Pressure by the Quarrier defensive line forced the Panther quarterback to scramble and throw on the run, and Chase Jones stepped in front of the receiver to intercept the pass and stop a late Panther drive. That interception proved to be key in securing a 22-18 win by the Quarriers against Dakota Valley on Thursday, October 20th.
The Panthers took advantage of an early turnover by the Quarriers and scored the first touchdown of the game on an eight-yard pass. The extra point was no good, and the Panthers led 6-0. Dell Rapids responded on their next drive when Sutton Williams scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 2:38 to play in the quarter. Their extra point was also no good, and the game was tied 6-6. The score remained 6-6 at the end of the quarter.
Dell Rapids got the only score in the second quarter. Jack Henry threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brayden Pankonen as time expired on the half. Mason Stubbe scored the two-point conversion for a 14-6 lead after the first half of play.
Mason Stubbe found the end zone for a two-yard touchdown run with 4:30 to play in the third quarter. Henry scored the two-point conversion, and the Quarriers led 22-6. Dakota Valley responded moments later with a 56-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was stopped, and Dell Rapids continued to lead 22-12 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers found the end zone again with 7:20 to go in the game on a five-yard pass. The extra point was no good, and the score remained in favor of Dell Rapids 22-18. Dakota Valley was able to force the Quarriers to punt on their next drive. Then on a second down play, the Panthers completed a big pass play to put the ball on the Quarrier 33-yard line, but on the very next play, Jones intercepted a pass to give Dell Rapids the ball back. The Quarriers were not able to completely run the clock to 0:00, but on their punt attempt, a penalty on the Panthers gave the Quarriers a first down, which helped them to run the clock down for the win.
Henry finished 7-14 passing for 97 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Pankonen had three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Camden Justice had a catch for 16 yards. Stubbe and Tad Tjaden each had a catch for 15 yards. Braden Fersdahl had a catch for 10 yards. Stubbe also added 20 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown. Henry had 11 carries for 62 yards. Pankonen finished with 10 carries for 41 yards, and Williams had nine carries for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Will Jaton had 5.5 tackles. Fersdahl finished with four tackles. Henry and Stubbe both had 3.5 tackles. Aiden Geraets finished with three tackles, and Jones had two tackles and an interception.
Dell Rapids finishes the regular season with a 9-0 record and #1 seed in the 11A playoffs. The Quarriers will host Lennox on Thursday, October 27th.
