Valle Catholic wins football state title once again, edges Lincoln

The Valle Catholic Warriors are once again the Class 1 state champions in Missouri high school football.

Valle edges the Lincoln Cardinals 30-27 this evening at Faurot Field in Columbia.

Despite giving up an opening touchdown drive to top-ranked and unbeaten Lincoln, the Warriors would respond with a great opening drive of their own.

After the Warrior defense forced a three-and-out, senior quarterback Chase Dunlap used his arm to guide another scoring march.

Valle Catholic led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, but Lincoln would really get going in the second period.

QB Jackson Beaman moved the Cardinals down field thanks to some big passing plays and scored his second rushing touchdown to tie the game at 14.

Then after Dunlap threw an interception, Beaman capped off an 11-play drive at the end of the first half.

Down 21-14, Valle showed why it’s a championship team.

The Warriors responded on the opening drive of the third quarter

Valle retook the lead on a Jayden Gegg TD run later in the quarter, then after getting a stop, ripped off a legendary 17-play drive.

Conversion after conversion moved the ball into the red zone, and Kolton Naeger ended the march with the Serenity Hospice Care Play of the Game.

Naeger’s kick would ensure a late touchdown would not help Lincoln.

The Warriors win their sixth state title in this decade and 15th overall, tied for most in MSHSAA history.

Both teams finish 2019 at 14-1.