Spartans Rally Past Brookings 28-21 Behind Late Blocked Punt, Defensive Stand

BROOKINGS, S.D. — The Spearfish Spartans had already survived an interception, a costly special teams penalty and a fourth-quarter deficit.

Then, with their backs against the wall on the road, they found one more play.

Brock Lewis blocked a Brookings punt late in the fourth quarter, setting up the go-ahead touchdown as Spearfish rallied past the Bobcats, 28-21, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

It was the kind of win that required just about everything from the Spartans.

Spearfish overcame an early turnover, watched a one-point lead turn into a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter and even gave Brookings one final opportunity following a late fumble.

None of it was enough to send the Spartans home with a loss.

Spearfish improved to 4-1 with the victory and will return home to face Yankton for homecoming.

Bobcats Strike First

The night did not begin the way Spearfish envisioned.

The Spartans received the opening kickoff but turned the ball over when Thomas Hughes was intercepted on Spearfish’s opening possession.

Brookings capitalized.

Caden Walsh finished the ensuing possession with a 6-yard touchdown run, giving the Bobcats a 7-0 advantage with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter.

Spearfish didn’t take long to answer.

Hughes connected with Karsen Seyer for 26 yards during the ensuing drive before finding Kade Vavruska for a 19-yard touchdown with 4:51 remaining in the quarter.

Just like that, it was 7-7.

The Spearfish defense forced a three-and-out on Brookings’ next possession, and the Spartans went back to work.

This time, Graham Hughes finished it.

Hughes powered into the end zone from 5 yards out with 11:40 remaining in the second quarter to give Spearfish its first lead, 14-7.

Brookings answered through the air as quarterback Baker Hanson connected with Hayden Jones for a 29-yard touchdown. The Bobcats missed the ensuing extra point, allowing Spearfish to maintain a 14-13 advantage.

That one point would loom large.

Brookings Takes Control

The Spartans had an opportunity to get off the field early in the second half when they forced Brookings into a punting situation.

Instead, a Spearfish player ran into the punter.

The penalty gave Brookings a fresh set of downs and extended the drive.

Neither team was able to break through immediately, and the game remained 14-13 deep into the second half.

Then Brookings struck.

Hanson scored on an 11-yard touchdown run with 10:51 remaining in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats converted the two-point attempt.

For the first time since the opening quarter, Spearfish was chasing the game.

Brookings led 21-14.

Graham Hughes Answers

Spearfish needed a response.

Graham Hughes provided it.

The Spartans leaned on their ground game, and Hughes eventually broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run that pulled Spearfish within one, 21-20.

The extra-point attempt was no good.

After spending much of the night separated by a single point, Spearfish suddenly found itself on the wrong side of that margin.

Then Lewis changed the game.

One Block Changes Everything

With Brookings looking to protect its 21-20 lead, Lewis broke through and blocked a Bobcats punt.

It was the opening Spearfish needed.

The Spartans took advantage of the short field and marched toward the goal line before Thomas Hughes punched it in from 1 yard out.

Spearfish wasn’t settling for seven.

Hughes kept the ball on the ensuing two-point conversion and found the end zone again, giving the Spartans a 28-21 advantage with 3:58 remaining.

In a matter of minutes, Spearfish had gone from trailing by seven to leading by seven.

But the night wasn’t finished.

The Spartans regained possession with an opportunity to close the game out, only to fumble the football back to Brookings.

One last chance for the Bobcats.

One last test for the Spearfish defense.

The Spartans answered.

Spearfish kept Brookings out of the end zone on its final possession and walked out of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium with a 28-21 victory.

It wasn’t perfect.

It didn’t need to be.

On a night when Spearfish made mistakes that could have cost it the game, the Spartans responded with enough big plays to overcome them.

A touchdown after an early interception.

A fourth-quarter response after falling behind by seven.

A blocked punt with the game hanging in the balance.

And, finally, a defensive stand when Brookings was given one last opportunity.

The Spartans are heading home at 4-1.

And they’re doing it with a win that required them to earn every bit of it.

Spearfish Statistical Leaders

Rushing: Graham Hughes carried 21 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Thomas Hughes recorded nine carries for 40 yards and one touchdown. Based on the recorded plays, the Hughes brothers combined for 198 rushing yards.

Passing: Thomas Hughes completed four of eight recorded passes for 47 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Receiving: Karsen Seyer caught two passes for 27 yards. Kade Vavruska caught one pass for 19 yards and a touchdown. One additional completion accounted for 1 yard in the play-by-play but did not include a receiver.

Defense: Brock Lewis led the recorded defensive totals with 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and added the pivotal blocked punt. Thomas Hughes and Ethan Foote each recorded seven tackles, with Foote adding a sack. Jack Scharf finished with five tackles. Kade Vavruska, Payton Jones, Drew Durdall and Karsen Seyer each recorded three tackles. Seyer added a tackle for loss.

Easton Walters, Graham Hughes, Noah Suda and Torpy each recorded two tackles, with Torpy adding a tackle for loss. Blake Andress and Brayden Moser each recorded one tackle, with Moser forcing a fumble.

Recorded Defensive Totals

Total recorded tackles: 52

Spearfish (4-1) returns home next to face Yankton for homecoming.