Bulldogs Head Back to the Drawing Board 

The Bulldogs football team scuffled with West Central on Friday, September 4 .The Trojans have been considered one of the dynasty teams in 11A since the 90s. They had built an 18-game winning streak against Milbank stretching back to 1985, when the Bulldogs shocked them with a defeat last October. One year later, the Trojans came to Milbank looking for payback.  

This fall, the Prep Media Poll ranked West Central No. 3 in the state. Milbank also received a vote. So the Trojans brought their A game. West Central scored a touchdown in the first minute of the opening quarter, and they continued to keep the scoreboard busy. 

The Bulldogs also had gritty moments of brilliance. In the early ticks of the second quarter, Milbank stunned West Central when junior quarterback Lincoln Holscher connected with sophomore Cade Grabow for a 52-yard Bulldog TD. But it was like provoking a snake.The Trojans struck back with four unanswered scores to end the first half at 49-6.

Milbank received the ball to start the second half with the clock continuously running. They had moved to second and 10 at the 33-yard line when the football came loose. Junior tight end Bennett Hunt fell on it to save it for the Bulldogs, but they ended up turning it over on downs. On West Central’s next possession, senior running back Boche Knight pulled close to the endzone for a first down. The Trojans went on to second and goal from the 1-yard line. Junior Braylon Robbins then took it across the border for a 1-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach for the Bulldogs. Milbank took the loss at 56-6.

Holscher completed 14 of 29 in the air for 165 total yards similar to the Trojans’ junior quarterback Beckett Everson, who  connected on 10 of 14 for 183 yards. But the Bulldogs were shut  down on the ground and recorded just one yard rushing from Hunt. Robbins led West Central with 67 yards rushing for two touchdowns.

For Milbank, Grabow had one reception for 51 yards and a TD. Senior Sam Rick had six receptions for 46 yards. Liam Street, also a senior, grabbed four for 44 yards. Hunt had three for 24 yards.

Rick led the Bulldogs with three tackles and one assist. Senior Mason Allen had one tackle and seven assists – one for a loss. Senior Ethan Seyer made one tackle and four assists – one for a loss. Seyer also recovered a fumble. Hunt recorded six assists – two for a loss.Senior Lance Engebretson added four assists. Freshman Brock Sime and Street each had two. Junior Andrew Karels had one tackle assist for a loss. 

Grabow sent two kick-offs for 87 yards.  Hunt and Rick each had three kickoff returns. Rick’s longest at 26 yards and Hunt’s at 39. Junior Keaton Johnson put up two punts – his longest at 17 yards.

Mick Thompson, head coach for the Bulldogs, said, “We took a tough loss last week. Moving forward, we will have to prepare better, practice better, and play better. Our focus will be on improving every single rep. That improvement needs to start with me as the head coach.” 

What’s next? Don’t miss Senior Night and Military Appreciation Night on the Bulldogs home field this Friday, September 11. Vermillion will be in the house. The Tanagers are looking for their first win this season. They sit at 0-2 after losses to Canton and Lennox.  Kick off is 7 p.m.