Using a balanced attack of run and pass, the Sully Buttes Chargers defeated the Canistota Hawks 34-28 Friday night in Onida to advance to the Class 9B football championship Thursday morning in Vermillion at the DakotaDome.
The Chargers started the scoring with a Wesley Wittler 6 yard run-set up by a Wittler to Gavin Colson 42 yard pass and after the missed two point conversion, the score sat at 6-0.
But not for long. After the ensuing kickoff, Canistota started at the 50 yard line and the first play saw a Easton Miller 50 yard run to knot it up at six after Canistota missed their extra point try.
Later in the first quarter, Hawks quarterback Brody Scott flipped Miller a two yard pass to give the Hawks a 12-6 lead. On the play of the next possession, Charger quarterback Wittler found Gavin Barber open for a 70 yard score to tie the game up at 12 apiece.
After a Canistota fumble, Wittler ran it in from nine yards out to go up 20-12 after the conversion. And on the next Sully Buttes possession, Wittler scooted it around left end for a 45 yard score to go up 28-12.
The Hawks found their rhythm in the second half and put up two scores to Sully Buttes’ one, and as the Hawks were driving, they stalled at the Charger 20 yard line and the ball went over on downs.
The Chargers had 479 total yards offensively to Canistota’s 258. The Chargers will face Faulkton Area, a 48-22 winner over Dell Rapids St. Marys. These two teams met September 29th, with Faulkton Area getting a 28-8 victory in Onida.
