Bobcats beat Huron, 21-7, to close regular season

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HURON – The Bobcats ended their regular season on a high note with a 21-7 Eastern South Dakota Conference win over Huron on Thursday night.

Carter Eidem broke a scoreless tie late in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run. Justin Devine’s PAT kick made it 7-0 Brookings with 1:08 on the clock.

The Bobcats maintained that advantage into the third quarter until Jett McGirr broke off a 32-yard run to paydirt for the Tigers with 3:50 to play. Thatcher Dramstad’s PAT kick tied the game at 7-7.

Brookings answered on its next drive when Jacob Schoon connected with Cole Mahlum on a 43-yard scoring strike to put the ‘Cats back on top. Devine’s PAT made it 14-7 with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Huron muffed the ensuing kickoff and the Bobcats recovered on the Tigers’ 27-yard line.

Parker Beers rumbled in from the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter and Devine converted his third PAT for a 21-7 lead with 10:45 left in the game.

The Tigers threatened to cut into the lead on their next possession, but Isaac Oetken intercepted a McGirr pass with 7:31 on the clock and the Bobcats ran out the clock on their possession.

Eidem finished with 96 yards on 12 carries and Schoon added 78 on 13 rushes. Jay Szafryk led the defense with six tackles as Brookings improved to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the AA ESD standings.

Huron dropped to 4-5 (1-4).

Brookings earned the No. 4 seed and plays host to fifth-seeded Mitchell (4-5) in the quarterfinals on Thursday.