The Dell Rapids Quarriers will be making their third straight trip to the Dakota Dome in Vermillion for the class 11A Championship football game. Dell Rapids defeated Hot Springs in the semi-final game 49-25 on Saturday, November 3rd, in Dell Rapids. The Quarriers got off to another quick start by scoring 1:17 into the game. Matt Kolbeck completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Koch. Riley Schmidt found the endzone for the first of four times with 5:58 to go in the first quarter on a six yard touchdown run to give Dell Rapids a 14-0 lead. Kolbeck would throw another touchdown pass in the second quarter, this time to Lane LeBrun for 12 yards to give Dell Rapids a 20-0 lead. Hot Springs would get on the board with 8:02 to go in the second quarter on a Grady Egly 52-yard fumble recovery and return for a touchdown to cut the lead to 20-7. But Dell Rapids would put up four more scores before halftime on a Michael McGee 58-yard run, a Schmidt 11-yard run, a safety by Connor Van Duyn, and a 75-yard kickoff return by Schmidt to give the Quarriers a 43-7 halftime lead.
Hot Springs would score the only touchdown in the third quarter with 2:24 to go on a 1-yard run by Justin Harkness. Schmidt would find the endzone one more time in the fourth quarter on a 57-yard touchdown run to extend the lead 49-13. The Bison would score two times in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by J. Harkness and a 5-yard touchdown pass from J. Harkness to Eriq Swiftwater to make the final score 49-25.
The Quarriers finished the game with 460 yards of total offense, 260 rushing and 180 yards passing. The Bison were held just 173 yards of total offense. Schmidt had five carries for 88 yards and three touchdowns. McGee had five carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. Cole Langer finished with six carries for 57 yards, and L. LeBrun had five carries for 33 yards. Kolbeck was 3-5 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Koch had three catches for 168 yards and a touchdown. L. LeBrun had a touchdown catch. Tyler Gee led the defense with eight tackles in the game. Langer had 4.5 tackles, and Phillip Schwebach added 3.5 tackles. Schmidt had an interception in the game. Zach White and Jackson Entringer both had a fumble recovery.
Dell Rapids will take on Harrisburg in the 11A Championship game on Friday, November 9th, at 7:30 p.m. in Vermillion.
Highlight Video:
Postgame Interview: