If the 2023 Dell Rapids Quarrier football season was summed up into one word, that word would be dominant. The Dell Rapids Quarriers finished their second perfect 12-0 season in a row and took their second straight 11A title after a 42-6 win over the West Central Trojans at the Dakota Dome on Friday, November 10th.
The Quarriers, much like they did most of the season, started the game on offense and scored right away. Dell Rapids opened the game with a 69-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Mason Stubbe. Stubbe also made the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead. After a Trojan punt, Dell Rapids scored on their second drive when Jack Henry connected with Stubbe on a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving Dell Rapids a 14-0 lead. West Central fumbled on their very next offensive play, which was recovered by Will Ronshaugen. On the very next play, Henry threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Tad Tjaden. Dell Rapids led 20-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Henry threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Cole Ruesink, a seven-yard pass, in the second quarter. That touchdown completed a 12-play, 69-yard drive, and with 5:10 to play in the half, Dell Rapids led 26-0. The Quarriers got one more score on the board before halftime. Henry connected with Tjaden again, this time on a seven-yard pass. Stubbe made the two point conversion, and the Quarriers led 34-0 at halftime.
West Central received the ball to start the second half. They had a six-play, 17-yard drive going until a pass was intercepted by Ronshaugen. Dell Rapids capitalized on the turnover. Henry threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game to Sutton Williams for 35-yards with 9:19 left in third quarter. Another two-conversion scored by Stubbe put Dell Rapids in front 42-0. The score remained 42-0 at the end of the third quarter. The Trojans scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run.
Dell Rapids finished with 364 yards of total offense, 220 rushing yards and 144 passing yards. West Central had 200 yards of offense, 184 rushing yards and 16 passing yards. The Quarriers had 20 first downs, were 5-8 on third down attempts, 1-1 on fourth down attempts, and had four touchdowns in the red zone.
Stubbe finished with 21 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. Ruesink had eight carries for 85 yards. Henry finished 9-13 passing for 144 yards and five touchdowns. Tjaden had three catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Ruesink had three catches for 24 yards and a touchdown. Williams added two catches for 48 yards and a score. Stubbe had a touchdown catch for 14 yards.
Aiden Geraets finished with 11 tackles in the game. John Mortrude had 10 tackles and a forced fumble. Williams had eight tackles. Treyse Eastman added five tackles, and Henry had four tackles. Ronshaugen finished with three tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
Henry was named the Joe Robbie Most Value Player and Most Outstanding Back. Kale Evans was named the Most Outstanding Lineman.
