Milbank Area Falls in Battle Of The Bulldogs

Milbank Area came up short in their final game of the regular high school football season. They fell 61-22 to Madison in the battle of the Bulldogs and dropped to 6-3 on the season. “I am proud of our effort and the way we competed,” stated Milbank Area head coach Jeremy Tostenson.

Madison found paydirt on a 43-yard TD run early in the first quarter to put the first points on the scoreboard at 7-0. Milbank Area then started its first offense series at their own 35-yard-line. Cole Dockter broke free for a first down near midfield. Quarterback Jonny Ash completed a pass to Cody Dockter for another first down into Madison territory. Tanner Gauer pushed ahead near the red zone, but a penalty gave Milbank Area a fourth down and 11. Ash scrambled free and found Gauer up the middle, but he was brought down just shy of the goal line at the one. Another Milbank Area penalty pushed the ball back to the six-yard-line, but Cole Dockter surged into the end zone for the TD. Ash’s extra point kick sailed through the uprights and the score was knotted up at 7-7 with just over five minutes left in the opening quarter.

A solid defensive stance by Milbank Area forced Madison to punt the ball on the next series. Ash’s pass was picked off, though, and returned to the house for the Madison score. The PAT failed. Madison went ahead 13-7.

Following a Milbank Area punt, Madison quickly closed out the first quarter with a 43-yard touchdown pass. A successful two-point conversion gave Madison the 21-7 advantage.

Madison recovered a Milbank Area fumble to start the second quarter, but was unable to convert it to points. Milbank Area defense again forced Madison to punt. Milbank Area went to work marching the ball down the field. Ash found Cody Dockter on a 74-yard touchdown pass. With a successful PAT, Milbank Area cut the deficit to 21-14 midway through the period.

Madison forged ahead with a 10-yard TD pass and a PAT to widen the gap to 28-14. Madison then capitalized on an interception and finished out the first half with a seven-yard TD. The teams left the field with Madison leading 35-14.

Madison received the ball to start the second half. Cole Dockter forced a Madison fumble which James Weber recovered giving Milbank Area a shot at the end zone. Ash threw a bomb to Cody Dockter into the end zone, but it was called incomplete. Madison then took over on downs and quickly converted on a 79-yard pass for a score to go ahead 42-14.

On the next series for Milbank Area, Madison intercepted and returned the ball to the nine-yard-line. That play set up a seven-yard TD pass for Madison into the end zone which widened the margin to 49-14.

Jake Sandvig and the junior varsity squad took over for the remainder of the game, as did the Madison’s JV. Madison punched the ball over the goal line for a one-yard TD to move the score to 55-14. Riley Gauer broke free around the right side for a 64-yard TD run to pull Milbank Area to 55-22, but Madison wrapped up the contest with a 44-yard TD pass. The game ended with Madison winning 61-22.

Ash went 6-17 passing for 129 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Cody Dockter tallied 101 yards on three receptions and a TD. Cole Dockter had 43 yards rushing on seven carries and a touchdown and five yards on two catches. Tanner Gauer finished with 25 yards on 12 totes and 23 yards on one reception. Riley Gauer finished the game with 60 yards rushing on four carries and a TD and Jake Karges had 10 yards rushing on three totes.

Milbank Area finished the game with 241 yards of total offense. They had 129 yards passing and 112 yards rushing. Madison won the game with 380 total offensive yards. They had 295 yards passing and 85 yards rushing.

On the defense, Alec Bien, Chandler Peery, Derrick Aho, and James Weber led the team with two tackles each. A slew of locals contributed one tackle in the contest. They included: Jake Anderson, Zach Angerhofer, Ethan Paysen, Cole Dockter, Jake Sandvig, Tanner Kettwig, Koben Huber, Tate Stricherz, Mitch Quade, Angel Chen, Jordan Riley, and Derek Weinkauf.

The senior football players, senior cheerleaders, and their parents were honored prior to kickoff. Back row: Cody Dockter, Albert Pavlinac, Zach Angerhofer, and Riley Folk. Middle row: Matt Lenards, Riley Wollschlager, Caden Wollschlager, and Jake Stinson. Front row: Tanner Gauer, Nate Bien, Jake Anderson, Taran Mogard, and Ben Nelson.

Senior football cheerleaders: Emma VanVooren, Mallory Trapp, and Kaitlin Rufer.