WESSINGTON SPRINGS The Winner Warriors avenged a loss earlier this season to Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central with a 20-12 victory in the opening round of the Class 11B playoffs on Thursday.
The Warriors, who were the No. 11 seed, put the first points on the with 1:08 remaining in the opening quarter. Jed Blare blocked a punt and scooped the ball up for a touchdown, which made it 8-0 after a successful conversion attempt.
Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, which was seeded sixth, put its first points on the board with 8:54 to play in the second quarter. Luke Larson connected with Grant Edwards on a 32-yard scoring strike for the Bucks.
A failed conversion attempt left Winner holding an 8-6 advantage.
After putting the Warriors in scoring position with a 41-yard pass, Quincy Phillips added to the lead with a 2-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed, leaving Winner with a 14-6 lead.
Just over a minute later, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central was able to slice its deficit back to just two points at 14-12. Wes Molnar carried the ball around the right side of the line and scampered 90 yards to paydirt for the Bucks.
After going 6 of 8 passing in the opening half, Winner went exclusively to the running game in the second half and was able to chew up large chunks of the clock, while holding W/WS/SC scoreless.
Zach Olson had the lone points in the second half with a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter for the Warriors to make it 20-12.
Camden Anderson had seven tackles and an interception to lead a strong defensive effort by Winner. Also playing key roles on the defensive side of the ball for the Warriors were Seth Heath, Jaxon Day and Parker Mathis.
No offensive statistics were available for Winner, which improved to 6-4.
Luke Larson converted on 7 of 17 passes for 130 yards to lead the Bucks. Molnar had three catches for 71 yards, while Edwards had two catches for 32 yards.
Molnar also gained 131 yards on the ground with 17 carries.
Colby Flowers recorded 10.5 tackles to lead W/WS/SC, while Carson Finn had nine tackles.
Winner advances to the quarterfinals, where it will travel to face third-seeded Clark/Willow Lake in Clark on Thursday.
The Bucks ended the season with a 7-2 record.
Playoff rundown
Class 11B
Opening round Oct. 23
Elk Point-Jefferson 42, Flandreau 14
Sioux Valley 24, Parker 16
Deuel 36, McCook Central/Montrose 20
Wagner 33, Chamberlain 0
St. Thomas More 38, Hot Springs 7
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 40, Mobridge-Pollock 12
Clark/Willow Lake 35, Groton Area 0
Winner 20, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 12
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Sioux Valley (5-4) at Elk Point-Jefferson (9-0)
Wagner (7-2) at Deuel (8-1)
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (5-4) at St. Thomas More (9-0)
Winner (6-4) at Clark/Willow Lake (8-1)
Class 9AA
Opening round Oct. 23
Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy 59, Garretson 7
Kimball/White Lake 13, Britton-Hecla 7
Hill City 53, Great Plains Lutheran 0
Hamlin 57, Scotland/Menno 0
Elkton-Lake Benton 49, De Smet 0
Hanson 52, Viborg-Hurley 34
Parkston 55, Bennett County 22
Bon Homme 48, Gregory 28
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Kimball/White Lake (6-3) at Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (9-0)
Hamlin (8-1) at Hill City (8-1)
Hanson (5-4) at Elkton-Lake Benton (8-1)
Bon Homme (7-2) at Parkston (8-1)
Class 9A
Opening round Oct. 23
Wall 55, Lemmon/McIntosh 0
Castlewood 46, Dupree 12
Philip 36, Estelline/Hendricks 8
Ipswich 58, Harding County/Bison 8
Warner 52, Timber Lake 12
Howard 52, Centerville 32
Alcester-Hudson 36, Deubrook Area 0
Platte-Geddes 42, Lyman 30
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Castlewood (8-1) at Wall (9-0)
Ipswich (8-1) at Philip (7-1)
Howard (7-2) at Warner (9-0)
Platte-Geddes (8-2) at Alcester-Hudson (7-2)
Class 9B
Opening round Oct. 23
St. Marys 72, Irene-Wakonda 6
Corsica-Stickney 38, Kadoka Area 36
Faulkton Area 61, Burke 22
Sully Buttes 42, Hitchcock-Tulare 8
Avon 50, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 0
Sioux Falls Lutheran 48, Iroquois/Lake Preston 6
Colman-Egan 50, Arlington 0
Herreid/Selby Area 22, Canistota 0
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Corsica-Stickney (6-3) at St. Marys (9-0)
Sully Buttes (8-1) at Faulkton Area (6-3)
Sioux Falls Lutheran (6-3) at Avon (8-1)
Herreid/Selby Area (7-2) at Colman-Egan (6-3)
Class 11AAA
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Sioux Falls Roosevelt (1-8) at Brandon Valley (8-1), 6 p.m.
Harrisburg (5-4) at OGorman (6-3)
Rapid City Central (2-7) vs. Sioux Falls Lincoln (8-1) at Howard Wood Field, 4 p.m.
Sioux Falls Washington (5-4) vs. Sioux Falls Jefferson (7-2) at Howard Wood Field, 6:30 p.m.
Class 11AA
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Spearfish (5-4) at Yankton (7-2)
Watertown (5-4) at Sturgis (5-4)
Brookings (5-4) at Huron (7-2), 7 p.m.
Tea Area (5-4) at Pierre (6-3)
Class 11A
Quarterfinals Oct. 30
Rapid City Christian (5-4) vs. Sioux Falls Christian (9-0) at USF Bob Young Stadium, 7 p.m.
West Central (6-3) at Madison (7-2)
Milbank (6-3) at Dell Rapids (6-3), 7 p.m.
Tri-Valley (6-3) at Lennox (7-2), 7 p.m.
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