Bulldogs Stun Roncalli 41-0 on Pink Night

The Bulldogs football team was in the pink – literally and figuratively – on Friday, October 9. Milbank played lights out against visitor Aberdeen Roncalli for a 41-0 victory that coincided with Pink Night and Marching Band Night along with Senior Band Recognition. Jerseys were donated again this year by Deb and Thom Bowsher and Elli and Justin Fischer. A new school record added extra excitement to the win in the last home game of the 2026 season. 

The Bulldogs won the toss and opted to receive. Although the Cavaliers mounted a strong defense to start, Milbank wasted no time in taking control. In the Bulldogs’ initial series, they secured several first downs courtesy of a quarterback keeper by Lincoln Holscher, and forward movement by Bennett Hunt, Sam Rick, Mason Allen, and Liam Street. 

On a fourth down and one, with good blocks to shield him, Hunt took the ball under his wing and into the endzone for a 22-yard TD. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, but Milbank took an early 6-0 lead. 

After the kick-off that went out of bounds at Roncalli’s 32-yard line, the Bulldogs refused to let the Cavaliers gain any ground. On third and 10, Emmett Snaza snagged an interception and Milbank recovered possession at their opponent’s 33-yard line. On second and 10, Holscher got the ball to Rick, who zipped down the edge of the field for the touchdown. Not only did Rick score the Bulldogs’ second TD of the game, he also  broke a longstanding  MHS school record. Rick surpassed the all-time yardage record accrued by a single player. The former record was held by Justin Folk, a 2003 graduate of MHS. 

Rick’s touchdown took the score to 12-0 until Franklin Pederson put the extra point kick through the uprights to give the Bulldogs a 13-0 lead. The Bulldogs had already given  fans more bounce for their ounce, but there were six minutes still to go in the first quarter.

After the kick-off, the Bulldogs made sure the Cavaliers knew they were not going anywhere anytime soon. Brady Allen delivered that news with a sack. On third and 24, Roncalli fumbled, and Milbank regained possession. Holscher sent a bomb to Rick, who ran 18-yards for another touchdown. Pederson also kicked his second good PAT of the night and the Bulldogs were ahead 20-0. The quarter ended with Milbank out in front at 20-0

Milbank continued to dominate in the second quarter. Holsher scored on a one-yard run at 11:06. Hunt made a repeat performance when he added his second touchdown of the night on a seven-yard sneak into the endzone at 8:36. Both extra-point attempts by Pederson were successful. The Bulldogs rolled into halftime with a commanding 34-0 lead.

Roncalli started the second half with the football, but eventually were forced to punt  On Milbank’s next run, Rick ran the length of the field straight to the house, but the TD was called back because of a traffic jam downfield.

Milbank started over at about Roncalli’s 48-yard line and kept the chains moving. Holscher hit Lance Engebretson three times, and Engebretson got inside the 10. Holscher then found Liam Street in the corner of the endzone for another Bulldog TD.  Pederson also came through again with the extra point to stretch Milbank’s lead to 41-0.

With the gap in the score at more than 35 points, the running clock started to tick. Roncalli returned the kick-off to their own 48 yard line, but Bulldog Kale Wenzl swooped in for an interception, and the Bulldogs set up shop again. Keaton Johnson contributed  two carries, but the third quarter ended with the neither team adding  points to the board.The score remained at 41-0

In the fourth quarter, freshman Gus Johnson took over in relief as quarterback for the Dawgs. Other less familiar helmets also saw some minutes on the field. The Cavaliers had hang dog expressions that everyone recognized from having been on the losing end of a blowout at sometime in their life. However, Milbank had earned it, and it was their night for props.

For the Bulldogs, Holscher completed 10 of 22 for 155 yards passing. Hunt was Milbank’s leading rusher with 91 yards accumulated.  Engebretson recorded 47 yards. Rick got 13; Wenzl, eight; K. Johnson, six; and Holscher,four.

Rick also collected four receptions for 71 yards. Cade Grabow had one reception for 34 yards. Street got three for 26 yards. M. Allen grabbed two for 20 yards.

Rick, Wenzl, and Snaza each got an interception for the Dawgs. Pederson kicked off seven times for 338 yards. His longest was 58 yards.