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Simplified: Brandon Valley beat Harrisburg for the Great American Rivalry game this weekend after dominating the second half of the game. Meanwhile, Jefferson kept its No. 1 spot and taught Omaha Westview which state is superior.
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Friday’s game between Class 11AAA No. 2 Brandon Valley and No. 3 Harrisburg had more on the line than just playoff repercussions.
The two Metro Conference teams bordering Sioux Falls play annually in the Great American Rivalry Series, sponsored by the Army National Guard. One rivalry game in every state is highlighted by the National Guard each year.
On Friday, the Lynx used a big second half to defeat Harrisburg 38-12 for their third straight win in the series.
Brandon Valley led 14-12 at halftime before exploding in the second half, fueled in part by a pair of bad Harrisburg punts and a Tigers turnover.
The Lynx extended the lead to 21-12 midway through the third period on a 10-yard pass from Jack VanLeur to Kuper Irey. The drive was five plays, set up by a 16-yard punt from Harrisburg.
On the Tigers’ first play on their next possession, Brandon Valley’s Anneyso Ahmed forced a fumble on Harrisburg’s David Doe. The Lynx recovered and were in business on the Harrisburg 26-yard line. One play later, Jack Blomgren scored on a run where he ran patiently behind his lead blocker – VanLeur – to make it 28-12.
In a blink, Brandon Valley opened a two-score game.
“It’s hard to stay that patient,” Blomgren said about running at half-speed, waiting for the block to develop behind VanLeur. “That corner just kind of bounced back-and-forth. If I would've picked a direction, I don’t think I would have scored. Will did a great job of getting up field.”
On Harrisburg’s next possession, it was another drive that stalled, resulting in another bad punt, this time just 20 yards. Again, one play later, the Lynx scored to make it 35-12 on a Jake Halseth 57-yard run. Halseth also had an interception on defense and was named the game’s MVP by the National Guard.
Braydon Condon added a 38-yard field goal to cap the scoring.
“We flipped the takeaway margin in a hurry,” Brandon Valley head coach Matt Christensen said. “That’s our winning formula: not giving the ball away, finishing drives, and the momentum rolls. That helps us. That’s everything.”
Despite the loss, Harrisburg was 3-for-3 on 4th down conversions, something Christensen said the Lynx will have to improve upon down the stretch.
“It does,” he said when asked if it’s something that concerns him. “We got it figured out where we made an adjustment that wasn’t smart. We weren’t as clear and concise as we needed to be, and that hurt.”
What about other local teams?
Oma-who?? Jefferson wins again: Class 11AAA No. 1 SF Jefferson 62, Omaha Westview 25
In the first year of the Sioux Falls metro vs. Omaha metro series, South Dakota’s top team had little problem with Omaha Westview on Friday at Howard Wood Field.
Jefferson quarterback Cason Mediger was 19-for-24 for 240 yards and three touchdown passes, two to Matnel Jensen and one to Jase Unzen.
Boston Bryant ran for 106 yards on seven carries with a touchdown to lead the Jefferson ground game. Devonte Wilson added two rushing touchdowns and Anthony Patron added another.
Jefferson, 6-0, led 28-0 midway through the second quarter and were never threatened.
Another night for the Knights: Class 11AAA No. 4 O’Gorman 35, SF Washington 13
Brady Majeres rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns as the fourth-ranked Knights won their third straight.
O’Gorman quarterback Chace Hermanson threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
The Knights, 4-2, led 35-6 in the fourth quarter before Washington’s Luis Vazquez hit Bronson Schramm for a 46 yard score to cut it to 35-13. Vazquez finished 18-for-35 for 196 yards but was picked off twice, once by Gavin Boyle and the other by Rylan Cody. Vazquez also led the Warriors, 1-5, in rushing with 50 yards on nine carries.
Charging right along: Class 11A No. 1 SF Christian 27, No. 4 Madison 7
The Chargers improved to 6-0 on the season, another win over a ranked team. SFC has now beaten a ranked Class 11A team four times in six games.
Quarterback Cooper Strande was 13-for-22 passing for 185 yards and one touchdown pass. Jude Prins scored twice, once on the ground coupled with the TD strike from Strande.
Sophomore running back Trey Meehan led the Chargers on the ground with 66 yards on 15 carries.
Huron your own, kids: Class 11AA No. 1 Pierre 45, Huron 14
Pierre head coach Steve Steele picked up his 100th career victory for the Governors, 6-0. Jerren Deal threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another. Carter Schiefelbein scored twice on TD passes from Deal.
No tea spilled: Class 11AA No. 2 Tea Area 42, Brookings 25
The second-ranked Titans improved to 5-1 on the season, their best start to a season since they went 7-0 in 2022.
Quarterback Mitch Grant threw three touchdown passes, one each to Lucas Randall, Lane Sieber, and Grant McKnelly. The Titans also got three rushing touchdowns, one each from Grant, Beau Werdel and Henry Fortin. Werdel led the rushing attack with 63 yards on 13 carries.
Grant finished 9-of-15 for 174 yards passing.
Class 11B No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson 36, Sioux Valley 20
Brody VanRoekel rushed for 169 yards on seven carries and scored three times on the ground to lead EPJ, 6-0. Aiden Hammitt rushed for 92 yards on nine carries for the Huskies, and Luke Swatek had one rushing touchdown.
Class 9AA No. 1 Parkston 50, Bon Homme 20
Mason Jervik scored two rushing touchdowns and rushed for 91 yards on 10 carries for Parkston, 6-0. Bryce Bruening also had two rushing touchdowns and 58 yards on the ground. Sean Deckert and Joaquin Rodriguez also added rushing touchdowns for the Trojans.
Scores and rankings from around the state:
Tom A. Savage
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