In a big game for both teams, the Dell Rapids Quarriers ran past the Milbank Area Bulldogs 41-12 on a cool, damp night on Friday, October 5th in Milbank. Both teams entered the game with a 3-3 record hoping to hold onto playoff spots.
The strategy to run the ball was evident by both teams early in the game. Each team only had one drive for the majority of the first quarter. After the Quarrier defense stopped Milbank’s drive after just under five minutes, the Dell Rapids offense held the ball for about five minutes and scored on a three-yard run by Nick Boever with 2:05 to play in the quarter to take an early 7-0 lead.
Boever would find the endzone again in the second quarter after a hard, 31-yard run in which he broke many tackles for the touchdown. The extra point was no good, and the Quarriers led 13-0 with 5:55 to play in the second quarter. Dell Rapids forced a Bulldog punt, and Logan Ellingson returned the punt 75 yards for a touchdown with 2:50 to go to give Dell Rapids a 21-0 lead. Milbank was able to break through with under a minute to play on a 32-yard pass play on fourth down to make the score 21-6 going into halftime.
The Dell Rapids ground attack got going again in the third quarter. Alex Kringen had two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter. The first one was for three yards with 9:37 to go in the quarter. The second touchdown game with 4:12 on the clock for 42 yards to extend the Quarrier lead to 34-6. Milbank scored about halfway through the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 34-12, but Trystan Stahl scored the final touchdown of the game on a five-yard run.
Eddie Price was 2-4 passing for 48 yards. Tayte Gleason had a catch for 36 yards, and Tyler Wood had a catch for 18 yards. Boever finished with nine carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Price had six carries for 60 yards. Kringen had two carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Coby Maeschen led the team with 11 tackles on the night. Logan Stone and Kringen each had six tackles. Boever had five tackles, and Hunter Garry had four tackles.
Dell Rapids (4-3) will be on the road again on Friday, October 12th. The Quarriers travel to Flandreau to play the Fliers. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.