BROOKINGS – The final comment by Bobcat head coach Lee Schmidt in a pregame interview was that his team had to take care of the ball in Thursday’s matchup with Huron at DJD Stadium.

Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, a pair of interceptions and a fumble spelled doom as the Tigers posted a 12-0 Eastern South Dakota Conference win.

Despite the loss, Brookings remained the No. 8 seed and will travel to Pierre in Thursday’s first round of the Class 11AA playoffs as the Bobcats dropped to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the ESD.

It wasn’t as if Huron played flawless football as the Tigers fumbled once and threw a pair of INTs, as well, but the visitors capitalized on the ‘Cats’ first turnover to score their first touchdown.

A muffed punt recovered by Huron at the Bobcat 9-yard line early in the second quarter set up a Tiger touchdown.

After a Chipper Shillingstad two-yard gain, Jett McGirr found Will Gross in the end zone on second down for a 7-yard touchdown toss, but the missed extra-point kick left it at 6-0 with 10:44 left in the half.

Parker Beers ran back the second-half kickoff to the 33 and it looked as if the Bobcats were in business as they picked up two quick first downs, which included a 32-yard scamper by Justin Devine to Huron’s 23-yard line.

Another 7-yard run by Devine set up a second-and-three at the 16, but Shillingstad intercepted Jacob Schoon’s pass attempt right at the goal line and returned the ball seven yards.

Late in the third quarter, Huron had a first down at the Bobcat 25-yard line, but Jacob Engen intercepted a McGirr pass attempt at the 12 and ran it back to the original line of scrimmage.

The Bobcats looked to have a chance to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter when Engen picked off another McGirr pass and returned it to the Brookings 32-yard line.

But a blocking penalty on the return pushed the ‘Cats back 10 yards to the 42 and another interception, this time on third-and-nine, halted the drive.

Huron came up with another big play – this time on offense – to set up the final score of the game.

Walker Schlitz turned a routine screen play into a 51-yard gain to the Bobcat 6-yard line, and McGirr danced in on the next play to put the Tigers up two touchdowns with 3:33 left in the game.

The point-after pass play was incomplete but it didn’t matter as Brookings picked up one first down on its final possession before giving up the ball on downs.

Huron earned one first down and then kneeled to run out the clock and improve to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the ESD.

“We just struggled in a number of different areas,” said Bobcat head coach Lee Schmidt. “We didn’t create any space tonight offensive-line wise – Beers ran really hard – we had guys that really played hard; played their hearts out – we just aren’t able to do some of the things that we want to do. It gets frustrating and then we make mistakes; have turnovers.

“Defensively, for the most time tonight, we did like we have all year – played hard. At the end of the game, we had some different kids playing out there tonight and they found out what it was like and what it takes (to play at this level).”

Huron outgained the Bobcats, 346-147, as the Tigers had the ball for 31 minutes and 24 seconds compared to Brookings’ 16:36.

Schoon completed 4-of-17 passes for 17 yards with two interceptions, while Nick Hardin went 2-of-5 for 19 yards on the ‘Cats’ final possession.

Beers picked up 61 yards on 14 carries and gained four yards on one reception as Devine earned 38 yards on three touches.

Carter Eidem caught two passes for eight yards; Preston Helmbolt pulled down one pass for 12 yards; Seth Swedlund had one seven-yard reception; and Jay Wilber picked up five yards on one catch.

McGirr completed 8-of-17 passes for 157 yards with one TD and two INTs, to go along with 34 rushing yards on eight carries, which included a 6-yard TD run.

Alex Hill ran for 86 yards on 19 rushes and Shillingstad added 39 yards on nine carries and one pass reception for 15 more.

Kobe Busch pulled in two passes for 39 yards; Mason Small had 20 yards on two catches; Zack Siemonsma picked up 25 yards on one catch; Schlitz caught one pass for 51 yards; and Gross had the 7-yard TD reception.

Heath Bullington led the Bobcat defense with seven solo stops, which included one for a loss; Ryan McMacken had six solo and one assist; Devine also had six solo tackles; while Engen had three solo tackles, to go along with two INTs.