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 [player_tooltip player_id="161258" first="Tyree" last="Shorter"] picked off a [player_tooltip player_id="56545" first="Taylen" last="Ashley"] pass. Sioux Falls Lincoln then had an interception of their own as a [player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] pass fell off the hands of his receivers and into the hands of
[player_tooltip player_id="174166" first="Dawson" last="Sechser"]. After punting back to the Patriots, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] found senior wide receiver
[player_tooltip player_id="151261" first="Gavin" last="Brison"] to control the momentum in favor of the Patriots to win the first quarter, 14-0.
The Patriots Stuffed the Run
[player_tooltip player_id="56545" first="Taylen" last="Ashley"] 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
[player_tooltip player_id="151169" first="Jackson" last="Geerts"],
[player_tooltip player_id="56578" first="Gabe" last="Gutierrez"],
[player_tooltip player_id="161244" first="KJ" last="Redd"], 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 [player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] and 223 rushing yards with the bulk of the rushing attacking coming from
[player_tooltip player_id="56578" first="Gabe" last="Gutierrez"],
[player_tooltip player_id="56478" first="Angel" last="Jurshge"] (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
[player_tooltip player_id="174166" first="Dawson" last="Sechser"] (2024) to force a Patriots fumble and linebacker
[player_tooltip player_id="101183" first="Tayten" last="Sanow"] (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
[player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] (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
[player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] found wide receiver
[player_tooltip player_id="151261" first="Gavin" last="Brison"] (2022) for a short touchdown.
Sioux Falls Lincoln 14, Sioux Falls Jefferson 0.
2nd Quarter
JEFFERSON- It was sophomore linebacker
[player_tooltip player_id="174166" first="Dawson" last="Sechser"] who knocked the ball loose in which
[player_tooltip player_id="101183" first="Tayten" last="Sanow"] 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- [player_tooltip player_id="174189" first="Tate" last="Schafer"] 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,
[player_tooltip player_id="101181" first="Griffin" last="Wilde"] (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
[player_tooltip player_id="56478" first="Angel" last="Jurshge"] 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
[player_tooltip player_id="56478" first="Angel" last="Jurshge"] 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
[player_tooltip player_id="56545" first="Taylen" last="Ashley"] with passes to
Robert Hutchinson (2023) (2 rec for 11),
[player_tooltip player_id="101181" first="Griffin" last="Wilde"] (2 rec for 26), and
London Kolb (2023) (1 rec for 13). With the ball on the two-yard line, Ashley found [player_tooltip player_id="101181" first="Griffin" last="Wilde"] 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
[player_tooltip player_id="56578" first="Gabe" last="Gutierrez"] 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.
| #5 Sioux Falls Jefferson |
0 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
18 |
| #3 Sioux Falls Lincoln |
14 |
0 |
17 |
7 |
38 |
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
