Winner headed back to the Dome

Focused. Determined. Locked down and ready to play.

That was the Winner Warriors Friday night as they defeated McCook Central/ Montrose 46-6 in the semifinals of the state football playoffs.

The victory sends the undefeated Warriors to the DakotaDome in Vermillion on Friday for the Class 11B  state championship. The game will be at 2:30 p.m. and the Warriors will take on Elk Point-Jefferson.

The Warriors are the two time defending state champions and have won 34 consecutive games.

The Warriors are attempting to win a third consecutive state title.

“You could tell how focused they were, how much film they were watching just based on the questions they were asking in practice,” said head coach Trent Olson.

“I am very proud of the kids. They have worked really hard for this. MCM is a very good team but the boys were extremely focused and took care of business,” explained Olson.

Winner put the first points on the board and that was crucial to setting the tone of the game.

Using his versatility to pass the ball, quarterback Blake Volmer completed a 9 yard pass to Shaw Hammerbeck for the first touchdown.

MCM drove to mid-field on the next drive and failed to convert a fourth down which allowed Winner to take over and five plays later the Warriors were on the scoreboard again. This time Volmer completed a 31 yard pass to Riley Orel.

Rounding out the first half, Aiden Barfuss scored on a one yard run. Winner took a 20-0 lead into the lockerroom at half.

Volmer said that first touchdown set the tone for Winner. “They are a good team. We knew they were not going to let up and that first possession set the tone and showed them Winner was ready to go,” said Winner’s quarterback after the game.

Winner scored two touchdowns each in the third and fourth quarters.

Barfuss scored his second TD on a 3 yard run with 5:17 left in the third period.

With 52 seconds left in the third period MCM got on the scoreboard.

However, Winner was going to respond right away. On the ensuing kickoff, Karson Keiser ran 76 yards for a touchdown and Winner is now up 34-6.

The third touchdown for Barfuss came in the fourth quarter on a 78 yard run. Four minutes later Jude Sargent plunges in from two yards out for the score.

The Warriors had a total of 397 yards of total offense with 332 of those yards coming on the ground.

Winner had 20 first downs to 13 for MCM.

Barfuss was the rushing leader with 162 yards. Keiser had 55 yards, Jack Peters, 48 and Riley Orel, 47.

In passing, Volmer was 4-9 for 65 yards.

Jack Peters said the victory was a great team effort. “We were locked down and focused that is for sure. We wanted it more than they did,” he said.

Winner again had a strong defense. Jack Kruger and Jack Peters both had 7.5 tackles. Jude Sargent had 6 tackles. Dalton Petersen had 3.5 tackles, Barfuss and Karson Keiser, 3 each, Shawn Hammerbeck 2.5 and Sam Scholz, 2.

The next step for Winner in their undefeated season is defending its state championship as they face Elk Point-Jefferson on Nov. 11 at 2:30 p.m.

“We have a great opportunity in front of us,” said Olson.