The Dell Rapids Quarriers traveled to North Sioux City to play the Dakota Valley Panthers to open the 2025 football season on Friday, August 29th. The Quarriers held off the Panthers and pulled away late for a 28-7 victory.
First Half
Drake Eastman was able to score on a five-yard touchdown run with 4:00 to play in the opening quarter on the second drive for the Quarriers, which was set up by an interception by Karson Paye. The two-point conversion failed keeping the score 6-0. The Quarrier defense claimed two points before the end of the quarter. Dakota Valley was called for an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone which resulted in a Dell Rapids safety. The Quarriers led 8-0 going into the second quarter.
Dell Rapids was forced to punt early in the second quarter. The result of the punt put the Panthers on their own 10-yard line. On the first offensive play of that drive for Dakota Valley, Eastman made a leaping interception at the line of scrimmage and returned the ball 10 years for a touchdown. That defensive score gave the Quarriers a 14-0 lead. The score remained 14-0 going into halftime.
Second Half
Dakota Valley got on the board with a 28-yard touchdown run with :18 to play in the third quarter. A made extra point cut the lead to 14-7. Connor Jones put the Quarriers in a great scoring position after a big run. They would take advantage as Kenny Swanson scored on a one-yard run to make the score 20-7. Ryan Stubbe put the game away for Dell Rapids with a four-yard touchdown run with 4:12 to go in the game. A made two-point conversion extended the lead to 28-7.
Final Stats
Dell Rapids finished the game with 218 yards of total offense, all of them on the ground. Dakota Valley had 153 yards of total offense, 120 rushing yards and 33 passing yards. The Quarriers were 4-10 on third down, while Dakota Valley was 3-9. The Quarrier defense also recorded four interceptions.
Jones finished with 11 carries for 106 yards. Stubbe had 19 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown. Swanson added six carries for 16 yards and a touchdown, and Stubbe had one carry for five yards and a touchdown. Swanson had 5.5 tackles on defense with a sack. Jace Brende had five tackles and two sacks. Eastman also had five tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and a defensive touchdown. Jackson Peppel added four tackles. Carson Maeschen and Paye each had an interception.
