Bulldogs Hound Panthers During Homecoming Game

MHS lost their 2022 Homecoming football game on Friday, September 16, when  Dakota Valley took to the air for 273 yards to defeat Milbank 33-6. But the Dawgs didn’t take the loss lying down and squeezed out a few heart-stopping moments of their own for Bulldogs fans.

Brian Allmendinger, head coach for Milbank, said, “Unfortunately, Dakota Valley played exceptionally well and got out to an early lead and we were not able to recover from it.” The loss dropped the Bulldogs’ record to 4-0 this season. “We travel to Dell Rapids this Friday to play possibly our toughest opponent to date,” Allmendinger added.

Plays of the Game: Late in the second quarter. Milbank found themselves trailing 19-0 when Aidan Foell forged ahead on a 37-yard run. Tight end Emmett Hanson followed by hauling in a pass from quarterback Garrett Mertens to give Milbank a first down and a fresh set of chances to score. Barrett Schneck used the opportunity to put together a string of receptions to move the ball deep into Panther territory. Schneck then put the icing on the cake with a seven-yard run to nail the touchdown and the first Play of the Game.

Although Milbank could not sweeten the deal with a two-point conversion, the Bulldogs were back in business at 19-6 with just 30 seconds to go before halftime. 

The second Play of the Game came hot on the heels of the first. With the ball back in the hands of the Panthers, Dakota Valley stuck with their passing game and swarmed into Bulldog country.  But, just as the pigskin headed through air on its way to a Panther paw, Jayden Johnson stepped in to snatch it away and crush Dakota Valley’s hopes of reaching the end zone. The clock then ran down to finish the half.

After the halftime festivities, the Bulldogs returned to field with the ball in their possession.  Mertens fed the ball to Foell twice and then connected with Eli Johnson on a 57-yard pass. The completion put the Bulldogs in a position of power at the Panthers five-yard line and created the third Bulldog Play of the Game. Milbank, however, could not keep the momentum going, and Dakota Valley took over on downs. 

The strike, however, helped Foell, a senior, to finished with 88 rushing– over half of Milbank’s total of 156. Foell also contributed five tackles. Mertens, a junior, completed nine of 16 attempts passing for 122 yards. He also gained 20 yards rushing.  The Panthers recorded a total of 137 yards rushing.

E. Johnson, a senior, caught four receptions for 84 yards. He also added two yards rushing and brought down six Panthers. J. Johnson, a junior, snagged the interception, caught two receptions for 23 yards, pulled down four tackles, and assisted on another tackle. Schneck, a senior, rushed for 49 yards and racked up eight tackles. Freshman Braylen Bowsher earned a yard rushing, added two tackles, and assisted on another. Sophomores Jesse Schneck and Joe French each contributed one tackle.  
Milbank – 0 6 0 0— 6 Dakota Valley – 13 6 7 7—33
What’s next for the Bulldogs? They travel to take on the undefeated Quarriers of Dell Rapids on Friday, September 22.