Bulldogs Quelled by Quarriers

The Milbank Area Bulldogs played a solid first half, but the Dell Rapids Quarriers proved to be too much for them. The Dawgs suffered a 42-21 loss on the road Friday, October 6. They fell to 4-3 on the season. “We battled hard, but need to get back on track this week,” stated Bulldog Head Coach Jeremy Tostenson.

The Bulldogs’ defense held Dell Rapids to a quick three and out on the Quarriers’ opening possession. Milbank Area, however, didn’t waste any time on their first possession. They moved the chains down the field with big plays by Jake Karges, James Weber, and Riley Gauer. Quarterback Mitch Quade connected with Max McCulloch for a 25-yard touchdown. The PAT failed, but Milbank Area held a 6-0 lead. That lead soon disappeared, though, when Dell Rapids marched down the field and converted for the score. The Quarriers PAT was good, and they took the lead at 7-6 with just over three minutes left in the opening period.

Dell Rapids immediately knocked on the door in the second quarter. The Quarriers connected on a long bomb and moved inside the red zone. Seconds later, Dells scurried in for another touchdown and PAT to widened the gap to 14-6.

Gauer set up a short field on a long kick return and Cole Dockter came up with two big plays to slide into the red zone. A roughing the passer penalty on Dell Rapids gave the Dawgs a first and goal at the nine-yard line, but the Bulldogs hopes were quickly quashed when Quade’s pass was intercepted. The Quarriers converted the Bulldog turnover into another TD to take a commanding 21-6 lead with four minutes left in second quarter.

The Bulldogs stayed in the game. Another solid return by Gauer set up a long pass from Quade to Dockter to the 17-yard then line. Quade then connected with Weber for a quick score. Carlos Padilla’s extra point kick went through the uprights moving the score to 21-13.

Dell Rapids then started on their own 40, but the Quarriers fumbled the ball and Tanner Kettwig recovered it for the Bulldogs on the Dell Rapids 37. Quade connected with Weber and Gauer to move into the red zone again. Jake Sandvig took the snap and ran the ball for a big first down. Karges pushed the ball over the goal line for the score. Milbank Area caught Dell Rapids off guard with a double reverse into the end zone for the two-point conversion. The Dawgs knotted up the score at 21-21 to end the first half.

In the start of the second half, penalties and missed tackles resulted in another touchdown for Dell Rapids. They took back the lead at 28-21. Neither team produced any points in the remainder of the third.

Dell Rapids quickly found the end zone to start the final stanza. The Quarriers ran the ball in for the score to widen the gap to 35-21. When Dell Rapids faced a fourth down and two, they set up for a punt, but a bad snap caused the ball to fly over the punter’s head. He chased it down and passed the ball upfield for a first down to salvage the play for Dell Rapids. They converted the mishap into the final score of the game, giving the Quarriers the 42-21 victory.

Milbank Area finished the game with 271 total yards of offense, including 197 yards passing and 74 yards rushing. Dell Rapids racked up 381 total yards with 161 yards passing and 220 yards rushing.

Quade went 15-28 passing for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also added three yards rushing on five carries. Dockter carried the ball six times for 49 yards and added 84 yards on six receptions. Karges had nine totes for nine yards and Sandvig had one carry for 13 yards. Weber tallied 61 yards on five catches, and Gauer added 22 yards on three balls. McCulloch had one pass reception for 30 yards.

For the defense, Dockter led the Bulldogs with six tackles. Brodie Holtquist and Karges followed with five each. Weber, Sandvig, McCulloch, and Alex Schuelke were credited with three tackles each, and Kettwig had two. Chandler Peery and Gauer added one apiece.

Milbank Area hosts Sisseton Friday, October 13, for a shot at the Northeast Conference title. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at AB Campbell Stadium.

Photo: Junior Riley Gauer.