Dakota Valley took advantage of big special teams plays to beat the Dell Rapids Quarries 49-32 at Dell Rapids High School on Friday, August 24th. The game was the first game for both teams in the 2018 season.
After Dell Rapids had their first drive stopped, Dakota Valley blocked a Quarrier punt to set up a short field for their first drive of the game. That drive ended on a one-yard touchdown run by Sam Chesterman. Nate Rice scored a two point conversion to take an 8-0 lead. Dell Rapids rebounded in their second drive, and Eddie Price scored on a six-yard run with 4:23 to play in the first quarter. Price also scored the two-point conversion to tie the game 8-8. The scored remained 8-8 at the end of the first quarter.
The Panthers regained the lead with 7:50 to go in the first half on a 35-yard run by Rice. The extra point was good, and Dakota Valley went ahead 15-8. Dell Rapids was forced to punt in their next drive, and again the punt was blocked. This time Chayce Montagne recovered the punt and ran it into the endzone for a 33-yard touchdown return. Dakota Valley led 22-8 with 5:21 to play in the second quarter. The Quarriers responded with a score with 4:28 to go in the half. Price connected with Logan Ellingson on a 61-yard pass and then again for the two-point conversion to make the score 22-16. That’s where the first half score ended.
Dakota Valley got the ball first to start the third quarter. The Panthers scored on the drive which ended on an eight-yard touchdown run by Chesterman. The extra point was good to make the score 29-16. Dell Rapids had to punt in their opening, second-half drive, but the Quarrier defense also forced the Panthers into a punt. Dell Rapids pulled within five points after a 14-yard touchdown run by Nick Boever and a two-point conversion run by Price with 1:42 to play in the third quarter. Dakota Valley led 29-24 at the end of the quarter.
Chesterman scored his third touchdown of the game on a 10-yard run with 10:29 to play in the game. This came after Chesterman converted a fourth down run earlier in the drive. The extra point was missed, and Dakota Valley led 35-29. On the ensuing kick-off, the ball went out of bounds for an illegal procedure penalty. Dell Rapids elected to have Dakota Valley back up five yards and re-kick. Unfortunately for the Quarriers, the Panthers recovered a short kick-off to get the ball back. Dakota Valley scored about four minutes later on an 11-yard pass from Rice to Chesterman. The extra point was good and all of the sudden the Panthers led 42-24. Price was able to connect with Ellingson again on a 14-yard touchdown pass, and the two-point conversion run was good by Boever with 4:16 to go to cut the lead to 42-32. The Panthers scored a late touchdown on a 38-yard run by Rice with :20 to go in the game.
Price finished the game 5-11 passing for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Ellingson had three catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Boever had nine carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. Price had 14 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown. Coby Maeschen led the team defensively with 12 tackles. Kenyon Shellum had eight tackles. Price finished with seven tackles, and Noah Randall had six tackles.
The Quarriers (0-1) will host Vermillion on Friday, August 31st. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.