Warriors Come Back, but Lose in OT Against 16th-Ranked Foe
By Zach Throne
Waldorf showed a lot of tenacity on Saturday in Dickinson, ND when they fought back to tie the game with three seconds left in regulation, only to lose in overtime 28-21.
The Warrior football team almost achieved what has not been done in years in conference play: beat Dickinson State on the road.
Waldorf faced a 14-point deficit with a little over nine minutes to play but showed no signs of quitting.
“We always are in the game, no matter the score or time left,” said sophomore safety Trevor Gunderson, “Defense needed stops and the offense needed two scores to tie, and that is what we did. Unfortunately, we were not able to come out on top.”
The Warriors dominated the game statistically: gaining 160 more yards and running 32 more plays than the Blue Hawks.
Jeff Jones and Hilton Joseph did most of the heavy lifting for the Warriors offense, totaling 198 yards rushing while Joseph threw 62 of his 154 passing yards to Jones.
The dynamic duo scored a touchdown each on the ground and Cameron Newsome scored the third on a 23 yard pass from Joseph.
The Warrior defense shut down the Blue Hawk offense, as well.
While only giving up 21 points, the Warriors held the talented Dickinson State offense to only 243 total yards.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the kind of defense we played against a very good team,” said sophomore safety MaCoy Yeakel, “We are itching to play them again when they come to our place.”
The other seven points given up to the Blue Hawks was on an interception taken back for a touchdown.
Caleb Wilson totaled nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack, which came late in the fourth quarter during the Warrior come back.
Cameron Newsome stepped up with an interception during the fourth quarter.
After Newsome’s touchdown to bring the Warriors within one point with only three seconds, Waldorf lined up to go for two and the win, but Dickinson State called a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, the Warriors lined up for a two-point conversion yet again, but a five-yard illegal snap penalty by Zach Throne caused head coach, Josh Littrell, to bring out the field goal unit.
Kicker Slater Gifford kicked the ball through the uprights to tie the ballgame 21-21.
Dickinson State scored on the first possession of OT in only two plays, and the Waldorf offense did not gain a first down during theirs to lose 28-21.
Waldorf (2-2, 0-1) takes on Valley City State (3-1, 1-0) here at 2 p.m. on Oct. 5.