Opportunities were there, but Aberdeen Central couldn’t take advantage.
As a result, the Golden Eagles fell to Tea Area 25-7 Friday, Sept. 5 in their high school football home opener at Brownell Activities Complex.
Central is now 0-2 to begin the year.
“The score looks bad, but this game really came down to a few plays and a couple chances we didn’t convert,” said Central head coach Justin Briese. “We allow a blocked punt, a pick six, missed first down conversions. Small mistakes can lead to big things, and that was the case tonight.”
Aberdeen Central’s Evan Sichmeller breaks up a pass intended for Tea Area’s Griffin Wiebenga in the end zone right before halftime Friday, Sept. 5 at Brownell Activities Complex. Aberdeen Insider photo by Troy McQuillen.
The lone score in the first half came on Tea’s second drive of the game. The Titans began at the Central 44-yard line following a blocked punt. Quarterback Mitch Grant picked up 38 yards on second down, making it first and goal at the Eagles’ 1. Two plays later, Grant punched it in to put Tea up 7-0.
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“Defensively, especially in the first half, our guys were very solid,” Briese said. “They can make some explosive plays on offense, but in the first half I thought we made things difficult for them more often than not.”
The Golden Eagles made a huge stop in the second quarter. Tea had a first and 10 at the Central 16-yard line. Titan running back Kade Korleski was stopped just short of the goal line when the ball came loose and was recovered by Central’s Owen Ward.
“Not exactly where you want to recover the ball, near your own goal line, but a good play by Owen, and, again, our defense made Tea earn everything they got,” Briese said.
The Eagles had early opportunities on offense, but false start and holding penalties negated two first downs. Central wide receiver Karson Borge got open behind the Titan defense, but quarterback Brayden Bowman overthrew him.
Central couldn’t establish its ground game.
“(Tea’s) line and linebackers get to the ball fast. We tried to scheme our run game, but some of it took a little too long developing and we ended up with 5 rushing yards, which isn’t gonna cut it,” Briese said
The Titans extended their lead in the third quarter on a Grant keeper when, on fourth and 1, he scored from 26 yards out. Felipe Gonzalez blocked the extra point to make it 13-0.
“They run some option plays and that gave us a couple issues,” Briese said. “(Grant) is long and deceptively fast. They have a lot of speed on both sides of the ball. You try to simulate that in practice, but in the game against kids who have that type of speed it can cause some problems.”
Aberdeen Central’s Owen Ward carries the ball during the first half against Tea Area Friday, Sept. 5 at the Brownell Activities Complex. Aberdeen Insider photo by Troy McQuillen.
On offense, the Golden Eagles missed more opportunities in the second half.
Bowman hit Borge in stride on a second and 10 from their own 14 yard line, and Borge took it 63 yards to the Tea 23. But a false start pushed Central back, and on three and 16, Bowman was flushed from the pocket and his pass intended for Ridley Waldo was intercepted by Griffin Wiebenga who returned it 62 yards for the score. The extra point was again blocked again to make it 19-0 Titans.
“Brayden has done a really good job for us,” Briese said. “He’s very solid in the pocket, but he knows he has to take care of the ball. At times, he forces things trying to make plays. He’s recognizing things much better, he just needs to get rid of the ball a little quicker on those routes.”
Central scored with 3:55 left in the game when Bowman hit Carter Lust on a 10-yard slant. Lust eluded a defender and found the end zone from 25 yards out to make it 25-7.
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“Carter did a good job on the route and then the run after the catch,” Briese said. “He’s not a big guy, but he is fast and we need to get him the ball in space like we were able to on that play. He can make things happen. He ran through a couple arm tackles, which I think was huge for him and his confidence.”
Central next plays at Brookings at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.
Warner rallies from three scores down to knock off Ipswich
Trailing 22-0 in the third quarter, Warner rallied with 36 points in the second half as the Class 9A No. 2-ranked Monarchs stormed back for a 36-30 victory over Ipswich Friday, Sept. 5 in Ipswich.
Warner is now 3-0 as the Tigers dropped to 2-1 while off to a strong start and receiving votes in the 9A media poll.
“We grew up tonight,” said Warner head coach Derek Hoellein. “We’re still a young group, and we had to move guys into different positions tonight when we got down early, and the way our kids responded was unbelievable.”
The Tigers gashed the Monarchs on the ground, rushing 33 times for 258 yards. Casey Geditz gained 143 yards on 14 carries and ran for both first-half scores as Ipswich built a lead.
“You’ve got to give Ipswich credit,” Hoellein said. “Geditz and (Kyle) Hettich run hard. Hettich is a home run threat anytime he touches the ball, and Geditz is a handful to bring down. We just made enough plays defensively in the second half that allowed our offense to make some plays.”
Ipswich pushed its lead to 22-0 early in the third quarter when Hettich returned a punt for a touchdown.
One play later, the script was seemingly flipped, Hoellein said.
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“Brayden Kroll takes the ensuing kickoff down to the 4-yard line. We score two plays later, and you could feel the momentum kind of swing. We force a three and out, and Jesiah (Baum) takes the punt to the house for a touchdown, then suddenly we knew we were back in it,” Hoellein said.
Ipswich led 30-28 with 2:45 remaining in the game when Warner quarterback Chays Mansfield threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Baum, who went 44 yards for the game winner. Mansfield completed 12 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
“Again, for him to change positions to go from halfback last year to quarterback, and he never played a down under center? Just a great effort,” Hoellein said. “We knew he could throw. He was always lobbying for halfback options last year. That pass he hit Jesiah with was a dart, an absolute rope down the middle right through traffic. You can see him get more comfortable throwing the ball.”
Next up for the Monarchs is a road game at Faulkton on Friday, Sept. 12.
“Another tough game on the road,” Hoellein said. “We didn’t get off the bus in the first half tonight. We know we have to from here on out.”
Ipswich travels to Mellette to play Northwestern on Friday.
High school football roundup
- Aberdeen Roncalli ended its two-game scoreless streak, but still fell 48-26 to Deuel in Clear Lake. Cavalier quarterback Austin Fisher completed 15 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Will Haskell had 78 yards rushing and 58 yards receiving to lead Roncalli. Gavin Kloos came up huge for the Cardinals, carrying the ball 16 times for 207 yards and four touchdowns. Deuel rolled to 377 yards on offense.
- Winner outscored Groton 14-0 in the fourth quarter to claim a 36-22 victory in Groton. Zac Olson and Carter McKenzie scored the late touchdowns for the Warriors. Olson ran for three touchdowns and more than 150 yards. Groton led 22-14 in the second half, but couldn’t hang on. Asher Johnson threw for two touchdowns and 115 yards for the 1-2 Tigers.
- Hitchcock/Tulare scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and pulled away to defeat Northwestern 38-26. The Patriots rushed for 264 yards and got two touchdowns from Devin Enander.
- Stanley County 36, Leola/Frederick 30.
Friday, Sept. 12 games involving local teams
- Aberdeen Roncalli at Mobridge/Pollock, 6 p.m. in Mobridge.
- Aberdeen Central at Brookings, 7 p.m.
- Milbank at Groton, 7 p.m.
- North Central at Leola/Frederick, 7 p.m. in Leola.
- Ipswich at Northwestern, 7 p.m. in Mellette.
- Warner at Faulkton, 7 p.m.
