News
Going into the 2014 season, most fans knew that these were two of the best three teams in
class 11A. When they faced each other on August 29 in Dell Rapids for the first game of the
season, it became apparrent. Madison won that game 36-33, with three Quarrier missed extra
points making up the difference. When they met November 14 for the class 11A championship,
special teams would again prove to be a deciding factor in this game as well.
That started with the opening kickoff, which Dell Rapids' Riley Schmidt took 81 yards for the
game's first score. The extra point was missed, and the Quarriers were out to a fast 6-0
lead. Madison's offense then held the ball for 13 plays and got to the Dell Rapids 24 yard
line, but Dell Rapids stopped the Bulldogs' offense on 4th and 8 to take the ball back.
The teams traded punts and possessions from there and the first quarter ended 6-0 in Dell
Rapids' favor. Three plays into the second quarter, Matthew Palli intercepted Jase Nelson to
give Madison the ball at the Dell Rapids 20. Madison couldn't do anything offensively, and
Brayden Gilbert was tapped to attempt a 37 yard field goal, which missed wide left.
It was now the Quarriers' turn to have a sustained drive down the field. They moved the ball
72 yards to the Madison 8 in 11 plays, but Nelson's pass was broken up by Brady Balogh.
Madison again used their rushing game to methodically move down field, but were stopped at
the Dell Rapids 12 yard line. Gilbert was again brought on for a field goal try. This attempt
was blocked by Austin Eulberg, giving Dell Rapids the ball at the 20 with 0:33 left in the
first half. While Nelson did complete a 19 yard pass to Tanner Ljunggren with 5 seconds left,
the last play of the first half was an interception by Palli, his second.
Madison took the opening kickoff, and was making a nice drive when Hansen fumbled on a keeper
that was recovered by Ben Gillogly. On the next play, Schmidt took off down the left sideline
for a 54-yard touchdown. The conversion failed, but the Quarriers now had a two-score lead,
12-0 with 9:39 left in the third quarter.
Madison took the ball from their own 20 after a touchback, and after a few standard plays,
the Hansen-to-Kasuske plane connected again, this time for a 71 yard touchdown pass.
Gilbert's kick was good, but Dell Rapids still led 12-7 with 7:01 left in the third. On the
ensuing kickoff, Madison pulled a surprise onside kick, that was recovered by the Bulldogs at
the Dell Rapids 49 yard line.
Madison was unable to make anything of this good turn of foutune, though they did move the
ball to the Dell Rapids 20, including a 4th and 8 conversion pass to Heith Williams. On their
next 4th down conversion attempt, Hansen was stopped short of the first down, and was taken
off the field with an elbow injury. The third quarter ended shortly thereafter, Dell Rapids
holding on to a 12-7 lead.
Dell Rapids punted on the possession, and Josh Giles was now Madison's quarterback. He was
sacked by Seth Anderson for 13 yards on his first play, then a false start pushed the
Bulldogs to their own 8. Madison punted, and Dell Rapids had moved the ball into Bulldogs'
territory, but third down penalties for an ineligible man downfield and a false start pushed
the Quarriers back to the Madison 47, halting the drive.
Madison took over on their own 15 after the punt, but freshman backup quarterback Josh Giles
threw up a desperation pass on 2nd down that was intercepted. Madison's defense stood their
ground, stopping the Quarriers on 4th and goal at the 1 yard line with about 4 minutes to
play. Madison turned to their running game, and Brodie Fredericksen ripped off 2 runs for 42
yards on the first two plays of the drive. After three more runs, Madison faced 4th and 10
from their own 43 with 1:49 to play. Giles rolled left, but Seth Andersen came up big
defensively, sacking Giles at the Madison 38 yard line with 1:44 to play. Dell Rapids was
able to run the clock to 15 seconds left from there, and claimed their 5th state
championship, also their 5th in the last 7 years.
Schmidt was named the Joe Robbie Most Outstanding Player, with 20 carries for 112 yards and a
touchdown, as well as 2 receptions for 51 yards, as well as an 81 kickoff return for a TD.
SCORE BY QUARTERS 1 2 3 4-FINAL
DELL RAPIDS 6 0 6 0- 12
MADISON 0 0 7 0- 7
GAME STATS
RUSHING: DELL RAPIDS: SChmidt 20-112-1TD; Hemenway 6-26-0TD; Ljunggren 6-18-0TD; White 3-11-
0TD; Nelson 1-(-5)-0TD. MADISON: Hansen 24-83-0TD; Frederiksen 14-62-0TD; Leighton 2-15-0TD;
Hemmer 2-1-0TD; Schubert 1-0-0TD; Giles 3-(-16)-0TD.
PASSING: DELL RAPIDS: Nelson 5-11-93-0TD-2INT. MADISON: Hansen 13-25-170-1TD-0INT; Giles 1-3
-18-0TD-0INT; Hemmer 0-1-0-0TD-1INT.
RECEIVING: DELL RAPIDS: Schmidt 2-51-0TD; Ljunggren 1-19-0TD; Jurgensen 1-15-0TD; Gillogly 1
-8-0TD. MADISON: Kasuske 4-136-1TD; Frederiksen 3-22-0TD; Williams 3-22-0TD; Leighton 2-7-
0TD; Hemmer 2-1-0TD.