VOLGA For the first time since 2020, Sioux Valley is heading to the Class 11B Semifinals as the Cossacks beat Mobridge-Pollock 41-7 on Thursday night.
The top-seeded Cossacks were in control for almost the entire night as they did not give up a touchdown until the final minute of the game. Sioux Valley head coach Dan Hughes said he was proud of the way his team came out of the locker room ready to go.
The team was extremely focused. Hats off to them for being ready, Hughes said.
Mobridge-Pollock got the ball to begin the game and worked its way almost all the way down the field. The Tigers hit on three pass plays and that put them inside the Sioux Valley 10 yard line. However, the Cossack defense stood tall and kept M-P out of the end zone.
It was just about getting used to their receivers and their routes and where they were going to be, Hughes said. Once we got our feet under us, we shut them down.
Sioux Valley would have to punt on its first drive, but it made the Tigers set up shop at their own 20. A holding penalty and a sack backed M-P up to its own five and then the Tigers fumbled the ball on their own seven and Sioux Valley hopped on it.
Two plays later Donovan Rose worked his way into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown to put the Cossacks up 7-0 with just under a minute to play in the first quarter.
Sioux Valley got the ball back quickly and it didnt take long for Rose to find the end zone again. He dashed down the left sideline and then cut it back up field on his way for a 43-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 9:51 left in the first half.
Brock Christopherson then scored his first touchdown of the night. He pushed his way into the end zone from two yards out to extend the lead to 21-0. The Cossacks werent done scoring in the first half though as Rose found the end zone one more time. This time it was a 33-yard run on a sweep to the left side and the Cossacks led 28-0 at halftime.
Morbridge-Pollock recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff of the second half. The Tigers werent able to do anything with it though and Sioux Valley scored on its first drive of the second half. This time the Cossacks did it through the air as Christopherson connected with Tobin Squires for a 27-yard touchdown to make it 35-0 with 8:21 to play in the third quarter.
It was good to see Tobin catch a touchdown, Hughes said. Hes really come on strong at the end of the year.
Backup quarterback Wyatt Hardt then entered the game and he scored on a 47-yard run. The Cossacks failed to get the two-point conversion. Mobridge-Pollock was able to get on the board before the end of the game as Peter Fried ran in a two-yard touchdown run to make the final 41-7.
Sioux Valley had 351 rushing yards. Rose led the way with 146 yards on 13 carries. Mitchell Guthmiller had 72 yards on four carries and Christopherson had 10 carries that went for 66 yards.
Hughes said the success of the rushing offense all comes down to how well the offensive line has played throughout the season.
Theyre a good group. Theyve been good all year. Theyre really hitting their stride right now. I love their communication and they need to keep communicating, Hughes said.
Christophersons lone completion on Thursday night was the touchdown.
The Sioux Valley defense held the Tigers to 217 total yards. Christopherson led the Cossacks with seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Broden Teske and Wyatt Nelson each had seven tackles. Braden Danzeisen had six tackles, one sack and an interception.
The Cossacks will have a rematch with No. 4 seeded Elk Point-Jefferson in the semifinals on Nov. 8. Sioux Valley beat the Huskies 17-14 in the final game of the regular season on Oct. 18.
I want to see us celebrate the win we had tonight and then come [to practice] and be ready to focus on improving, just like we have been, Hughes said.
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