Milbank's football team, three area volleyball teams lead top performers list for week ending Nov. 6
It’s nearing mid-November and the Milbank football team and volleyball teams from Hamlin, Florence-Henry and Arlington are still playing.
That’s a good enough reason why players from those four teams are being honored as the Public Opinion’s top area high school performers for the week ending Nov. 6.
The Bulldogs notched their seventh-straight win — a 24-0 semifinal victory over Vermillion — to advance to the state Class 11A championship game on Friday.
Hamlin swept Great Plains Lutheran 3-0 in the semifinals of Region 2A, Florence-Henry swept Milbank Area 3-0 in the semifinals of Region 1A and Arlington swept Estelline-Hendricks 3-0 in the semifinals of Region 3B to secure SoDak 16 Class A and B state-qualifying berths on Tuesday.
Winners of Tuesday’s matches advance to state.
Football
• Milbank Defense — Some individuals for the Bulldogs will get their due below, but the team’s entire defensive unit deserves mention for pitching its second shutout in two playoff games.
• Kaden Krause, Milbank — The Bulldogs’ quarterback rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns (1 and 9 yards) and also went 4-for-4 passing for 39 yards and a touchdown in the win over Vermillion.
• Sawyer Gauer, Milbank — Gauer hauled in the 11-yard scoring pass from Krause.
• Bennett Schwenn, Milbank — Schwenn rushed eight times for 59 yards, kicked a 21-yard field goal and a point-after kick and also added five tackles on defense.
• Connor Bender, Milbank — Bender made five solo tackles and two assists and added an interception.
• Karson Weber, Milbank — Weber opened his night with a big 29-yard reception on fourth down that set up the team’s opening score and finished with six solo tackles and one assist on defense.
• Leyton Raffety, Milbank — Raffety also was involved in seven tackles, five solos and two assists.
• Maddox Hanson, Milbank — Hanson chipped in with four solo tackles and two assists.
• Kalen Garry, De Smet — The top-rated Bulldogs had their season end with a 16-14 loss to top-seeded Herreid-Selby Area in a Class 9A semifinal. Complete statistics were not reported, but Garry did score both of De Smet’s touchdowns. One came on a 13-yard pass from Colt Wilkinson and the other on a 6-yard run.
Volleyball
• Gracelyn Leiseth, Hamlin — The Chargers are one win away from a return trip to state and Leiseth is a big reason why. She made 15 kills and three blocks in the semifinal win over Great Plains Lutheran.
• Addison Neuendorf, Hamlin — The eighth-grader isn’t playing like one for the Chargers. She had three aces and 20 digs.
• Kami Wadsworth, Hamlin — Steady as they go, Wadsworth had 16 assists and 14 digs in the win.
• Grace Everson, Hamlin — Everson also made 16 assists.
• Ally Abraham, Hamlin — Abraham provided eight kills in the front row.
• Caylin Kelly, Florence-Henry — The Falcons’ continued their quest for a first-ever state tournament berth with Kelly going 12-13 serving with 12 kills, six blocks and 33 digs against Milbank.
• Taylor Watson, Florence-Henry — Watson also was big, going 18-18 serving with two aces, 11 kills and 25 digs.
• Reese Schmidt, Florence-Henry — Schmidt went 13-13 serving and also tallied 28 assists.
• Macey Lane, Florence-Henry — Lane did her part with seven kills and 24 digs.
• Hadley Carlson, Arlington — The Cardinals are seeking their first state-tourney berth since 2014 and Carlson has led the way. She smacked 19 kills against Estelline-Hendricks.
• Morgan Larsen, Arlington — Larsen notched six kills and 13 digs in the win.
• Grace Parry, Arlington — Parry shook off the effects of a knee injury to record 27 assists and four aces.
• Harley Johnson — Johnson recorded 14 digs.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Milbank's football team, three area volleyball teams lead top performers list for week ending Nov. 6
