In a game that started as a defensive standoff, the Sully Buttes Chargers found their rhythm midway through the first half, and pulled away with a 36-6 victory over Corsica-Stickney Thursday night in Class 9B quarterfinal action.
Sully Buttes tried to establish a rushing attack with backs Gavin Barber and Kadyn Westergren, but the Jaguar defense keyed on the backs. Junior quarterback Wesley Wittler then took opportunities to rush for 185 yards on 12 carries to slash the Corsica-Stickney defense, and then the Charger defense took over allowing Corsica Stickney little room to operate their potent double wing offense.
With Sully Buttes leading 14-6 at halftime, the Chargers then took control on offense, and scored on their second possession in the second half on a Wittler to Gavin Colson 65 yard strike to push it to 22-6 with the two point conversion. Sully Buttes then scored twice in the fourth quarter on a Wittler 27 yard run, and a Westergren six yard rush to seal the victory.
The Chargers finished the night with 388 total yards offensively, to Corsica-Stickney’s 230, with only 78 of those coming in the second half. Sully Buttes ups its mark to 9-1 on the season, while Corsica-Stickney ends its year at 7-3.
Thanks to eighth seeded Canistota’s 16-8 upset over top ranked Avon, the Chargers will now host the 7-3 Hawks Friday night in Onida in the Class 9B semifinals. The other matchup pits second seeded Faulkton, a 28-20 winner over 10th seed Colman-Egan, and third seeded Dell Rapid St. Marys, a 36-0 shutout over sixth seeded Kadoka in Dell Rapids.
