BROOKINGS – The Bobcats persevered in Friday’s matchup against Sioux Falls Lincoln at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
Despite having three touchdowns called back by penalty on the way to giving up 105 yards in penalties, Brookings scored inside of two minutes to put away the Patriots, 21-7, and even its record at 4-4.
“We had a few situations where Lincoln made big plays – the second half, we were much better responding to it and took away some of those things that they wanted to do,” said BHS head coach Lee Schmidt. “We didn’t really make any adjustments at halftime – just kids doing their job – getting to where they needed to be and making a play.
“We really needed this bad; going into the game, we knew it was a game we could win, just like last week – and last week we let it slip away. Kids learned from that and I was just really proud that they finished tonight.
“We didn’t make it easy on ourselves – the penalties and all the stuff going on – but we make a big play, get in the end zone and then, defensively, we don’t let them move any place – it’s a good Bobcat win.”
Trailing 14-7 and facing a fourth-and-8 from their own 40 with 7:48 to play in the game, the Patriots pulled off a fake punt for a first down, but Brady Ammann forced a fumble on the tackle and Devine recovered the ball.
Lincoln got the ball back inside of 6 minutes when the ‘Cats had to punt, however, Tyler Kreutner came up with an interception on the Patriots’ second play from scrimmage to give the Bobcats the ball back at the Patriots’ 32.
Facing fourth-and-6 from the 28, Devine swept around left end and picked up the first down with an 8-yard gain.
Three penalties later put the ‘Cats in a fourth-and-16 situation from the 26 and Devine went left again, breaking a tackle at the 20 and sprinting to the end zone to put Brookings up by two scores with 1:31 left in the game.
It wasn’t a great start for the Bobcats as they lost the ball on a fumble on their first possession, but their defense stepped up and forced Lincoln to punt on its first possession as the teams played to a scoreless tie in the first quarter.
The football gods did smile on Brookings, though, on its scoring drive to open the second quarter when Jacob Schoon broke off a long run on a keeper, but fumbled when he was double-teamed, high and low, on the tackle. Jay Wilber outmuscled a pair of Lincoln defenders to recover the loose ball to cap off the 27-yard gain.
Two plays later, Parker Beers broke off a 30-yard gain around the left side to get a first down at the Lincoln 8-yard line. Facing second-and-goal from the 6-yard line after a false start penalty, Beers bulled in for a touchdown with 7:56 to play in the first half. Devine’s first of three PAT kicks made it 7-0.
Lincoln answered right back as Tommy Thompson hooked up with Logan Needles on a 44-yard pass play that set up the Patriots at the Brookings 7-yard line.
On second-and-goal from the 2, Thompson scored on a keeper up the middle and Wyatt VanDen Top kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:10 left.
Carter Eidem returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back on a holding penalty.
Brookings had a chance to go into halftime with the lead, but came up empty on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with less than 2 minutes on the clock.
On the Bobcats’ third-quarter scoring drive, Parker Beers picked up 4 yards and an inch on a fourth-and-four before Schoon ran left for another touchdown that was called back on a holding penalty.
Beers then converted on second-and-13 from the 27 with an 18-yard run and two plays later, Devine went in from 7 yards out to give the Bobcats a one-touchdown advantage.
Beers finished with 150 yards on 26 carries; Schoon had 92 yards on 12 rushes; and Devine picked up 80 yards on seven touches.
Schoon was 5-of-10 passing for 43 yards as Wilber caught three passes for 16 yards and Cole Mahlum hauled in one pass for 24 yards.
BROOKINGS 21, SIOUX FALLS LINCOLN 7
S.F. Lincoln 0 7 0 0 – 7
Brookings 0 7 7 7 – 21
Second Quarter
BHS – Parker Beers 6 run (Justin Devine kick), 7:56.
SFL – Tommy Thompson 2 run (Wyatt VanDen Top kick), 5:10.
Third Quarter
BHS – Justin Devine 7 run (Devine kick), 2:53.
Fourth Quarter
BHS – Devine 26 run (Devine kick), 1:31.
