Bulldogs Defeated by Bulldogs in Semi-Finals

The Milbank Area Bulldogs ended their season with a loss to the top team in Class 11A. Milbank Area was defeated 40-7 by the Madison Bulldogs in semi-final action Friday, November 3, in Madison.

Milbank Area compiled a 7-4 record, and were perfect on their home field at 5-0. The Dawgs were crowned Northeast Conference champions and won their opening playoff game. “We had a great season,” stated head coach of the Milbank Bulldogs, Jeremy Tostenson. “I am really proud of this team and their effort Friday night.”

Milbank Area received the ball to start, but were held to a three and out. Madison marched down field and found paydirt on an eight-yard TD pass to Jaxon Janke to take an early 7-0 lead. Milbank Area struggled to get their offense rolling, but Madison found the end zone two more times on a 31-yard TD pass and a two-yard TD run to widen the gap to 19-0.

In the second quarter, the Milbank Area moved the chains on a pass from Mitch Quade to Jake Sandvig and a run by Jake Karges, but was unable to convert them into points. Later in the period, Milbank Area recovered a Madison fumble, but was unable to turn the turnover into a score. With three minutes left in the half, Madison scored on a 20-yard jump ball pass to Jaxon Janke in the end zone. They led 26-0.

Milbank Area switched their focus to offense and several plays led to first down yardage. Quade then went down hard and came up limping, but remained in the game. A few plays later, Quade’s pass was picked off and returned 94 yards for the Madison TD. The PAT was good to give Madison the 33-0 advantage and end the first half.

Quade did not return to the field for the second half. Midway through the third quarter, Madison scored its last touchdown on a 10-yard pass to Jaxon Janke. The successful kick gave Madison the 40-0 lead.

Cole Dockter and Karges ran the ball for several first downs which moved Milbank Area into the red zone. Sandvig, at quarterback, pushed the ball over the goal line for the Milbank Area touchdown. Carlos Padilla’s kick hit the crossbar and bounced over it for another point to move the score to 40-7.

The final quarter went by quickly. The period was highlighted by an interception by Dockter and a Madison fumble recovery, but neither team was able to score again. The game ended 40-7.

Milbank Area chalked up 164 total yards of offense – 44 yards passing and 120 yards rushing. Madison wrapped up the game with 238 offensive yards. They had 96 yards passing and 142 yards rushing.

Quade went 6-for-19 passing for 44 yards and one interception. Sandvig was 0-2 passing and added five yards rushing on two carries. Dockter led the ground attack with 90 yards rushing on 15 carries and six yards on one catch. Karges produced 42 yards rushing on 12 carries and 14 yards on one reception. Riley Gauer caught two passes for 18 yards. Max McCulloch had one reception for six yards.

Karges led the Milbank Area defense with 10 tackles. Preston Morton contributed four tackles. Quade, Dockter, Austin Schuelke, and Tanner Kettwig had three each. Sandvig, James Weber, and Nate Bohn added two tackles apiece. Gauer, Angel Chen, Chandler Peery, and Jake Fox had one tackle each.

Photo: Senior Cole Dockter.