COLUMBIA, Mo. -- All season long the Hayti Indians dominated opponent after opponent with an explosive offense and stingy defense. Saturday was no different as the Indians claimed their first state title in school history, defeating Lincoln 44-0 in the Class 1 state championship game.
Hayti, was dominant from the start. Quarterback Chrivontae Moore scored on the Indians' first possession with a 50-yard run and Ivory Winters scored on a 62-yard touchdown run with 5:32 left in the first quarter to give the Indians a 14-0 lead.
After giving up the two early scores, Lincoln appeared to settle in defensively, forcing two Hayti turnovers and stopping the Indians on a fourth-down attempt. But the Hayti defense took over late in the second quarter to break the game open.
Winters recovered a Lincoln fumble on a quarterback sack and raced 52 yards for a score, giving the Indians a 22-0 lead after Moore hit Xavier Jamerson on a two-point conversion pass. Hayti then forced Lincoln to punt after a three-and-out and the Indians marched down the field in just over two minutes, taking a 28-0 lead when Winters scored from one yard out with 1:09 left in the half.
Lincoln (13-2) marched down the field and looked to try and get back in the game but Damorri Reed intercepted a pass from Cardinals quarterback Jackson Beaman and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. Moore added the two-point conversion run and Hayti held a commanding 36-0 halftime lead.
The Indians added one more score in the second half, when Winters scored on a 28-yard run.
Winters, who has verbally committed to the University of Indiana, rushed for 222 on 18 carries with three touchdowns. The Indians finished the day with 365 yards of total offense and overcame five turnovers, all fumbles.
Hayti's defense allowed just 129 yards of total offense and forced seven turnovers, intercepting five passes and recovering two fumbles.
Hayti finished the season with a record of 15-0 and outscored their opponents by a score 838-80.