Defensive battle between Dell Rapids and West Central.

The 11A Championship game was a defensive chess match between two evenly matched teams. Both teams exchanged their fair share of possessions throughout the First Quarter with Dells striking first on a short field situation. Turnovers were playing killer the rest of the first half until Dells broke through again after Intercepting a Trojan pass and capitalizing on another short field. Dells would score twice more in the 4th Quarter separated by a Trojan score for the final scores of the game. Here are the standouts from both teams:   Final Score: Dell Rapids 24, West Central 7   Dell Rapids   QB- #16 [player_tooltip player_id='294169' first='Jack' last='Henry'] was the spark to the Quarrier offense. After getting into the flow of the game, he was moving the ball pretty well. He threw a good ball with a nice spiral when he had to pass the ball, can squeeze the ball into some tight windows. He really ran the ball well in the read option and the play action game. He had a lot of breakaway speed when he pulled the ball and ran for it, leading to a couple scores for the offense. He kept calm in the pocket and went through his reads well. He could also scramble and extend plays and throw a good ball on the run.   RB/LB- #34 [player_tooltip player_id='294170' first='Mason' last='Stubbe'] was the rock of the offense in the run game. He would break off good chunks of yards by lowering his pads and running through tackles to keep the offense in manageable spots. He has good balance with his power and was able to run through arm tackles and keep moving forward. He had the sneaky speed to escape tackles and rip off a big run. Another persistent back that would take small gains before breaking a big one. Defensively, he held a run heavy team in check. Another heat-seeking missile that found the ball where ever it ended up. His run fill was quick and effective every time, he got good pass drops to slow the QB's reads and disrupted the play. He was another sure-handed tackler that found his way to the football to stop the offense.   WR/DB- #6 Brayden Pankonen was the playmaker for the offense. He was the guy getting the ball on third downs and late in the game to seal it. Playing mostly as a wing back in their offense, he took his perimeter runs and took it for a big gain each time. He really helped open the offense up too when he got the defense focusing on him. He could also run routes out of his position and make some plays through the air as well. Primarily a small-ball scheme he could take the short passes and turn them into a big play. Also had the leaping ability to go up and high-point a ball as well. Defensively, he was the guy to take a receiver away from the offense for most of the game. His speed and leaping ability helped him run with his guy and make plays on the football, he was also a good open-field tackler.   TE/LB- #13 [player_tooltip player_id='294167' first='Aiden' last='Geraets'] stepped up and became that difference maker on defense. While they focused on staying away from Stubbe, Geraets stepped in and made the tackles that came his way. He filled his gap perfectly, broke down and made the physical tackles in around the line of scrimmage. He read the flow of the offense perfectly and put himself in position to make the play before it could get going. He also played well in coverage and guarded his zone and man perfectly to take away the passing downs.   DB- #12 [player_tooltip player_id='161260' first='Chase' last='Jones'] became the wildcard in the game. Defensively, he was flying around and making tackles around the line of scrimmage. By taking away the run game, that made it easier for the defense and him to see when a pass was coming so they could defend that easier. He stepped up in pass coverage as well, playing his position and reading the QB and making the play on the ball. He also played his 'last line of defense' role in a big way, he made many tackles that kept the big play from happening. He had one of the INT's that led to a short field and another score.   West Central   QB/LB- #6 [player_tooltip player_id='101148' first='Justin' last='Zirpel'] played his heart out in this game, he made as many plays ad he possibly could. All the experience he's had in the last two seasons were on full display in this game. His decision making was quick and effective, both on passing the ball and running the ball. He remained calm the whole game despite the pressure in his face and trailing most of the game. He throws a good ball with a nice spiral to fit the ball in some tight windows and leading his receivers. You could tell how much he wanted this game by the way he finished his runs and falling forward every play. Defensively, he was flying around and making tackles, both in the pile and out on the perimeter, he was just playing on a different level you always want to see out of a team leader. If you are wondering just how much of a leader he is, at the end of the game he led both teams in a prayer.   RB/LB- #11 Dalton Mulder was a kid that really came up out of nowhere in this game. It took me a few quarters to figure out what his position was on defense. He was so quick in getting to the ball, either from the traditional LB spot, walking up around the line of scrimmage, or dropping back in coverage. The kid just made plays where ever he was at, making tackles, taking out blockers, or defending the pass. If there was an open gap for the RB, he was there too. He broke down and got himself in a good position to make the tackle no matter who the ballcarrier was, he sized them up perfectly.   LB- #8 Chet Carda was the clean-up guy on defense. If Mulder wasn't making the play, Carda was. He was another guy that seemed to roam around on the defense and switch his alignment each play. Again whatever he was doing, he was doing it well. He attacked the football when the ballcarrier was held up in a pile. He would come in and lay a hit as well when the opportunity presented itself. He was good in pass coverage to take away his target to limit the options for the offense. He was a good tackler on the perimeter but could bare down in the pile as well.   WR/DB- #25 Dylan Stromer was a good wildcard to spark the offense from outside the tackles. Whether he was catching screens or taking the jet sweeps, he was going to make a play for the offense, His speed could get him into space quickly, and if no one could slow him down, he was taking it to the house. Defensively, he sat back and did not give up the big play. He did his job and made the plays that came to him. He broke on passes well to play the ball or the receiver. He did the most important thing as a DB, make the tackle.   DL- #23 [player_tooltip player_id='161302' first='Owen' last='Heath'] made many plays, every one that came to him. The offense tried to stay away from him most of the night, hoping to lull him to sleep. He never did, he played every play with a lot of intensity and did his job every play. He kept his pads at a good level and held his contain and made the plays that ran his way. On passing downs, he put pressure on the QB, resulting in a couple sacks. He took the angles to contain the QB and making him step up and into the rest of the defense, if he tried to escape, Heath was bringing him down.

The 11A Championship game was a defensive chess match between two evenly matched teams. Both teams exchanged their fair share of possessions throughout the First Quarter with Dells striking first on a short field situation. Turnovers were playing killer the rest of the first half until Dells broke through again after Intercepting a Trojan pass and capitalizing on another short field. Dells would score twice more in the 4th Quarter separated by a Trojan score for the final scores of the game. Here are the standouts from both teams: