Knights spoils Wolves homecoming with big win
BROKEN BOW - Twin Loup came into their Sept. 18 homecoming game hoping to find a way to pull out their first victory of the season. D2 No.7 Sandhills-Thedford had different plans as they ran for 292 yards in a 49-6 victory.
What maybe was more surprising was the two passing touchdowns thrown by the usually run heavy Knights.
“With the way we were running the ball to start the game, they just kept creeping closer at the line and opened things up in the play-action game,” Sandhills-Thedford coach Josh Deines said. “Grant did a really good job of connecting on his throws this week and he just keeps getting a little better.”
The game did not start with one of those great throws from the quarterback Grant Ahlstrom. It was instead, Trae Hickman breaking free for a 58-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage for Sandhills-Thedford.
That was followed up by a 5-yard touchdown run by Reece Zutavern on the ensuing drive. Dane Pokorny was able to run in the ball for two, extending the lead to 14-0.
The Wolves continued to try and move the ball on the ground, but the line upfront was not budging for the Knights. This resulted in Twin Loup having to punt the ball.
With the ball back in hand, Sandhills-Thedford once again started moving the ball down the field. On the 19-yard line, Ahlstrom dropped back to pass for the Knights and connected with Zutavern for a five-yard touchdown.
Sandhills-Thedford was stopped on the two-point conversion giving them a 20-0 lead at the end of the first.
The Knights picked up right where they left off in the second, with a 36yard touchdown run by Pokorny.
Later on, Ahlstrom connected with Zutavern for the duo’s second score of the game. This time it was a 39-yard touchdown pass.
Pokorny ended the half with a nine-yard touchdown run. After Zutavern was successful on the two-point attempt, the Knights led 42-6.
To start the second half, Twin Loup came out playing better football.
On the first drive of the half Custer County Chief All-Area team member, Quade Young was able to pick off Ahlstrom on their own twenty. Young capitalized on the mistake by scoring on a six-yard run later on in the drive.
The sloppiness didn’t end there for Sandhills-Thedford, as Kaden Haake fumbled the ball on the ensuing possession. It was recovered by Twin Loup’s Slate Micheel.
The Knights were able to recover from the mistakes they made and ended the game with a 13-yard touchdown run by Brayden Guggenmos. He also kicked the extra point which was good.
Stat leaders for Sandhills-Thedford were led by Pokorny with 100 rushing yards and two scores and Brayden Guggenmos defensively the team was led by Parker
Ballenger, Drew Mcintosh, Brayton Branic, and Brady Dahlber who all recorded a sack.
Young led Twin Loup with 20 yards on the ground and a score, Waylon McBride had 17 yards rushing, and
Slate Micheel had
11 rushing yards. The
Knights play at Arnold against South Loup at 3 p.m. and Twin Loup plays at Litchfield at 7 p.m. on Sept.25.