GHS Football had one hell of a kickoff this year, in more ways than one. The Dragons traveled to face the Viborg/Hurley team.
“It was about as exciting of a football game as you’d ever be able to be a part of,” said head coach Chris Long. “We had a lot of great efforts and came down to executing an extra point and the entire PAT team did a great job!”
Viborg-Hurley lit up the scoreboard first as Blake Schroedermeier tossed a good 22-yard pass to Hayden Gilbert. These two got the two-point conversion.
However in the last few minutes of the first quarter, Dylan Kindt made a 16 yard pass to Cooper Long, and Jenna VanHolland made a solid point kick.
Still down by one point, the Dragon offense managed to take back possession and Kindt ran the ball in for another touchdown and VanHolland kicked in another solid point.
Viborg-Hurley fired back in the second quarter, but they were unable to get the two-point conversion, so the half ended with a 14-14 tie!
The Dragons came to play in the third quarter, and two touchdowns followed in quick order, with Hunter Abraham running in for a 3yard touchdown. That time, VanHolland didn’t have the magic touch, and didn’t get the extra goal point. But Kindt intercepted a pass, and made both the touchdown and two-point conversion. This put the score at 28-14 for Garretson!
Viborg-Hurley wasn’t done, and the 4th quarter almost doomed the Dragons. Viborg-Hurley fought for the ball and kept it, scoring three touchdowns and putting them ahead 28-36. With just 1:53 left on the clock, Kindt made a 20 yard pass to Cooper Long, and they ran it in for a touchdown. Cadyn Ockenga then caught a pass for the two point conversion, putting the score to 36-36!
Going into overtime, ViborgHurely made a touchdown courtesy of Schroedermeier & Gilbert again, but this time they had no joy as Schroedermeier’s pass to George Johnson was no good, leaving the score 36-42.
The Dragons now in possession, everything was on the line. Kindt made a good 8-yard pass to Cooper, and Cooper ran it in to tie the score once again at 42-42.
“Dylan (Kindt) had a great game for us, said head coach Chris Long. “Threw the football well, made two big interceptions on defense and led us down the field for the game-tying touchdown and extra point. We have a lot of guys that can catch the ball and he spread it around the field very efficiently. Cooper (Long’s) three touchdown catches came at big times. He has good hands, is learning the ins and outs of being a good route runner and his blocking is improving, too. He has the potential to have a big year and Friday night was a good start. Our offense line and wingbacks did a nice job of getting us positive yards in the running game. We have to continue to work on being consistent when we run the football as that will open up other areas for us. If we can run it effectively, we will be tough to stop."
It came down to just one moment. Jenna VanHolland the first female Garretson student to ever play varsity football, on her first varsity football game ever, made the kick. The crowd, the team and everyone in the stadium went nuts.
GHS football ran down the clock and stayed solid, winning 43-42!
The GHS football team needed someone to fill the shoes of the amazing kicker they’ve had the last few years, Cody Erikson, who just graduated last year. Looking at their students, they realized they had a potentially great kicker, but that she was playing on the GHS soccer team. Garretson’s football team is not the first school in South Dakota to field a female player, but it has never been done before at GHS. VanHolland proved last Friday that she not only has what it takes, but that she can perform under pressure to deliver a winning goal!
“Jenna just joined us in practice the Monday of game week,” said Coach Long. “She had worked hard to learn the mechanics of kicking a football and obviously her hard work paid off on Friday night! She never hesitated and executed her best kick of the night under a lot of pressure!”
The Blue Dragons will face Hanson here for their first home game on Saturday night at 6 p.m., August 28.
