Oct 16, 2021

Running the Top

The two teams that have vied for the last two AAA championships met on the field again Friday evening. The result of this standard-bearer game doesn't nearly stack up to the previous meetings. But a win for the home team would mean that the final monkey is off their back and that shouldn't be undersold.

Jeremy Newton's team set the tone from their first possession - a methodical, run-heavy approach that consumed nearly half of the first quarter and concluded with a short run for six by #6, Konner Entz.

The score was held there when Century busted through the protection & blocked the PAT. The Mustang machine trampled any momentum that the Patriots could have mustered from it when Kellen Entz picked off Brady Dahl's attempt after a couple snaps of their second possession.

With 86 yards to cover Sheyenne proceeded to put on a clock consumption clinic, matriculating their way across the turf by way of Race Wilson & Josh Henricks carries and one completion through the air to Zander Newton. After Henricks made the final carry from a half yard out Grant Warkenthien got the missed point back to make it 14 - 0.

It was all that would be needed for the defense to clamp down. To end the next Century chance Karter Menz took down Dahl for a loss of 10 yards. The Mustangs weren't able to go 3 scores in a row as they were also forced to punt rather quickly. Which then brought about a couple wild swings, first when Tanner Hegel got the second interception of the evening and then immediately after when Century recovered a fumble near midfield. Sheyenne's Tharin Parson answered the bell shortly thereafter in putting a stop to the champs' ambitions with his second sack of the evening which brought the game to it's intermission.

Out of halftime Sheyenne did their usual short jogs while BC went straight for the cold coats. Neither approach helped prevent a cooldown as each of the first four possessions ended with quick punts. On their third of the half Sheyenne nearly overcame a second down holding penalty but a Warkenthien keeper came up just short. That was followed by two more punts, though the Mustangs did show more life in their next possession.

Now in desperation time, Century also strung a few first downs together until Dahl heaved a pass from a scramble drill & was picked off for the third time, by Nick Renner. Sheyenne salted away the time that remained to claim their first win over Century.