Bulldogs Fight Hard – Make Football Play-Offs This Week

The Bulldogs gave No. 4 Canton a run for their money on Thursday, October 22. Canton finished with the win, but the Bulldogs secured a spot in the play-offs this week. In other 11A games that night, West Central was defeated by Dell Rapids 13-7, and Dakota Valley took down Vermillion 41-8. Vermillion’s hopes for seeing post-season play were dashed and despite the loss, West Central remained at No. 2.

The South Dakota high school football 11A quarterfinal matchups are coming up on Thursday, October 29. The matchups were announced following the completion of  the games in 11A on October 22. They include:

No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian vs. No. 8 Milbank – 7 p.m. Kickoff at SFC
No. 2 West Central vs. No. 7 Dakota Valley
No. 3 Lennox vs. No 6 Madison
No, 4 Canton vs. No. 5 Dell Rapids

On the path to the playoffs Thursday night, the Bulldogs played on  the C-Hawks home field. Both teams remained scoreless until the two-minute mark in the first quarter, when the C-Hawks inched over the line for a touchdown and kicked in the extra-point attempt. 

Early in the second quarter Canton found themselves with a short field and punched in another TD. Their kick was also good to put the C-Hawks up 14-0. Canton added their third TD – this time from the air – to pad their lead at 21-0. Near the halfway point in the second quarter, a Milbank  pass was intercepted by a C-Hawk and Canton capitalized on their windfall with another TD. They led at 28-0.

Milbank found their rhythm after the kickoff and got fired up when Mason Allen grabbed a bomb and got  the Bulldogs to Canton’s 35-yard line. Rick then sent it to Bennett Hunt, and Hunt ran it to the house for the TD. Franklin Pederson aimed the extra-point  kick up and in between the posts to get the Bulldogs on the board with seven big points at 28-7.

The second half heated up early and offered plenty of action. Milbank punted to Canton. Canton’s quarterback then fumbled a snap and the Bulldogs gained possession. The visitors  took over at the 48 yard-line and marched efficiently toward the endzone. Just two plays later, Milbank quarterback Lincoln Holscher found Sam Rick wide open. Rick hauled it down for another Bulldog TD. Pederson added the extra-point kick to get Milbank back in the game at 28-14.

Canton had plenty of answers. On fourth down and five, instead of punting, they moved the ball to the 30. They continued to push ahead and ran it into the endzone. But the excitement quelled, when  the TD was called back by the officials. Canton went back to square one at first and 20. They managed to gain seven yards. But on second and 13, the C-Hawks bobbled it, and Milbank recovered the fumble. Milbank made a valiant attempt to score again, but couldn’t convert the opportunity to points. 

With a minute to go in the third quarter, Canton struck again to take a 35-14 lead into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs were in mid-possession as the fourth quarter started, and they kept that momentum going. With under a minute off the clock, and for the second time in the game, Holscher found Rick and Rick found the endzone. Milbank had found a way to tighten up the score again at 35-20.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the C-Hawks also knew the path to the goal line and with a bit of help from a Bulldog penalty, they pulled off another touchdown and extra -point kick to lead 42-20.  Milbank got close again on their next drive, but an interception put Canton at Milbank’s 1-yard line. A tricky place for them to be in, but Canton eventually came up with a 6-yard touchdown with just four minutes remaining in the game. The last few minutes were shaky for both sides, and the C-Hawks held on to take the win at 49-20.

MIlbank accrued 271 yards – 164 passing and 107 rushing. Canton got a total of 497 yards  –146 passing and 351 rushing. Milbank claimed 14 first downs and Canton 21. They were each slapped with seven penalties, but Milbank’s added up to -94 yards and their opponent’s came to -34 yards.

Aiden Schrempp led the C-Hawks with 119 yards rushing and three TDs. Keyvin Strand made four tackles and one assisted with one for a loss. Ryder Thompson had two receptions for 20 yards.

For the Bulldogs, Holscher completed 11 of 29 for 129 yards with two touchdowns. Rick completed one of two for 35 yards with one touchdown. Hunt led theBulldogs in rushing with 94 yards. Rick had eight yards, and Kale Wenzl had five yards. 

Rick led the Bulldogs with seven receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Grabow caught two receptions for 45 yards, Hunt had one reception for 35 yards and a touchdown. M. Allen had one for 27 yards. Kaleb Lindstrom had one reception for four yards.

Hunt had two kickoff returns for an average of 24 yards each. Max Scoular also had two for an average of 19 yards apiece, and Rick had two that average 16 yards each. Pederson completed two PATs, He also kicked off four times for 142 yards – his longest at 49 yards. He also punted five times for an average of 36 yards.