The Vermillion Tanagers pulled off an upset over the Dell Rapids Quarriers in Dell Rapids on Friday, October 1st. The Tanagers took the lead on the last play of the first quarter and held on for a 33-28 victory.
Dell Rapids struck first when Will Jaton intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown from 17 yards away with 9:10 to play in the opening quarter. Vermillion fumbled the ball away on their next possession. The Quarriers were unable to capitalize on the second turnover, and that’s about when the momentum shifted to Vermillion.
The Tanagers tied the game, 7-7, after a one yard touchdown run with 2:22 to go in the first quarter. After a Dell Rapids punt, Vermillion scored on an 85-yard touchdown pass as time expired on the first quarter giving the Tanagers a 14-7 lead. The Quarries tied the game with 2:00 left in the second half when Austin Henry connected with Landon Ruesink for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Vermillion, however, scored again with :13 to go in the half on a 50-yard pass. The extra point was no good, and the Tangers led 20-14 at halftime.
Dell Rapids took the kickoff to start the second half, but fumbled on the first offensive play of the third quarter. The Tanagers turned that into another touchdown and led 26-14 with 11:28 to play in the third quarter. The Vermillion defense got the ball back on a turnover on downs and then scored again with 6:01 remaining in the quarter for a 33-14 lead.
The Quarriers put together a fourth-quarter rally. Henry and Ruesink connected on a 17-yard touchdown with 11:40 to play in the game. The two-point conversion was good, and Dell Rapids cut the lead to 33-22. The Dell Rapids defense forced a punt, and on the next drive the Quarriers scored again. Henry and Ruesink completed their third touchdown pass, this time from 25 yards away. Dell Rapids cut the lead to 33-28, after the failed two-point conversion, with 5:26 to go.
Dell Rapid’s defense got one more stop, a turnover on downs with 2:01 to play. The Quarriers drove the ball to the Vermillion 35-yard line. With final seconds ticking off the clock and facing fourth down, Henry threw a pass to the back corner of the end zone for Aiden Boechler, but the pass fell incomplete. Vermillion was able to take a knee to run the final second off the clock for the win.
Dell Rapids finished with 359 yards of total offense, 114 rushing yards and 245 passing yards. Vermillion had 411 yards of offense, 266 rushing yards and 145 passing yards. The Quarriers were 7-14 on third down attempts, and 1-4 on fourth down.
Sutton Williams had five carries for 40 yards. Henry had 14 carries for 38 yards, and Ruesink had 13 carries for 30 yards. Henry was 13-24 passing for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Ruesink had seven catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Braden Fersdahl had three catches 59 yards.
Mason Stubbe led the defense with 10 tackles in the game. Ian Mason had eight tackles. Jaton finished with seven tackles and an interception. Aiden Geraets added six tackles.