The Madison Bulldogs erased an 18-6 deficit to beat the Dell Rapids Quarriers 36-33 on Friday, August 29th, in the first football game of the year. Dell Rapids scored on their very first drive of the ball game as Jase Nelson threw at 20-yeard touchdown pass to Beau Carpenter with 8:35 to go in the first quarter. The Quarriers extended their lead to 12-0 after a 13-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Tanner Ljunggren with 1:24 left in the quarter. Madison cut the lead to 12-6 after a 40-yard touchdown run by Mitch Hansen with :55 left in the first. Dell Rapids would add one more score in the first quarter as Nelson connected with Ljunggren for a 75-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first quarter for an 18-6 lead.
The Bulldogs scored the only two touchdowns in the second quarter. With 8:16 left in the first half, Brodie Frederiksen scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the lead down to 18-13. Isaac Shubert gave Madison their first lead of the game with 4:46 left in the half on a 2-yard touchdown run. Madison held a 19-18 halftime lead.
Dell Rapids regained the lead early in the third quarter. Casey Gleason blocked a Madison punt with 9:10 left in third quarter, and on the very next play, Keegan Hemenway put the Quarriers back in front with a 7-yard touchdown run at 26-19. Madison would tie the game up at 26-26 after a 43-yard touchdown pass from Hansen to Carter Kasuske with 6:27 left to play in the third quarter. After a Dell Rapids turnover, Mason Leighton scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to give Madison the lead back at 33-26. The Bulldogs added to their lead with 7:09 left in the game on a 27-yard field goal by Brayden Gilbert. Dell Rapids was able to cut the lead to 36-33 after a 5-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Riley Schmidt, but the Quarriers were unable to recover the onside kick, and Madison hung on for the win.
Dell Rapids (0-1) will travel to Tea for their next game on Friday, September 12th.