A sack with fumble recovery late in the game triggered a game-winning drive by the Tri-Valley Mustangs on Friday, October 15th in Vermillion. Mason Hendrixson got a sack with fumble and recovery with 5:47 to go in a tie game. The Mustangs then drove 79 yards down the field in nine plays, and Owen Besmer scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak with :24 to go to give Tri-Valley a 20-13 win over the Tanagers.
The Mustangs scored first in the opening quarter. Besmer scored on a one-yard run with 6:02 to go. The extra point was no good. The score remained 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. Vermillion tied the game in the second quarter with 7:33 to go. Their extra point attempt was also no good. The game was tied 6-6 at halftime.
Despite kicking off to start the third quarter, the Tanagers scored in the first few seconds. The kickoff bounced strait into the air at about the Mustang three yard line instead of rolling into the endzone for a touchback. The Mustangs had to try to scramble to recover the ball, but Vermillion recovered the fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Tanagers lead 13-7.
Isaac McFarland scored on the very first play of the fourth quarter on a nine yard run. Reese Smith made the extra point, and the game was tied 13-13 with 11:53 to play. The score remained tied until the game-winning drive by the Mustangs.
Besmer had 24 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns. I. McFarland finished with 10 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Siemonsma also had five carries for 27 yards. Besmer was also 2-8 passing. I. McFarland had 11 tackles. Siemonsma had 10 tackles. Isaac Nehlich finished with seven tackles, Brandon Havlovic had six, and Colby Carruthers had five. Eli McFarland and Lawson Loiseau both had an interception.
Tri-Valley (5-3) will host the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Thursday, October 21st in the final regular season game of the year.