4th Quarter Explosion Sinks Tigers
The junior varsity football team defeated Dundy County - Stratton (DCS) on Greene Field in St. Francis on Monday, October 20. The game was a tight battle throughout most of the game, but a fourth quarter explosion by the Indians sealed the fate of the visiting Tigers. St. Francis defeated DCS 52-24. The game was played with 8-minute quarters instead of the usual 12-minute quarters.
The teams exchanged possessions early in the game as neither team could generate sustained offense. Late in the first period, Jeremiah Neitzel scooped up a DCS fumble and returned it to the Tiger 16 yard line. Starting deep in Tiger territory, the Indians pounded the ball into the end zone. Trayton Doyle scored from the 5 yard line on a strong run. Quarterback Tate Busse passed to tight end Dalton Straub for the conversion points. The Indians led 8-0 with 3:36 left in the first period.
Dundy County - Stratton was in the midst of a good drive as the first quarter closed. At 7:24 in the second period, the Tigers scored on a running play. The conversion run was also good. The score stood at 8-8.
With 3:43 left in the second period, DCS scored again. The touchdown came on a long pass play on 4th down. The Tigers completed another pass for the extra points to take an 8-16 lead.
The Indians answered quickly. Busse completed another pass to Straub for the second Indian touchdown. The pass and run covered 43 yards. Busse ran for the conversion points. The score became tied again (16-16) with 2:32 left in the first half.
DCS followed with another good drive culminating in another touchdown pass. The Tigers ran for the conversion points to take a 16-24 lead with 51 seconds left in the first half.
The Indians again answered quickly. With 24 seconds left in the half, Busse completed a pass to Travis Rogers. The scoring play covered 64 yards. The Indians and Tigers were tied at 24-all at halftime.
The third period began similar to the first quarter. The teams battled defensively to gain an advantage, but neither could score until Tate Busse completed a 24-yard strike to Dalton Straub with 1:07 remaining in the period. Busse ran for the conversion points. St. Francis led 32-24 after three quarters of play.
The Indians exploded for three more touchdowns in the fourth period. The first came on a 7-yard run by Busse (conversion no good). The second Indian touchdown of the quarter was scored by tight end Jake Faulkender on an 8-yard pass reception at 3:59 (conversion no good). Later in the period, Travis Rogers intercepted a Tiger pass and returned it to the DCS 11 yard line. The first play from scrimmage resulted in another touchdown for the Indians. Quarterback Tate Busse followed good blocking on the right side of the line and sliced into end zone. Busse passed to Coy DeWaal for the conversion points. The Indians were up 52-24 with 2:45 left.
Moments later, Ryan Grover recovered a Tiger fumble. The Indians ran out the clock for an exciting victory.
