STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers played lockdown defense on the high-powered Spearfish offense and ran roughshod on the Spartan defense and came out on top, 13-9, in the regular season finale at Woodle Field.
The game had playoff implications, as Spearfish came into the matchup ranked #6 in seed points, just ahead of Sturgis, who sat at #7. Both teams were hoping to improve their spot in the upcoming 11AA football playoffs.
Spearfish struck first on their second drive of the game, as Spartan quarterback Thomas Hughes found Kade Vavruska down the right sideline for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 5:55 left in the first quarter. The kick was good and Spearfish led Sturgis, 7-0.
On the Scoopers first drive of the second quarter, signal caller Jaxon Cano called his own number and scampered 25-yards down the middle of the field for a Sturgis score. Isaac Smith’s extra point split the uprights, and the game was tied 7-7 with 10:22 left before intermission.
On the ensuing kickoff, Smith blasted a low kick at the Spartan return team, and it bounced off Isaac Wilson back into the hands of Jack Jolley. The turnover gave the Scoopers good field position at the Spearfish 48-yard line. The Scoopers put together a solid 11 play drive that stalled at the Spartan 15-yard line with 4:54 left in the second quarter. Sturgis decided to attempt a field goal, and Smith drilled a 32-yarder with room to spare, giving the Scoopers a 10-7 lead.
Sturgis took over on their own 20-yard line with just 2:45 left before halftime after forcing a Spearfish punt and gave Smith another shot at a 34-yard field goal with :02 left on the clock. Smith made the field goal with room to spare and Sturgis took a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Spearfish turned the ball over on their first possession of the second half as the ball was jarred loose from Hughes as he ran through the Scooper defense with 8:44 left in the third quarter. Sturgis took over at the Spartan 32-yard line but couldn’t put any points on the board and turned the ball over on downs.
Spearfish got on the scoreboard with just :41 second gone in the fourth quarter as Scooper punter Tate Johnson had trouble handling a high snap and the ball sailed into the end zone. Johnson scooped up the ball and was tackled in the end zone, giving Spearfish a two-point safety. Sturgis held on to a 13-9 lead and were forced to kick the ball to Spearfish following the safety.
Spearfish took over with excellent field position at the Scooper 40-yard line. The Spartans finally got their offense rolling and moved the ball down to the Sturgis 2-yard line. Hughes found Vavruska open in the back corner of the end zone, but Vavruska was called for offensive pass interference, and the 15-yard penalty moved the ball back to the Scooper 17-yard line. Spearfish moved the ball down to the 8-yard line, but squandered the scoring opportunity after penalties pushed the ball back to the 17. The Spartans turned the ball over on downs after two straight incompletions and a sack on Hughes.
The Scoopers looked to have the game well in hand and drove the ball from their own 20-yard line down to the Spartan 8-yard line. On second and goal, Cano attempted a pitch to running back Zhoel Irion but the pitch was off target and Spearfish recovered the fumble at the Spartan 10-yard line with 2:33 left in the game. Spearfish moved the ball quickly to midfield was looking to break a big play to take the lead. Hughes rolled to his left and threw the ball downfield to an open receiver but Scooper defense back Seth Burton stepped in front of the ball and picked it off with 1:25 left, sealing the 13-9 victory for Sturgis.
The Scoopers (5-4) finished with 288 total yards of offense. Sturgis ran the ball 43 times for 198 yards and were led by Irion, who had 177 yards on 25 carries. Cano completed 12 of 15 passes for 90 yards. Gage West caught two balls for 27 yards and Brody Royer had three catches for 21 yards. Sturgis had one fumble and six penalties for 65 yards.
Spearfish (5-4) was held to 165 yards of total offense, 74 yards on the ground and 91 yards passing. Hughes led Spearfish with 61 yards rushing on 15 carries. Vavruska had five catches for 44 yards.
The first round of the 11AA football playoffs is next Thursday and the fourth seeded Scoopers will host the Watertown Arrows at Woodle Field. Spearfish is the #8 seed and will travel to Yankton to take on the #1 ranked Bucks at Crane-Youngworth Field.