Sioux Falls Jefferson/Sioux Falls Lincoln: The Takeaways

SIOUX FALLS- We completed our weekend of scouting football across South Dakota’s East River with a big battle at Howard Field Field to close out our live efforts for the weekend. #5 Sioux Falls Jefferson faced a tough test against #3 Sioux Falls Lincoln in a battle that has big playoff implications as we close out the last two weeks of the season in 11AAA. We break it down with all of our takeaways that in the end, came down to power running and big defensive stops.

First Quarter Woes to First Quarter Whoas

This game started off with both teams swapping interceptions as the Cavaliers were able to drive down to the Lincoln 10-yard line before Sioux Falls Lincoln linebacker Tyree Shorter Tyree Shorter 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State picked off a Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State pass. Sioux Falls Lincoln then had an interception of their own as a Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD pass fell off the hands of his receivers and into the hands of Dawson Sechser Dawson Sechser 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2024 State SD . After punting back to the Patriots, quarterback Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD made his mark with solid touch on the football, found fellow sophomore wide receiver Jack Smith for a 62-yard touchdown to start the train for the Patriots. Yet again, the Patriot’s defense found a way and got another interception by Ethan Wasmund deep in Cavalier’s territory. Already in the red zone, Sioux Falls Lincoln quarterback Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD found senior wide receiver Gavin Brison Gavin Brison WR SF Linclon | 2022 State to control the momentum in favor of the Patriots to win the first quarter, 14-0.

The Patriots Stuffed the Run

Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State is the most dynamic athlete I have watched in the Dakotas, but last night the Patriots defense kept him in check. Lincoln’s front and linebacking core which includes Jackson Geerts Jackson Geerts 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL SF Lincoln | 2022 State , Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State ,  KJ Redd KJ Redd 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State , and others held Ashley to 46 rushing yards on 2.5 yards per carry as they attacked him early before he could get into their secondary. The rest of the Cavaliers logged a total of 9 yards rushing in the game, which forced the Cavaliers out of their comfort zone having to rely on more of a quick passing attack.

Well-Balanced

Of their 454 total yards, the Patriots were very balanced in their win over the Cavaliers logging 231 passing yards from Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD and 223 rushing yards with the bulk of the rushing attacking coming from Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State , Angel Jurshge Angel Jurshge 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB SF Lincoln | 2022 State (2022), and Jack Smith (2024) who accounted for 218 of those rushing yards. Big shoutout to that Patriots offensive line for creating that kind of yardage by giving their QB1 time and their rushing attack some solid gaps.

First Half Smack & Score

One of the dynamic plays to watch in the first half was when Sioux Falls Jefferson got their first touchdown of the game from their defense. It took a massive hit by linebacker Dawson Sechser Dawson Sechser 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2024 State SD (2024) to force a Patriots fumble and linebacker Tayten Sanow Tayten Sanow 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State (2023) scooped it up and took it in for six. The point after would be no good, posting a score of 14-6 at the half.

Box Score

1st Quarter

LINCOLN- Quarterback Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD (2024) goes over the top of the secondary to find RB/WR Jack Smith (2024) who sprinted 62 yards to get the scoring train rolling for the Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots. Sioux Falls Lincoln 7, Sioux Falls Jefferson 0.

LINCOLN- After collecting a Cavaliers turnover late deep in Jefferson territory quarterback Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD found wide receiver Gavin Brison Gavin Brison WR SF Linclon | 2022 State (2022) for a short touchdown. Sioux Falls Lincoln 14, Sioux Falls Jefferson 0.

2nd Quarter

JEFFERSON- It was sophomore linebacker Dawson Sechser Dawson Sechser 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2024 State SD who knocked the ball loose in which Tayten Sanow Tayten Sanow 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State  took into the endzone for a touchdown. One of my favorite plays the Cavaliers made on Saturday night defensively. Sioux Falls Lincoln 14, Sioux Falls Jefferson 6. Halftime

3rd Quarter

LINCOLN-  Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD with a 20-yard field goal for the Patriots after a few successful passes plays to Johnny Cooper (2022) and favorite 2024 target Jack Smith. Sioux Falls Lincoln 17, Sioux Falls Jefferson 6.

JEFFERSON– The top WR weapon in the Dakotas, Griffin Wilde Griffin Wilde 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State (2023) sprinted for a 99-yard kickoff return of the Patriots kickoff, giving the Cavaliers some much-needed momentum on one of his two total touchdowns on the night. Sioux Falls Lincoln 17, Sioux Falls Jefferson 12.

LINCOLN- After powering down the field, the hard-nosed running back between the tackles Angel Jurshge Angel Jurshge 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB SF Lincoln | 2022 State punched it in between his tackles from 3 yards out. Sioux Falls Lincoln 24, Sioux Falls Jefferson 12. 

LINCOLN- It was the solid rushing attack by Angel Jurshge Angel Jurshge 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB SF Lincoln | 2022 State  for the duration of this drive that set up the Patriots in the red zone as Jack Smith punched it from 4 yards out. Sioux Falls Lincoln 31, Sioux Falls Jefferson 12.

4th Quarter

JEFFERSON- This drive was the best passing drive of the night for the Cavaliers quarterback Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State with passes to Robert Hutchinson (2023) (2 rec for 11), Griffin Wilde Griffin Wilde 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State (2 rec for 26), and London Kolb (2023) (1 rec for 13). With the ball on the two-yard line, Ashley found Griffin Wilde Griffin Wilde 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State for touchdown #2 of the night. The Cavaliers went for two but were unsuccessful to London Kolb. Sioux Falls Lincoln 31, Sioux Falls Jefferson 18.

LINCOLN- It was one final drive for the Patriots offense that relied on their power rushing attack of Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State who put the icing on the cake for Sioux Falls Lincoln. Gabe was taking defenders with him on this drive and lowered his shoulder into the Cavalier’s defense throughout the drive and for the score from 6 yards out, as the fireworks started for the Patriots with little time left on the clock. Sioux Falls Lincoln 38, Sioux Falls Jefferson 18. Final Score.

Find out who made our LONG list of Big Dogs of the Game and what they did to ball out at Howard Wood Field on Saturday night in a big battle in Sioux Falls. Coming out tomorrow on PrepRedone.com/Dakotas