WARNER – It was a brutal beginning for Warner Friday night, but a fantastic finish.

After giving up 16 points in just over two minutes to start the game, the Monarchs buckled down and dominated action the rest of the way in a 37-16 Class 9A semifinal football win over Canistota.

As a result, Warner is headed back to the state championship game where it will meet Deubrook Area at 2 p.m. Thursday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

Canistota blitzed the Monarchs for two quick touchdowns to start the game, one on a 65-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage. However, that lead did not last long.

“They just got really big plays right away. That was expected to happen,” said Warner senior quarterback Hunter Cramer. “We knew our big plays were coming and they came.”

And they never stopped coming.

Cramer was involved in most of those big plays. He orchestrated back-to-back drives to tie the game, capping each one a short touchdown run. He then fired a 38-yard touchdown to Brodey Sauerwein to put the Monarchs up 22-16 at the half.

The Hawks never recovered.

“We got on fire right away and then we got settled, and we just couldn’t stop their power game,” said Cansitota coach Brad Struck. “They’re a heckuva football team. Give credit where credit is due. They just took it to us.”

Warner’s Alex Pudwill said the Monarchs changed a few things that helped to turn the game around.

“The first quarter, when that ended, we made some major adjustments and that really helped us out throughout the whole game,” Pudwill said. “That’s really what it was, our coaches, and we really responded to that and that helped us out a lot.”

Pudwill, the starting center, played a key role in the contest as the Monarchs gradually took over the game up front on both sides of the ball. Warner coach Kerwin Hoellein said Pudwill is a strong player.

“Alex benches over 300 pounds. He’s not a very big kid,” Hoellein said. “When he plays one way, that’s just a huge advantage.”

Pudwill also plays some along the defensive line.

Warner’s depth and conditioning took a toll as the Monarchs were able to consistently run the ball, while the Hawks could not get much going on the ground.

“It’s not the first and the second quarter, they just keep bringing it constantly and your kids don’t get a break,” Struck said. ” And then they’re doing that, and we started playing on our heels, and when we started playing on our heels, they just dug in and did it a little deeper.”

Warner’s line allowed the Monarchs to have a 347-56 yards-rushing advantage in the contest.

“They should get way more credit than they do,” said Cramer, who finished the night with 203 yards rushing. The senior playmaker, who added his third rushing TD in the second half, also passed for 118 yards.

“He’s the ace of spades, no doubt,” Hoellein said of his signal caller. “And I thought Jesiah Baum ran real well, and late when we wanted to run a little clock we threw Charlie (Dulany) back at the tailback, and Charlie made some nice hard runs and we ran the clock out. It’s a total team effort.”

Baum, who rushed for 93 yards, produced the final TD of the game with a 22-yard run late in the third quarter.

The victory over the Hawks brought back memories of last year’s playoff game when Canistota built a big first-half lead before Warner rallied for a victory. The Monarchs once again did not panic when facing a deficit against the Hawks.

“We knew they were going to come out right away and punch us in the mouth,” Pudwill said, “but we knew we could respond right away and that’s what we did.”

As a result, the Monarchs (11-0 on the season) are headed back to the DakotaDome for another crack at a state title. After coming up short last season, the squad is motivated to take the final step this time around.

“We’re excited, but we know we’ve got one more left,” Pudwill said. “It’s not over yet. We’ve still got a week left.”

When asked what it will take to bring home the state championship, Cramer responded, “Stick to the same game plan. It’s been working all year, so just stick to it.”

Canistota (8-3) 16 0 0 0 – 16

Warner (11-0) 8 14 15 0 – 37

C – Ty Doblar 65 pass from Tage Ortman (Ortman run).

C – Ortman 12 run (Doblar pass from Ortman).

W – Hunter Cramer 2 run (Brodey Sauerwein pass from Cramer).

W – Cramer 7 run (Devon Fischbach pass from Cramer).

W – Sauerwein 38 pass from Cramer.

W – Cramer 1 run (Chays Mansfield pass from Cramer).

W – Jesiah Baum 22 run (Alec Mikkelsen kick).

OFFENSE: Canistota, rushing 17-56 (Ortman 12-38), passing 8-16-0 for 140 (Ortman 8-16-0 for 140), receiving (Doblar 3-105, Brady Scott 3-15, Cayden Scott 1-11, Brandon Kjetland 1-8), first downs 6; Warner, rushing 47-347 (Cramer 27-203, Baum 14-110), passing 11-14-2 for 118 (Cramer 11-14-2 for 118), receiving (Baum 5-54, Sauerwein 2-40, Devon Fischbach 2-17), first downs 19.

DEFENSE: Canistota, Cayden Scott 17 tackles, Easton Miller 7 tackles; Warner, Cramer 8 tackles and 1 interception, Charley Dulaney 5 tackles.