming Class AA's fifth leading scorer of all time. Severyn also ended his career with the Governors by grabbing the school's records for most career 3-pointers made and most career rebounds.
• It wasn't just about individual accolades for the All-State select, and he proved it when it mattered most.
• Severyn had a memorable post-season run that included a late flurry in the District 3AA championship game in which he brought the Governors back from a nine points down in less than three minutes. Severyn's district title game heroics proved to be only a precursor for things to come.
• The Governors entered the final quarter of play with a four-point deficit and their state championship hopes in jeopardy in the title game against Brandon Valley. Severyn answered the bell with three fourth-quarter makes from beyond the arc, helping the Governors outscore the Lynx 18-3 in the final quarter of play and secure a state championship.
• "It was a really special year, and it was great to play with all of the teammates who I have been friends with since fifth grade," Severyn said. "The season meant a lot to me, and it means a lot to get this award and even more that it all paid off with a championship."
• ___
• Prep Boys' Coach
• The Pierre Governors were never a team known for triumph on the grid iron, but Jayson Poppinga quickly changed that.
• Poppinga became the Governors head coach in 2013 and he quickly turned the program into champions. Before Poppinga arrived the Governors hadn't won a state championship in football, and its only appearance in a state title game came in 1988.
• Poppinga turned the Governors around through the introduction of an intensified off-season conditioning program that he brought in while serving as an assistant coach for two years in Pierre.
• The results coincided with a strong senior class and South Dakota's seven-class system of football, giving Poppinga and the Governors an added element of excitement. That excitement quickly turned into results when the Governors began their season with a 5-0 start and finished the regular season with a 7-1 record.
• The Governors were even better when the playoffs began as Poppinga's team

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