By Becky Walz,
It was a big game full of big plays.
Unfortunately, eight-man Kee (9-1) made more Friday night in Jackson Junction, handing Turkey Valley (9-1) its first loss of the season and knocking the Trojans out of the postseason. Kee advances to the round of 16 and will travel to Easton Valley Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.
“This was a heartbreaking end to a great season. The boys played their hearts out but in the end Kee made plays to win the game,” said TV coach Mark Scott. “The seniors of Marcus Herold, Garrett Kurtenbach, Dylan Reicks, Collin Kleppe and Austin Kuehner were great leaders and will be missed. The four years that they were part of football Turkey Valley was 31-9 with three playoff appearances.”
Back-and-forth
Turkey Valley broke through the ice first. On its first possession, the Trojans drove down the field with Noah Hanson connecting with Dylan Reicks on a 49-yard pass play for the score. Stopped on the 2-point play, it was 6-0. Kee took the lead on a 16-yard pass from Tyson Cota to Damon Weber, converting on the two-point play for the 8-6 lead. A 29-yard scamper by Marcus Herold set up the Trojans’ second touchdown of the game when Hanson dove from the 1-yard line into the endzone with 3:18 left in the first quarter.
Controlling the pigskin to start the second period, Kee’s Weber found Dalton Dibert for a 17-yard pass to put the Hawks up 16-12. The TV offense went to work on several drives, but couldn’t find a rhythm. Those drives ended in a punt and later the ball was turned over on downs. Calvin Bodensteiner’s interception in the end zone saved a Kee score. On the Trojans final drive of the first half, put TV in the red zone, only to see the Hawks pick up an interception of their own with 1:07 remaining in the half.
The third period started with the two squads trading punts before Hanson scrambled in the pocket and found Garrett Kurtenbach for a TD. With the two-point play broken up, Kee continued to lead 22-18. The Trojan defense held the Hawks off the board in the third. TV started its final drive of the quarter on their own 35-yard. By the end of third quarter, Herold broke through a couple tackles to find the end zone to give TV a 26-22 lead.
TV kicked off to start the fourth period and watch the ball slide through the fingers of a Hawk player. A heads up play by Ryan Franzen gave the Trojans possession on the Kee 25. Taking the snap, Hanson pitched the pigskin to Reicks who completed a pass to G. Kurtenbach for the touchdown and a 34-22 lead. The Hawks put up another passing TD as TV held a 34-28 lead with 9:38 left to play. Herold pulled the Trojans further out front on a 25-yard scamper, 40-28 with 7:26 remaining. Undeterred, Kee’s Weber scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown and brought the Hawks to within four, 40-36 at the 5:11 mark. Forced to punt on their next possession, the Trojans continued to cling to the advantage before Weber aired it out again to Dibert for a 37-yard score and the 42-40 lead. Fifty-nine seconds remaining in the game and the Trojans couldn’t get their offense on the move to score.
Getting the stats
The Trojans picked up 265 yards rushing and 95 passing for 360 yards total.
By comparison, Kee had 79 yards rushing and 299 passing for 378 yards.
Turkey Valley was led by Marcus Herold who had 205 yards on 25 carries. Noah Hanson picked up 58 yards on 16 carries and passed 5-for-14 for another 73 yards. Dylan Reicks caught two passes for 55 yards, while Garrett Kurtenbach had three receptions for 35 yards.
Herold was a monster on defense. He picked up 11.5 total tackles, with four solo stops. Oliver Schmitt was there for 9.5 total tackles (3 solo), while Reicks had three solo tackles and 8.5 total. Calvin Bodensteiner and Ryan Franzen had one interception each.
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F
Kee 8 14 0 20 42
T. Valley 12 0 14 14 40
Scoring sequence
1st Quarter
Turkey Valley – Dylan Reicks 49-yd. pass from Noah Hanson (2-pt. pass failed)
Kee – Tyson Cota 16-yd. pass from Damon Weber (Buddy Hill 2-pt. run)
Turkey Valley – Hanson 1-yd. run (2-pt. pass failed)
2nd Quarter
Kee – Dalton Dibert 17-yd. pass from Weber (Dibert 2-pt. pass from Weber)
Kee – Cota 31-yd. pass from Weber (2-pt. pass failed)
3rd Quarter
Turkey Valley – Garrett Kurtenbach 8-yd. pass from Hanson (2-pt. pass failed)
Turkey Valley – Marcus Herold 32-yd. run (Hanson 2-pt run)
4th Quarter
Turkey Valley – G. Kurtenbach 22-yd. pass from Reicks (Calvin Bodensteiner 2-pt. pass from Hanson
Kee – Cota 22-yd. pass from Weber (2-pt. pass failed)
Turkey Valley – Herold 25-yd. run (2-pt. pass failed)
Kee – Weber 3-yd. run (Hill 2-pt. run)
Kee – Dibert 37-yd. pass from Weber (2-pt. pass failed)
Game stats
Total yards: TV 360; Kee 378
Passing (comp/att/yds): Noah Hanson (5-14, 73 yds. 2 TD, 1 INT); Dylan Reicks (1-2, 22 yds., 1 TD)
Rushing (att/yds): Marcus Herold (25-205, 2 TD); Hanson (16-58, 1 TD); Reicks (3-3); Carson Busta (2-(-1))
Receiving (att/yds/TD): Reicks (2-55, 1 TD); Garrett Kurtenbach (3-35, 2 TD); Herold (1-5)
Tackles (total): Herold (11.5); Oliver Schmitt (9.5); Calvin Bodensteiner (9.0); Reicks (8.5); C. Busta (7.0); G. Kurtenbach (6.5); Ryan Franzen (6.0); Robert Kruse (3.5); Troy Schmitt (2.0); Chase Hayek (1.5); Burke Busta (0.5)
Interceptions (no/return yds): Bodensteiner (1-14); Franzen (1-0)
Punts (att/yds): Herold (4-129)
Kick-offs (att/yds): Treyton Hulbert (7-271)
Kick-off returns (att/yds): Hanson (1-20); G. Kurtenbach (2-0); C. Busta (1-0); Herold (1-0); T. Schmitt (1-0)
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