Scoopers Trounce Broncs, Stay in Playoff Hunt

STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scooper football team, badly needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt, generated more than 500 yards of total offense and ended a three-game losing streak with an emphatic 49-14 victory over the Belle Fourche Broncs on Friday night at Woodle Field. 

The Scoopers sat in the #10 spot in seed points in the 11AA football standings coming into Friday night’s matchup, needing a win to move up into the top eight teams as the season winds down.  The victory moved the Scoopers into the #7 spot in playoff seed points.  

The Sturgis offense started slowly, going three and out on their first series and stalling at their own 21-yard line.  A short Scooper punt gave the Broncs great field position at the Sturgis 39.  Three plays later, Belle Fourche fullback Thomas McCoy rumbled in from 34 yards out to put the Broncs on the scoreboard first.  The extra point kick by Anthony Staley was good and Belle Fourche led 7-0 with just 2:29 gone in the first quarter.

The Scooper passing attack got warmed up late in the first, as the Owen Cass – Tyan Buus connection hooked up for a 40-yard touchdown strike down the right sideline.  The Sully Jost extra point was good and the game was tied at 7-7 with 3:48 left in the first quarter.

Belle Fourche starting running back Kyren Nulle was injured on the Broncs last series of the first quarter and had to be helped off the field.  Defensive end Jake Vliem pressured quarterback Nolan Wahlfeldt on the next play, forcing an intentional ground penalty, and Belle Fourche was forced to punt.  

Sturgis took over in good field position at the Bronc 42 and moved the ball to their own 48 as the quarter ended.  Belle Fourche starting fullback Thomas McCoy was hurt making the tackle and was assisted to the sideline.  On the first play of the second quarter, Cass found a sprinting Dayln Dschaak wide open down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown pass.  Jost’s kick was good and the Scoopers took a 14-7 lead.

The second quarter was all Scoopers, as they took advantage of the Bronc injuries and two turnovers to score three quick touchdowns.  Cass found slotback Reece Jacobs for touchdown passes of 22 and 12-yards, and Gunner Rohloff ran in an 11-yard touchdown to give Sturgis a 34-7 lead at the half.  

Belle Fourche struck first in the second half on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wahlfeldt to Evan Vissia with 3:12 elapsed in the third quarter.  The Scoopers answered with a two-yard touchdown run by Owan Udager to extend the Sturgis lead to 42-14 with 4:15 left in the third. 

Head coach Chris Koletzky brought in some reserves midway through the fourth quarter and sophomore quarterback Carson Williams put on a show, completing three straight passes, including a 17-yard lofting touchdown pass to the right corner of the end zone to senior wideout Cale Jolley to end the onslaught, giving Sturgis a 49-14 victory.

The Scoopers (3-4) finished with 526 yards of total offense, 205 yards on the ground on 31 carries and 321 yards through the air.  Cass was 18 of 27 passing for 260 yards and four touchdowns and Williams finished 3-for-3 passing for 61 yards and a touchdown.  Gunner Rohloff led the rushing attack with 12 carries for 108 yards and a score.  The Scoopers had two turnovers, an interception and a fumble, and six penalties for 65 yards.

Belle Fourche (3-4) rolled up 134 total yards of offense, 78 through the air and 56 on the ground.  Thomas McCoy had two carries for 35 yards and a touchdown.  Lane Longbrake had two catches for 46 yards.  The Broncs had eight penalties for 40 yards and three turnovers, all fumbles.

Sturgis is in action next week at Woodle Field as they host the winless Douglas Patriots.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.