Titans cruise past Douglas in Homecoming match-up

The Tea Area High School football team delivered a spectacular performance during their Homecoming matchup against Douglas High School last Friday, Sept. 15 securing a resounding 66-8 victory.

The game kicked off with a bang as Keegan DeYoung dashed 55 yards for a touchdown just 16 seconds into the first quarter. Brenner Konrad followed suit, adding another touchdown with a 3-yard quarterback keeper. Carson Hall kicked through both point afters to give the Titans a 14-0 lead.

Tea Area continued their relentless offensive assault with DeYoung scoring another touchdown, this time from three yards out. Konrad once again found the end zone on a 38-yard touchdown run. Hall was on point with his PAT kicks, securing a commanding 28-0 lead for the Tea Area.

The defense took their turn scoring, as Sam Werdel forced a fumble from Douglas’ quarter and recovered it and returned it for the score, extending the lead even further, bringing the score to 34-0. The point after attempt was unsuccessful, but it wasn’t long before the Titans were scoring again. Konrad connected with Brock Ellingson for a 26-yard touchdown pass and Hall’s point after made it 41-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw no signs of Tea Area’s relentlessness slowing down. DeYoung scampered six yards for another touchdown, followed by Tyler Rhead’s impressive 32-yard touchdown run. Cole McKinney added to the excitement with a 54-yard touchdown run, although the PAT was unsuccessful, the Titans led 60-0.

Before half, Douglas High School found their footing, with Aiden Russell connecting with Isaiah Brewer for an 83-yard touchdown pass. The successful PAT brought Douglas’ total to 8 points, but the Titans took the commanding 60-8 lead into halftime.

The fourth quarter saw Cole McKinney’s six-yard touchdown run, sealing the Tea Area High School football team’s triumphant victory with a final score of 66-8.

The Titans finished the night with 468 yards off offense, gaining 425 on the ground and 43 in the air. Douglas was held to just 134 yards of offense, recording negative yards rushing and gaining 141 in the air.

Leading the Titans ground attack was McKinney who had 109 yards on eight carries. DeYoung rushed for 90 yards on five carries, Konrad 57 yards on four carries, Rhead 47 yards on three carries, Riley Svanda 36 on three carries, Brady Tapia 33 on six carries, Ethan Vis 27 on three carries, Parker Wilson 25 on three carries, and Colton Duffy 14 on two carries.

In the air, Konrad complete three of his three pass attempts for 43 yards. Ellingson grabbed two catches for 25 yards and Svanda had one grab for 18.

Defensively, McKinney and Ethan Miller led the team in tackles with six each in the game. Wilson had four tackles, Tapia three, Lane Kelsey, Leyton Moran, Cole Northup, Nick Dunkelberger, Gavin VanEmmerik, Dawson Zens, and Tim Halbur each had two. Kelsey recorded a sack in the game and Tapia and Werdel each had a fumble recovery. Ellingson recorded two interceptions in the game. Werdel and Jensen Wiebenga were credited with one force fumble each.

The Titans will host Yankton this Friday, Sept. 22 in a 7 p.m. match-up. Yankton comes in with a 3-1 record, recording wins over Watertown (31-20), Spearfish (42-27), and Mitchell (42-0). Their lone loss was last week at the hands of Pierre (27-14).