Warriors remain undefeated

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner football coach Dan Aaker talks to the WHS team in a recent game. The Warriors are undefeated at 8-0 as they head into the playoff game on Oct. 24 in Winner.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Winner capped off a perfect regular season as they rolled to a 56-0 victory over Miller/Highmore-Harrold on Monday, Oct. 14.

With the win, the Warriors are 8-0 as they head into the playoffs. Winner also claimed its first SESD Conference title.

Winner will play Lead-Deadwood at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the first round of the playoffs. The playoff game will be in Winner.

“We played the way we should have played,” said coach Dan Aaker as he commented on the Miller game.

The Warriors got off to a great start with some big plays and a blocked punt.
Winner racked up 40 points in the first quarter and added 16 more in the second quarter. The game was over at halftime.

Six different WHS athletes scored touchdowns.

Trevor Peters opened the scoring on a 26 yard run. A minute later Preston Norrid intercepted a pass and scored a touchdown.

With 3:31 left in the first quarter, Sam Kruger scored on a 22 yard run.
Two minutes later Kaden Keiser scored on a 20 yard run to give Winner a 40-0 lead. With 36 seconds left in the first quarter, Peters scored his second touchdown on a 20 yard run.

Younger players had their chance to score in this game. Evan Farner scored a touchdown on an 18 yard run in the second quarter.

The scoring was capped by an 8 yard run by Aaron Gilchrist. The Warriors piled up 208 rushing yards.

There was no one big rushing leader as the wealthy was spread over several players. Peters was the leading rusher with 60 yards followed by Farner, 39 yards; Keiser and Jack Peters both with 23 yards and Sam Kruger with 22 yards.

On defense, Landon Thieman and Fred Whiting both had 5 tackles; Bosten Morehart, 4.

Aaker says an undefeated season is nice for the team. The last time the Warriors ended the regular season undefeated was in 2016 and they were also undefeated in 2015.

This week Winner has bye week and it gives them time to prepare for playoffs.

“We are going to get back to more individual breakdown in practice,” said Aaker. “We are going to try and work on the fundamental part of each position.”

It is estimated that Winner will be the No. 2 seed in Class 11B with Bridgewater/Emery-Ethan the No. 1 seed.

The high seed will allow the Warriors to host all three rounds of the football playoffs.

Playoff football
Winner will host Lead-Deadwood in the playoff game on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.
Lead-Deadwood has a record of 3-5. Coach Aaker says the Gold Diggers have some speed and have big play ability.

“We will continue to work on fundamentals in practice as we prepare for Lead-Deadwood,” said Aaker. “With a Thursday game our schedule is a little different but I have no concerns that it will affect us,” said the coach.

Aaker added: “Having home field advantage is important and it is good to know someone will have to beat us on our home field to take us out. Class 11B has some quality teams and the new format should make it interesting.”

The coach said at this stage of the season everyone is 0-0. “There is no tomorrow and we will treat each game that way.”

Cowboys end season

By Colton Hall
Staff writer

Colton Hall/Winner Advocate Photo
The Colome Cowboys put a cap on their season with a 36-20 loss to Centerville on Friday, Oct. 18. Pictured is head coach Gene Bertram who would lead the Cowboys to a 1-7 record in his first year at the helm.

The Colome Cowboys didn’t enjoy their best start of the season en route to a 36-20 loss at Centerville Friday, Oct 18.

For the rest of the story, pick up this week’s edition of the Winner Advocate or subscribe to the Winner Advocate at 1-605-842-1481!

Runners qualify for state

Kernit Grimshaw Photo
Winner Area boys cross country team won the Region 4A title Thursday in Chamberlain. Pictured from left are Dawson Phillips, Joseph Laprath, Kade Watson and Kylar Meek. This is the first time the Winner boys have won the regional.

It was a good day for the Winner Area cross country team.

For the rest of the story, pick up this week’s edition of the Winner Advocate or subscribe to the Winner Advocate at 1-605-842-1481!

Warriors roll over Miller

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Phillip Jorgensen makes a tackle on a Mt. Vernon/Plankinton ballcarrier on Sept. 27.

The Winner football team rolled to a 56-0 shut out over Miller Monday afternoon in Miller. The game ended at the half due to the mercy rule.

For the rest of the story, pick up this week’s edition of the Winner Advocate or subscribe to the Winner Advocate at 1-605-842-1481!

Runners place second in meet

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The Winner area country team includes in front from left Matthew Calhoon, Leila Balsiger, Katherine Jankauskas, Melanie Brozik, Saige Schuyler and Roper Moore. In back from left are coach Jayd Schuyler, Joseph Laprath, Meagan Blare, Kylar Meek, Dawson Phillips, Aryn Meiners, Kade Watson, Hayden McMurtrey and coach Reagan Nielsen.

Winner Area boys and girls cross county teams both took second place in the SESD Conference meet in Burke on Oct. 7.

For the rest of the story, pick up this week’s edition of the Winner Advocate or subscribe to the Winner Advocate at 1-605-842-1481!

Cowgirls fall to Lyman

The Colome Cowgirls seemed to get outmatched on Monday, Oct. 7 when they fell in three sets of scores of 25-16, 25-17, and 25-10 to Lyman.

Haley Krumpus led Colome (8-12) in kills with five, and aces with two.

Elizabeth Yeamen recorded the only block for the Cowgirls. Saydee Heath finished with a team leading eight digs. Krumpus would also finish with five digs.