Bulldogs Barbecue the Tanagers 20-9 at a Block Party

The Bulldogs smoked the Tanagers 20-9 on Senior Night in Milbank on Friday, September 11. Milbank held Vermillion scoreless in the opening frame of the game, but the Bulldogs brought home the bacon. Milbank’s Bennett Hunt got the ball and made a dive to Vermillion’s 45-yard line for a first down. Serious blocking by the Bulldogs paved the way for Max Scoular to get it to the 38. Quarterback Lincoln Holscher then connected with senior Sam Rick. Rick ran 35 yards to the house for a six-pack of points. Senior Franklin Pederson followed by putting the extra-point kick up and in. The Dawgs took the lead 7-0. 

Scoring then simmered for a while on the back burner. Senior linebacker Ethan Seyer was fire, and he was joined by a wall of Bulldog muscles, but  Milbank didn’t add any more points to the board till late in the game. Neither did Vermillion. 

The Tanagers were given a couple of breaks and threatened to score from the 1-yard line, with under a minute to go in the second quarter, but Milbank’s D denied them access to the endzone. The clock ran out to end the first half with the score still at 7-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.

With less than two minutes to go in the third quarter,  Milbank kept the pressure on Vermillion’s quarterback Nolan Nygren. Max Scoular nearly picked off a pass and Seyer batted down a pass to keep the Tanagers sweating. The third quarter ended with Milbank still in control at 7-0.

Milbank started the fourth quarter with a gift from Vermillion’s coach. On the kick-off return, Rick got to the 50-yard yard line, but the Bulldogs eventually turned over the ball on downs.

On their next possession, the Tanagers put together enough plays to get to third and 11 at the Milbank 19-yard line, but it was a hot, humid, and very windy night and Nygren miscalculated. The ball flew over the head of the intended receiver. What occured next  was not exactly what the Bulldogs wanted to happen, but it was impressive. Vermillion lined up for a 35-yard field goal attempt. Oscar Edelen put it through the posts to collect three points. Vermillion was on the board, but Milbank remained ahead 7-3. 

Milbank’s offense came back on the field looking energized. On the kick-off, Rick hauled the ball to the 25-yard line. Holscher worked in tandem with Scoular to get it  to the 40-yard line. On first down, Holscher hit Hunt for a 1-yard gain. On second and 9,  the ball eluded both Rick and Scoular. On third and 9, Holscher hit Scoular. Scoular hightailed it into the endzone for a 60-yard TD. Pederson’s kick was not successful, but the Bulldogs had upped their lead to 13-3. 

The smell of victory had wafted from the Bulldogs over to the Tanagers and they were hungry for a score.  On the kick-off return, Vermillion got to their own 33-yard line. Nygren then orchestrated a 13-yard gain. On first and 10 again and at the 46-yard line, Nygren got the football into the claws of Cale Cleveland. Cleveland ran in a 50-yard TD with  just over four minutes left on the clock. The Bulldogs D then executed a pivotal  play in the game. Milbank blocked Vermillion’s extra-point kick to keep the score at 13-9. The Tanagers would need more than a FG if they had any hope of winning.

Milbank had their own plans. The ensuing kick-off resulted in a touchback and on the next play, Rick moved it to the 40. Holscher connected with Hunt for a 6-yard gain and then again for no gain to put the Bulldogs at the 41 on third and 7. Holscher spotted Cade Grabow way down field and caught up with him at the 19-yard line. On first and 10, the ball got tipped, but Rick saved it for Milbank. Vermillion requested a time out.

 Milbank got back into formation and Holscher wasted no time hitting Hunt. Hunt took it into the endzone for a 19-yard TD. The score moved to 19-9. Pederson sealed the deal with his good extra-point kick to wrap up the win for Milbank  at 20-9.  

The Bulldogs accrued 342 total yards – 250 passing and 92 rushing.They managed 15 first downs. Holscher completed 19 of 36 for 250 yards and two touchdowns. His longest was at 59 yards 

Hunt was Milbank’s leading rusher with 86 yards and a TD. Rick had nine yards and Wenzl got three. Scoular led the Bulldogs with four receptions for 87 yards and one TD. His longest at 59. Rick completed  seven receptions for 80 yards and a TD. His longest at 35 yards. Senior Mason Allen collected five receptions for 45 yards.His longest reaching 25 yards. Grabow grabbed one reception for 39 yards. Pederson went two of three kicking.  He also had four kick-offs for 145 yards. His longest at 42. His four punts averaged 40 yards apiece. 

The Tanagers accumulated 362 total yards – 22 passing and 140 rushing. They recorded  16 first downs. Nygren completed 12 of 34 for 190 and one touchdown. His  longest was 47 yards. Cleveland also spent time on the field in the quarterback position, and he completed two of two for 32 yards. One at 19 yards. Braxton Beach put up 90 yards rushing  to lead Vermillion. Cameron Bottolfson led Vermillion with 11 tackles – two were assisted and one was for a loss. Edelen had three kick-offs for 132 yards. His longest at 60 for a touchback. Vermillion also donated more yardage by flags. The Tanagers were charged with a total of eight penalties for 64 yards and the Bulldogs were nicked for just one for 15 yards. 

Milbank’s 2026 roster includes 11 seniors: Lance Engebretson, Mason Allen, Ethan Seyer, Oliver Erickson, Braiden Karges, Bailly Smith, Cody Wiik, Franklin Pederson, Jack Street, Liam Street, and Sam Rick.

The Bulldogs now sit at 2-1 this season. They travel to Dell Rapids next Friday, September 18. The Quarriers  also sit at 2-1 this season. They will be looking for a win after they suffered  a 28-21 loss to Canton this week.