BRAVES TO HOST SECOND PLAYOFF GAME

    The Britton-Hecla football team got the playoff monkey off its back on Thursday, ending a six-game losing streak in the first round of the Class 9AA playoffs by stopping Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 34-14.
    The fourth-seeded Braves will be seeking to keep that momentum going when Sioux Falls Lutheran comes to town this Thursday for a 7 p.m. matchup.  The 12th-seeded Eagles (4-5) upset fifth seed Waubay-Summit 34-16 in first round play.
    “Sioux Falls Lutheran presents a different challenge than we are used to,” said B-H coach Jacob Skogstad.  “They have a lot of really good playmakers and a good quarterback.  They love to spread it out and get short completions to their guys in space.  We know that they are going to complete passes, but we need to tackle really well in the open field and make them go 70 yards in 15 plays rather than in two to three big chunks.  I expect our lines to be a difference-maker.  I think we can lean on them both offensively and defensively to make plays for us.  It should be a really fun high school football game.”
    Skogstad was pleased with what he saw from his club in the playoff opener.
    “I thought we came out and really executed well early in the game.  Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan did a nice job mixing run and pass to move the chains and keep it close.  We knew they would have a solid game plan and I’m proud of the way our boys responded in the second half to close the game out.”
    At halftime it was still anybody’s game with the Braves holding a 12-8 advantage.  Once again Skogstad’s crew shot out of the starting blocks.  Ben Suther cranked off a 24-yard gain on first down and four plays later Jace Rein, who had a hand in all five of the Braves touchdowns, found paydirt from the 13 for a 6-0 B-H lead when the PAT kick hit the upright.
    Suther pounced on a fourth down fumble to put his team back in business and on first down he grabbed a quick out pass and scampered 59 yards for a touchdown.  This time the PAT boot was blocked and B-H led 12-0 with 8:23 still remaining in the opening period.
    Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan was able to steady the ship on its next possession, driving 71 yards to the Braves nine yard line.  But defensive end Chaz Vietor ended the threat when he snatched a pass attempt.  Then the visitors forced a three-and-out and responded with a 36-yard scoring run with 40 seconds left in the opening period and ran the conversion to cut the margin to 12-8.
     The Braves nearly duplicated B-EE’s long first quarter drive with one of its own to open the second quarter.  But after using up 9:09 of the quarter, picking up five first downs and having a first down on the Seahawks’ 14, B-H came up empty on a fourth and two from the seven and went into the locker room at halftime with a 12-8 lead.
    Britton-Hecla dominated the second half.  After forcing a three-and-out the Braves used up another 5:38 on the clock and this time Rein found Mitchell Burger with a 23-yard scoring toss on a fourth and four and Lofton Heer booted the point for a 20-8 lead.
    Suther forced another turnover when he intercepted a pass just before the end of the third stanza and four plays later Rein scampered 41 yards for a touchdown and Heer kicked the point.  With 10:33 left in the game the Braves were in control 27-8.
    But the Seahawks wouldn’t go away, completing a 35-yard pass to the B-H 24 and then hitting another for a quick score to get back in the game 27-14 with 9:45 to play.  The Braves recovered an onside kick and converted a couple of third downs on an eight-play drive that ended with a Rein five-yard TD run with 6:05 remaining to shut the door on the Seahawks.
    The Braves piled up 211 yards rushing and 151 passing to win the total yardage battle 362-234.  Rein had a monster game with 108 yards rushing on 15 tries, hitting 10-14 passes for 151, and scoring three touchdowns on the ground and passing for two more.  Suther added 91 yards rushing on 21 attempts and led receivers with three grabs for 56 yards.  Colton Chapin led the defensive effort with 12 tackles and Suther had 5.5 stops.