BOX ELDER, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers scored 30 points in the first quarter and kept their foot on the gas pedal, en route to a 40-13 victory over the Douglas Patriots. It was the regular season finale for both teams. The win, along with a little help from the Mitchell Kernels 21-20 overtime victory over the Huron Tigers, gave the Scoopers the #8 seed in the Class 11AA playoffs.
The Scoopers received the opening kickoff and brought the ball out to their own 36-yard line. Sturgis senior running back Konner Berndt picked up where he left off the last few weeks as he took the handoff on the first play of the game and rumbled 64 yards downfield for a Scooper score. Two Douglas offsides penalties moved the ball to the one-foot line and Sturgis scored on a two-point conversion to make the score 8-0 with just :16 seconds gone in the game.
The Patriots took over on their own 27 following the Sturgis kickoff. A bad snap over quarterback Peyton Dewitt’s head on Douglas’ first play of the game dropped the Patriots back to their own three-yard line. The Scooper defense held strong and forced a Douglas punt. Patriots head coach Dan Maciejczak decided to have his punter step out of the back of the end zone for an intentional safety and Sturgis led 10-0 with 9:10 left in the first.
The Scoopers took over on the Douglas 42-yard line after the Patriot kick. Owen Cass broke off a 28-yard run on the opening play of the series to move the ball to the Patriot 14. Berndt did the rest, trotting into the end zone on the next play for his second score of the game. Dom Smith’s extra point kick was good and Sturgis led 17-0 with 2:50 gone in the first quarter.
The onslaught continued after a Douglas fumble midway through the first quarter. The Scoopers took over on the Patriot 22 yard line and five plays later, Cass found Braden Temple for an eight-yard strike, extending the Sturgis lead to 23-0.
Game play was halted for about 45 minutes due to an injury to a Douglas Patriot player following the Scooper touchdown. When play resumed, Smith converted the extra point and Sturgis led 24-0. Sturgis senior defensive back Tanner Ortlieb picked off a Dewitt pass on the ensuing Patriot possession to halt the Douglas drive. Dewitt returned the favor on the next Scooper possession, swiping a Cass pass to give Douglas the ball just inside Scooper territory. Another bad snap dropped the Patriots back to their own 37 and forced a Douglas punt.
Sturgis took over on their own 36 yard line and one play later, Berndt followed his offensive line and ran through the heart of the Patriot defense for a 64-yard touchdown. Smith’s kick was off target and Sturgis led 30-0 at the end of the first quarter. Berndt finished the quarter with six carries for 144 yards and three scores.
Smith split the uprights for a 28-yard Scooper field goal with 7:32 before the half to give Sturgis a 33-0 lead. But Douglas kept fighting as sophomore quarterback Jacob Thibeau used pinpoint passing to move the Patriots 70 yards downfield in just three plays, culminating in a 29-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Tyler Dumdei. Colten Smith’s extra point kick was good and Sturgis led 33-7 at the half.
The Scoopers added to their lead in the third quarter as Cass used slight of hand to fool the Patriot defense, faking a handoff to Berndt and running untouched for a 22 yards score. Smith’s kick was good and Sturgis led 40-7.
Douglas running back Shawn Stock ended the scoring for both teams, running in a Patriot score from 34 yards out with just :19 seconds left in the fourth. The extra point was no good and the Scoopers won the contest, 40-13.
Sturgis finished the night with 392 yards of total offense, 304 yards on the ground and 88 yards passing. Berndt had another outstanding night with 15 carries for 210 yards and three scores. Ortlieb caught two balls for 26 yards. The Scoopers had six penalties for 55 yards and three turnovers.
Douglas (0-9) had 100 yards of offense with 11 yards rushing and 89 yards passing. The Pats had five turnovers and five penalties for 25 yards.
Sturgis (3-6) will travel to Tea Area to play the #1 Titans (9-0) in the first round of the Class 11AA playoffs on Thursday, Oct. 28. The entire Class 11AA bracket can be found at https://sd.varsitybound.com/sports/football/2021-22/brackets/h2021070609234300775d554d32d814e
