BOX ELDER, S.D — The Sturgis Scoopers used two big plays and stingy defense to earn their first win of the season over the Douglas Patriots, 14-6.
Both teams traded possessions throughout the first quarter but neither team could get into the red zone. The game was scoreless after the first quarter.
Douglas put together a 10 play, 51-yard drive at the beginning of the second quarter behind the solid running of senior quarterback David Severson and running back Tyler Clark. The drive ended at the Sturgis 19-yard line when Severson coughed up the football and it was recovered by the Scoopers.
Sturgis quarterback Kaden Phillips, making his first start of the season as the signal caller, found tight end Sanden Graham with a perfectly placed pass down the right sideline on the next play. Graham caught the ball, shook off the defender and took the ball 81-yards for a Scooper touchdown. Brodie Eisenbraun’s extra point kick was good and Sturgis led 7-0 with 10:56 left before half.
The Patriots put together another nice drive a few possessions later, moving the ball from their 15-yard line out to the 38-yard line. Severson broke off a nice run on the next play but the Scooper defense stripped the ball which bounced right into the hands of teammate Clark, who rumbled 45 yards for a Douglas touchdown. The extra point was no good and Sturgis led 7-6 with 4:09 left in the first half.
Just over a minute later, Phillips found Kaden Nelson on a short pass and the Patriot defense closed quickly, but the senior running back juked and jived his way 83-yards down the right sideline for a Scooper touchdown. Eisenbraun’s kick was good and Sturgis led Douglas 14-6.
Douglas used a 14 play, 75-yard drive to move the ball to the Sturgis four yard line late in the third quarter. The Patriot offense was threatening to score but the Scooper defense came up big, holding the Patriot offense on fourth and goal and took possession as the third quarter came to a close.
Douglas again drove the ball to the Sturgis 11-yard line midway through the fourth but the Scooper defense stopped Severson again and took over on downs. Douglas had one last chance with three minutes left but Sturgis linebacker Wren Jacobs intercepted a Severson pass to seal the Scooper win.
Sturgis finished the game with 240 total yards of offense. The Scoopers had 25 carries for 49 yards and Phillips threw seven completions on 14 attempts for 191 yards and two scores. Jacobs finished the night with seven carries for 24 yards. Graham, the Sturgis Subs-Kwik Mart Player of the Game, caught four passes for 97 yards and had one touchdown. Sturgis had one turnover and nine penalties for 70 yards.
Douglas produced 306 yards of total offense with 48 carries for 292 yards rushing. Severson had 26 carries for 160 yards and completed one pass for 14 yards. The Patriots had five penalties for 55 yards and four turnovers.
Sturgis, 1-3, hosts Huron on Friday, Sept. 25 at Woodle Field. Douglas falls to 1-3 and plays Brookings at home next week.
