Penalties and Turnovers Stop the Upset Bid

Senior Quarterback Isaac Sanchez looks down field as he tries completing a pass against Dickinson State for homecoming on Saturday. Photo Credit Matt Oliver

By: Damon Helgevold

Turnovers, penalties, and second half struggles held Waldorf from upsetting 14th ranked Dickinson State on Saturday. Waldorf came into the homecoming game riding a roller coaster. The warriors gave the Blue Hawks some breathing room to pull away with a 49-20 victory on homecoming Saturday.

“We can’t press or panic when we are only down eight at the half,” head coach Kent Anderson said at the halftime break of Saturday’s game.

Waldorf pressed and pressured themselves into bad situations time and time again. After giving up an opening pick six when Quarterback Isaac Sanchez, who subbed in two downs into the game for Hilton Joseph, threw a poorly thrown ball over the middle of the field, and it was taken 64 yards to the house. Waldorf quickly fired back though, driving down the field and scoring but missing the extra point making it 7-6. On the ensuing kickoff, coach Anderson pulled out a gutsy play call by kicking an onside kick which was recovered by the Warriors. Later that drive, it appeared that on another trick play freshman wide receiver Sam Huntley connected with Sanchez on a wide receiver pass for a touchdown. The play didn’t stand as Waldorf had an ineligible man down field.

Just before the halftime break, Dickinson State intercepted Sanchez again this time taking it 99 yards for another defensive touchdown.

“Turnovers and penalties, if you can’t win the turnover margin and have too many penalties, there is no way you win a football game,” Anderson said.

In the second half Waldorf failed to find stride, as the 14th rated team took over and won by the final of 49-20.

Waldorf accumulated 503 yards of total offense, 34 first downs and three total touchdowns. On the flip side, they gave up three defensive touchdowns, and committed 12 penalties for 116 total penalty yards.

The Warriors look to clean up their game as they travel to Mayville State this Saturday to take on the Comets in a North Star Athletic Association game.