Dawgs Hang Close in North Sioux City

The Milbank Bulldogs were defeated by the top-ranked Dakota Valley Panthers in a close contest in North Sioux City on September 22. The final score was 21-14. The Dawgs now stand at 3-2 for the season. “The guys played very hard and gave it all they had,” stated Bulldog Head Coach Jeremy Tostenson.

Dakota Valley started the game with a 26-yard TD pass into the end zone to go ahead 7-0. Milbank answered with a 13-yard TD pass from Mitch Quade to Derrick and Cole Dockter found paydirt on the two-point conversion to give the Dawgs an 8-7 advantage after one quarter of play.

Late in the second quarter, Milbank put together a solid offensive drive, but Quade missed the snap and fumbled the ball. Dakota Valley recovered and converted the turnover into six points on a 30-yard TD pass with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. The Panthers’ successful PAT gave Dakota Valley the 14-8 halftime lead.

Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter, but heading into the final stanza, the Dawgs evened the score at 14-14 on a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Quade. Dakota Valley, however, got the last word. The Panthers scored the final touchdown of the game from 24-yards out. The extra point kick sealed the deal for Dakota Valley at 21-14.

The teams tallied similar offensive yards totals. Milbank finished the game with 241 yards – 189 yards passing and 52 yards rushing. Dakota Valley ended the game with 254 total yards from 56 yards passing and 198 yards rushing.

Quade completed 18-29 passing for 189 yards and one TD. He also rushed for nine yards on nine carries and one TD. Jacob Karges collected 36 yards rushing on nine carries and had one catch for 10 yards. Dockter finished the game with eight yards rushing on three totes and 52 yards on five receptions. Also adding to the totals were: Aho, four catches for 53 yards and a TD; James Weber, three receptions for 36 yards; Max McCulloch, one catch for 27 yards; and Riley Gauer, 11 yards on two catches.

Dockter led the Bulldog defense with nine tackles. Weber followed closely with eight tackles, and Brodie Holtquist added seven. Karges was credited with five tackles; Tanner Kettwig, four; Jake Sandvig and McCulloch, three; Quade, two; and Gauer, Angel Chen, Chandler Peery, and Jake Fox one each.

Milbank will be back in action Friday, September 29, when the Bulldogs host Groton Area for MHS Homecoming 2017. Kickoff is 7 p.m.