SPEARFISH, S.D. – For a stretch Friday night, the Spearfish Spartans appeared ready to seize control of their homecoming matchup against the Yankton Bucks.
Then the momentum flipped.
Spearfish built a 14-6 advantage behind explosive plays from Kade Vavruska, Graham Hughes and Karsen Seyer, but Yankton answered with five consecutive touchdown drives to pull away from the Spartans at Lyle Hare Stadium.
The loss drops Spearfish to 4-2 on the season.
After picking up a first down on its opening possession, Spearfish was eventually forced to punt. Yankton responded with the first points of the night when quarterback Jackson Kudera connected with Miles Drotzmann for a 21-yard touchdown. The Bucks missed the ensuing kick, leaving Yankton with a 6-0 advantage.
Spearfish didn’t trail for long.
The Spartans answered with a drive highlighted by one of their biggest plays of the night. Quarterback Thomas Hughes connected with Kade Vavruska for a 55-yard completion, moving Spearfish deep into Yankton territory.
A few plays later, Hughes finished the drive himself with a short touchdown run to put the Spartans on the board.
The Spearfish defense then gave the offense another opportunity, and the Spartans wasted little time capitalizing.
Graham Hughes broke loose for a 55-yard run, setting up another explosive play on the very next snap. Thomas Hughes found Karsen Seyer for a 27-yard touchdown, and a successful two-point conversion gave Spearfish a 14-6 lead.
That would prove to be the high point of the night for the Spartans.
Yankton responded with three touchdown drives before halftime, turning an eight-point Spearfish advantage into a 28-14 Bucks lead at the break.
The Bucks carried that momentum into the second half, adding two more touchdowns as Spearfish struggled to slow the Yankton offense.
Spearfish continued battling and eventually found the end zone again when Thomas Hughes broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run in the second half.
Hughes was responsible for all three Spearfish touchdowns and finished 6-of-14 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown. He added 57 yards and two touchdowns on 15 rushing attempts, accounting for 222 yards of total offense.
Graham Hughes provided another explosive element out of the backfield, rushing 12 times for 72 yards, including his 55-yard burst. He also caught one pass for three yards.
Seyer led the Spartans in receiving production with two catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Vavruska’s lone reception went for 55 yards. Liam Goetz added two receptions for 47 yards, including a 44-yard completion in the second half. Carson Seiler caught a four-yard pass from Owynn Meredith.
As a team, Spearfish finished with 298 yards of offense, including 169 through the air and 129 on the ground.
Defensively, Brock Lewis was all over the field for the Spartans. Lewis recorded 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble forced by Graham Hughes.
Goetz finished with five tackles and three pass deflections, while Thomas Hughes recorded six tackles in addition to his offensive production. Keller Vega recorded two tackles and a sack, while Ethan Foote and Payton Jones each recorded a tackle for loss.
Kade Vavruska added a tackle and pass deflection, while Blake Andres, Drew Durdall, Jack Sharff, Sean August and Conner Aalubu also recorded tackles.
The loss moves the Spartans to 4-2 as Spearfish heads into the next stage of its 2026 schedule.
Spearfish Spartans Stats
Unofficial statistics compiled by Odrix Sports from the game.
Team Offense
Total offense: 298 yards
Passing: 7-of-16, 169 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: 27 carries, 129 yards, 2 TD
Passing
Thomas Hughes: 6-of-14, 165 yards, 1 TD
Owynn Meredith: 1-of-2, 4 yards
Rushing
Thomas Hughes: 15 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD
Graham Hughes: 12 carries, 72 yards
Receiving
Karsen Seyer: 3 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
Kade Vavruska: 1 reception, 55 yards
Liam Goetz: 2 receptions, 47 yards
Graham Hughes: 1 reception, 3 yards
Defense
Brock Lewis: 10 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Thomas Hughes: 6 tackles
Liam Goetz: 5 tackles, 3 pass deflections
Graham Hughes: 3 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Keller Vega: 2 tackles, 1 sack
Payton Jones: 2 tackles, 1 TFL
Ethan Foote: 2 tackles, 1 TFL
Kade Vavruska: 1 tackle, 1 pass deflection
Blake Andres: 1 tackle
Drew Durdall: 1 tackle
Jack Sharff: 1 tackle
Sean August: 1 tackle
Conner Aalbu: 1 tackle