Titans earn first win at Class 11AA

On Friday, Aug. 27 the Tea Area High School football team played their first game at Class 11AA at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. The Titans took no time adjusting to the elevated class taking the 47-21 victory over Brookings.

“Our guys were a little nervous at the beginning. First game, moving up to 11AA, and playing in a huge stadium,” said Titan head coach Craig Clayberg. “We overcame that and really stepped up and played well the last three quarters.”

In the opening quarter, Brookings got on the board first as Hunter Gray ran it in from 58 yards out. The point after was no good, giving them the 6-0 lead. Still in the first, the Titans managed a score as Jaxon Weber ran it in from 44 yards out. The point after from Chase Van Tol gave the Titans the 7-6 lead.

Brookings answered back, completing a five yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion was successful, giving Brookings the 14-7 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, the Titans’ offense caught fire, scoring three times in the quarter. Van Tol found the endzone on a one yard carry and his point after tied things up at 14-14. Then with just over six minutes before half, Cael Lundin found the endzone on the quarterback keeper running it in from 24 yards out. The point after was blocked but the Titans regained the lead, 20-14.

With just 50 seconds left in the second quarter, Lundin found Kade Schentzel in the endzone on a 46 yard pass. Van Tol kicked through the extra point, giving the Titans a 27-14 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, the Titans got on the board as Reis Kirschenman sacked the Brookings’ quarterback causing a fumble. Jackson Smythe recovered the fumble in the endzone, scoring again for Tea Area. The point after was no good but the Titans increased their lead 33-14.

Brookings scored with under six minutes left in the third quarter and the point after left the score 33-21.

The Titans, however, answered back as Lundin found Klayton Sattler in the endzone for the 15 yard score. Van Tol’s point after gave Tea Area the 40-21 lead.

Before game’s end, the Titans scored once again as Lundin found Gabe Grant for the six yard touchdown pass. Van Tol kicked through the extra point giving the Titans the 47-21 lead and eventual win.

The Titans finished the night with 413 yards of offense, 247 yards rushing and 166 yards passing. Brookings finished the night with 308 yards of offense, 96 rushing and 212 passing.

In the air, Lundin completed ten of 14 pass attempts for 148 yards. He had three interceptions in the game. VanTol also had one pass completed for 18 yards.

Sattler grabbed five passes for 75 yards, including a touchdown. Schentzel had 74 yards on three passes, including a touchdown. Weber caught two passes for 11 yards and Grant caught one touchdown pass for six yards.

On the ground, Weber led the rushing attack, rushing for 97 yards on seven carries. He had one rushing touchdown in the game. VanTol rushed for 51 yards on nine carries, including a rushing touchdown. Lundin rushed for 47 yards on five carries, including a rushing touchdown. Schentzel rushed for 35 yards on five carries and Ethan Vis 12 yards on two carries.

Defensively, Smythe led the team in tackles with nine in the game. He also had a fumble recovery and broke up a pass. Schentzel had seven tackles. Kirschenman had six tackles, three sacks in the game, and one forced fumble. Isaac Johnson, Blake Thompson and Nathan Babb had four tackles each. Babb also had two interceptions in the game. Weber and Thomas Ostrem had three tackles each. Van Tol, Jessen Wiebenga, Hayden Hindberg, Ethan McKnelly, and Maddix Slykhuis each had two tackles. Grant, Parker Mulder, Andrew Opland, Sattler, Brock Ellingson, and Jeff Worth each had one tackle. Worth also had an interception in the game. Carter Turek was credited with a fumble recovery.

The Titans are scheduled to host Sturgis Brown on Friday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. in the team’s home opener.

“Our players need to keep getting better each week and just do their job and trust their teammates to do theirs,” said Clayberg.

The following week the Titans will travel to Huron on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Tiger Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.