Bennett County Booster

Football vs Pine Ridge

Posted Local at Sep 29, 2011

Jason Charger makes a formidable wall.

By Tim Huether

Bennett County showed good balance on both sides of the ball last Friday evening in high school football play to pull out a hard fought 20-8 win over a solid Pine Ridge team.

The Warriors combined an effective passing game with a good running attack to keep Pine Ridge off balance all night.
The Warriors rushed for 218 yards, led by Junior back Dalton McCollam with 101 yards and a touchdown. The passing game racked up 137 yards with Wade Porch grabbing four catches for 33 yards.

Bennett County scored first, marching up the field and finding the end zone on a Jon McDonnell pass to Eli Livermont from 11 yards out with 4:42 to go in the first quarter. The kick after was good to make it 7-0.
Pine Ridge tried to answer, but Eli Livermont intercepted a deep pass attempt, putting the ball back in the hands of the Warrior offense.

Bennett County moved into scoring range again but had to settle for a 27 yard field goal attempt, but Wade Porch’s kick missed just to the right.

In the second quarter, Bennett County looked like they scored a touchdown as Jon McDonnell’s pass went through the hands of one receiver and Jeremy Huether grabbed it in the corner of the end one, but a holding penalty brought it back. The Warriors were forced to try another field goal with four minutes to play in the half, but Porch’s kick from 40 yards was short.

The first half ended with the Warriors a bit frustrated leading just 7-0 after controlling the ball most of the half.
Pine Ridge started the second half a bit shaky, fumbling the ball on their second play to the Warriors with Brad Hahn recovering at the 41 of the Thorpes.

Bennett County took advantage of the mistake as quarterback Eli Livermont connected with Jeremy Huether on a 23 yard pass play for a touchdown with 8:05 to play in the third quarter. Wade Porch made it 14-0 with his kick after.
Dalton McCollam put the Warriors up by three scores with a one yard run with 1:35 to play in the third quarter. Porch’s kick missed, making it a 20-0 score.

At the end of the third quarter, Eli Livermont intercepted a deep pass by the Thorpes, but lost the ball and Pine Ridge gets a big break, recovering the ball at the 19 yard line of the Warriors. The Thorpes went to the passing game and scored on the next play as Kyle Reddy made it to the end zone with 15 seconds to play in the third quarter on a pass from Joe Merrival.
The Thorpes ran the ball to the right corner for the two point conversion, making it a 20-8 game.

The fourth quarter was a sloppy played one, with both teams fumbling the ball back to each other twice. Pine Ridge had a golden opportunity after Bennett County fumbled at the 16 yard line of the Warriors. Pine Ridge would score, but a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown and the Warriors stopped the Thorpes two plays later when Eli Livermont intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran it out to the 35 yard line with 5:11 to play in the game.

The Warriors moved the ball down the field, aided by a nice 33 yard  catch by Cody Larson from Eli Livermont, setting the Warriors up at the 24 of Pine Ridge. The Warriors would run the clock down from there and end the game with a 20-8 win on the road.

“We moved the ball well but we still have to correct some of the mistakes we’re making,” said coach Jeff Krolikowski. “We have to make use of the opportunities we are given. Overall, we played well against a Pine Ridge team that is very physical. We scored on plays we set up by other plays earlier.”
Krolikowski said the team is still young and learning.

The Warriors take on a good team in Todd County this week for Homecoming. The Falcons are unbeaten and this game will be a good measuring stick for both teams. Bennett County is 3-2 on the season and a win will keep them strong in the playoff picture.

Bennett County game stats:

Rushing: Dalton McCollam 23 carries, 101 yards, 1 touchdown; Eli Livermont 10 carries, 78 yards; Brad Hahn 9 carries 19 yards; Jon McDonnell 6 carries, 13 yards; Wade Porch 2 carries, 7 yards.

Passing: Eli Livermont 2 for 2, 56 yards, 1 touchdown; Jon McDonnell 8 for 16, 81 yards, 1 touchdown.

Receiving: Wade Porch 4 catches, 33 yards; Jeremy Huether, 2 catches, 25 yards, 1 touchdown; Eli Livermont, 2 catches, 18 yards, 1 touchdown; Cody Larson 1 catch, 33 yards; Jon O’Neill 1 catch, 28 yards.

Tackles: Cody Larson 2 solo, 4 assisted, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery; Dalton McCollam 1 solo, 4 assisted; Lincoln Whirlwind Horse 1 solo, 3 assisted, 1 forced fumble; Jon McDonnell 2 solo, 2 assisted; Jordon Bakley 2 solo, 1 assisted, 1 sack; Layne Sharp 1 solo, 2 assisted; Sam Ireland 3 assisted; John O’Neill 2 assisted, 1 fumble recovery; Jeremy Huether 2 solo; Eli Livermont 1 solo, 1 assisted, 3 interceptions; Lukas Divan 1 assisted; Brad Hahn 1 assisted; Brady Hicks 1 assisted.
As a team, the Warriors had 218 yards rushing and 137 passing. They had four fumbles, losing all four. They had 9 penalties for 55 yards.

This Friday is Homecoming against Todd County with kickoff at 7 p.m.