STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis Scoopers gave their fans a homecoming to remember with a 45-21 win over the Belle Fourche Broncs on Friday night at Woodle Field.
The Scoopers used an old fashioned ‘ground and pound’ offensive attack, relying on the legs of senior running back Konner Berndt to give Sturgis their first win of the 2021 football season.
Both teams moved the ball well in the first quarter but neither squad could push the ball across the goal line. The Scoopers got on the scoreboard first as Dominik Smith booted a 40-yard field goal through the uprights to give Sturgis a 3-0 lead at the beginning of the second quarter.
Just a few minutes later, Smith lined up for a punt and had the snap sail over his head and the ball rolled into the end zone. Smith kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a Belle Fourche two-point safety. Sturgis had to kick off deep in their own territory and the Broncs took over with good field position at their own 43. Six plays later, running back Devin Nowowiejski scored from 37-yards out to get Belle Fourche on the scoreboard again. The two-point conversion was no good and the Broncs led 8-3.
Sturgis began their next drive on their own 37-yard line after the ensuing kickoff. Berndt broke off a 53-yard run on the next play and was tackled at the Bronc 10-yard line. The Belle Fourche defense held strong near the goal line but quarterback Owen Cass used play action on third-and-four and found wide receiver Hunter Harrison with a 4-yard touchdown pass. The kick was good and the Scoopers took a 10-8 lead with 5:26 left before half.
The Broncs put together a 10-play drive on their next possession but couldn’t get any closer than the Sturgis 15-yard line. Staley split the uprights with a 32-yard field goal to give Belle Fourche a 11-10 lead at the half.
A Tyan Buus kickoff return gave the Scoopers good field position at the start of the second half at the Sturgis 49-yard line. Five plays later, Cass perfectly executed a quarterback option, running the ball in for a touchdown from 13-yards out. Smith converted the extra point and Sturgis led 17-11.
Staley kicked another Bronc field goal with 4:27 left in the third to cut the Scooper lead to 17-14. From that point, it was the Konner Berndt show at Woodle Field. Berndt ran through massive holes opened up by his offensive line and for runs of 16 and 19 yards, setting up Cass to hit Harrison again with a 7-yard pass for a Scooper touchdown with :46 seconds left in the third. The kick was good and Sturgis led 24-14.
Berndt scored from seven yards out midway through the fourth to extend the Sturgis lead to 31-14. The Scooper defense clamped down on the Broncs on their next series and Belle Fourche turned the ball over on downs. Three plays later, Cass found Harrison on the right sideline and Harrison did the rest, breaking tackles on his way downfield to a 44-yard touchdown reception. Smith’s kick was good and Sturgis led 38-14 with 6:45 left in the ball game.
But Berndt wasn’t done. The 200-lb senior running back continued his storybook night as Sturgis took over on their own 33, following a short Belle Fourche punt. Berndt took the ball off the right side of the offensive line on the next play, stiff armed a few Bronc players, cut back and sprinted 67-yards to a Scooper touchdown. The kick was good and the rout was on as Sturgis led 45-14 with 4:54 left.
The Broncs punched one more across the goal line on a 2-yard plunge by Andrew Newlander with just over two minutes left. Staley’s kick was good and Sturgis led 45-21. The Scoopers took over possession and ran out the clock, giving Sturgis their first win of the year on Homecoming night at Woodle Field. Students and parents stormed the field to celebrate with the Scooper players.
“Sometimes coaches get in the way of our players,” said Scooper head coach Chris Koletzky. “We come up with plans and schemes and sometimes the game is as simple as setting good blocks and running the football. The boys played great in all phases of the game tonight and I’m really happy for them and for our fans.”
Sturgis (1-5) finished with 561 yards of total offense. The Scoopers ran the ball 41 times for 490 yards and had five completions on 14 attempts for 71 yards passing. Berndt finished his stellar night with 24 carries for 366 yards and two touchdowns. Harrison had four catches for 65 yards and three touchdowns. The Scoopers did not have a turnover but had 10 penalties for 90 yards.
Belle Fourche (2-4) had 284 yards of offense, with 170 yards on the ground and 114 yards through the air. Nowowiejski had 27 carries for 165 yards and a touchdown. Tatin Yackley caught three balls for 62 yards for the Broncs. No turnovers for Belle Fourche and they had two penalties for 25 yards.
Sturgis is on the road next Friday, Oct. 8, as they travel to Yankton to take on the Bucks. Belle Fourche travels to Rapid City to take on St. Thomas More.
