De Smet Jesuit High School defeated Park Hill South 27 to 12 to claim the 2011 Missouri State Championship this past weekend. The championship for De Smet is their second in the last three years and caps a remarkable 12 and 1 season.

The first half of the match, however, was all Park Hill South as they applied relentless pressure on De Smet. At the 12-minute mark, winger Mark Holt picked up an errant clearing kick to score an easy try in the right corner. James Huber missed the conversion. Park Hill South kept the pressure up but was unable to score due to De Smet’s defense. With seconds to go until half Chris Meier picked up a loose ball and raced 60 meters for a try under the posts. Andrew Klingler added the conversion to give De Smet a 7-5 lead at the half.

The second half began with De Smet applying the pressure. However, Park Hill South’s Shawn Davis turned that pressure around when he intercepted a pass and raced under the posts for a try. James Huber made the conversion.

De Smet responded with a try five minutes later when Paul Ringkamp picked up the ball from a scrum and darted across the line. Andrew Klingler added the conversion to put De Smet up 14 to 12. Klingler increased the lead to 17-12 with a penalty just a couple minutes later. As the match wore down Chris Meier chipped the ball into the corner and winger Nick Radice beat the cover defense to the try zone. Klinger converted this try also. With just a few minutes remaining Andrew Klinger kicked the last of his penalties to finish the scoring.

Andrew Klingler was named the MVP of the weekend. He converted four of the five tries and landed five penalty kicks.