The Tri-Valley Mustang special teams unit blocked a field goal in the closing seconds to help secure a 14-13 win over the Milbank Bulldogs on Friday, September 6th at Tri-Valley High School. Both defenses were strong the entire game.
Tri-Valley’s defense was the first to put points on the board. Brody Dybvig had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The extra point was made by Colby McAreavey to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. Milbank tied the game early in the second quarter on a six-yard touchdown pass. The score would remain 7-7 at halftime.
Neither team would score in the third quarter, but both offenses but a touchdown on the board in the fourth quarter. McAreavey had a 20-yard touchdown run and then made the extra point for a 14-7 Mustang lead. Just a few plays later, the Bulldogs scored on a 27-yard touchdown run. A missed extra point kept Tri-Valley in front 14-13.
Tri-Valley looked to take a two-score lead late in the game, but they turned the ball over on downs inside the 10 yard line. Milbank drove down the field, but was faced with a fourth down around the 10-yard line. The Bulldogs lined up for a field goal in the closing seconds, but the field goal was blocked. Tri-Valley was able to kneel on the ball to run out the clock for the win.
The Mustangs finished with 185 yards of offense, 130 rushing yards and 25 passing yards. Milbank had 272 yards of offense, 210 rushing yards and 62 passing yards. Dybvig had 13 carries for 70 yards. McAreavey had four carries for 27 yards and a touchdown. Ty Oyen was 4-16 passing for 25 yards and an interception. Parker Hemme finished with two catches for 19 yards.
Connor Carruthers had eight tackles in the game. Lawson Lodmel finished with four tackles. McAreavey and Cole Hendrixson both had 3.5 tackles each. Landyn Reiser had three tackles. Noah Eggert also had three tackles and an interception. Dybvig had two tackles, an interception, and a defensive touchdown.
