A strong defensive effort, timely big plays, and a missed extra point proved to be the difference for the fifth-ranked Dell Rapids Quarriers in a 14-13 win over the second-ranked Madison Bulldogs on Friday, September 13th. Dell Rapids never trailed in the game.
The Quarriers started the game on offense and promptly scored on their opening drive. After a couple of third down plays that resulted in first downs to keep the drive alive, Logan Stone scored on a 16-yard run with 5:53 to go in the quarter. The drive lasted nine plays for 76 yards. Aiden Boechler made the extra point giving Dell Rapids a 7-0 lead. The score would remain 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Madison scored early in the second quarter. Tyler Tappe connected with Jacob Unterbrunner on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 11:21 to go in the half capping an eight play, 64-yard drive. Trey Smith made the extra point to tie the game at 7-7. Dell Rapids didn’t waste any time regaining the lead. The Quarriers scored two minutes later when Colin Rentz hit Mason Goeken for with a 63-yard touchdown pass with 9:19 to play in the second quarter. Boechler again made the extra point to put the Quarriers back in front at 14-7. The quick strikes kept coming as Madison scored less then two minutes after Dell Rapids. Mason Avery scored on a 10-yard run with 7:25 to play, but this time Smith missed the extra point keeping Dell Rapids in front at 14-13. The Dell Rapids defense forced a Bulldog punt late in the second quarter giving the Quarrier offense the ball back on their own 18 yard line with :36 to play in the half. Two plays later after catches by Logan Ellingson and Tyler Wood, Dell Rapids was at the Madison 35-yard line. The drive would end in an interception, but Dell Rapids held a 14-13 lead at halftime.
The Bulldogs started the second half with the ball, and after a three minute drive to the Dell Rapids 26-yard line, the Quarrier defense held on a fourth down for a turnover on downs with 8:57 to play in the third quarter. The Quarriers’ first drive of the second half ended in a punt, and the Bulldogs got the ball back with 4:28 to go in the quarter. Madison drove the ball down the field and looked as if they were going to take the lead after a completed pass to Unterbrunner in the endzone with :26 to go, but a holding penalty negated the touchdown, and the third quarter ended with Dell Rapids still leading 14-13.
Madison’s drive continued with the first play of the fourth quarter, which was a fourth down play at the Dell Rapids 24-yard line. Again the Quarrier defense held tough and forced a turnover on downs. Dell Rapids drove the ball to the Madison 30-yard line, but were faced with a fourth down and 14 yards to go. A pass to the endzone fell incomplete, but the Bulldogs were called for a pass interference penalty to keep the Quarrier drive alive. Dell Rapids was once again faced with a fourth down, this time a completed pass to Ellingson resulted in a first down to the Bulldog three-yard line with 4:52 to play in the game. Madison was able to keep Dell Rapids out of the endzone on a fourth and goal though, and got the ball back with 3:02 to play. Madison had the ball at their own 30-yard line when Connor Rentz intercepted a Tappe pass at the Bulldog 35-yard line with 1:40 to play. The Quarriers were able to kneel out the clock for the win.
The Quarriers finished the game with 288 yards of offense, 52 rushing yards ant 236 passing yards. Dell Rapids had 15 first downs and was 5-13 on third down and 2-3 on fourth down. Madison had 341 yards of offense, 218 rushing yards and 123 passing yards. The Bulldogs were also 5-13 on third down, but 3-6 on fourth down attempts.
Colin Rentz finished 9-15 passing for 236 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Ellingson had six catches for 131 yards. Goeken had a 63-yard touchdown catch. Wood had two catches for 42 yards. Wood led the team with five rushes for 27 yards. Coby Maeschen had nine carries for 20 yards, and Stone had 15 carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Carter Rentz led the team with 11 tackles in the game. Maeschen finished the night with 10 tackles. Brayden Gee had nine tackles and a sack. Trevon Cross added seven tackles.
Dell Rapids (3-0) will travel to Mitchell for their next game on Friday, September 20th.