Spartz's late interception return secures Arrows' homecoming victory over SF Washington

If you're a Watertown High School football fan, the script for a homecoming football game couldn't have worked out any better on Friday night.

Owen Spartz's 75-yard interception return with 16 seconds left lifted the fourth-rated Class 11AA Arrows to a 41-27 victory over Class 11AAA Sioux Falls Washington in front of a typical huge homecoming crowd at Watertown Stadium.

The loss snapped Watertown's 12-game losing streak against Sioux Falls Washington that dated back to 2006. Watertown beat the Warriors 17-14 in their homecoming game that season.

"This was awesome. It's homecoming for the seniors and everyone showed up. It was huge," said Spartz, a senior. "You can see all the people storming the field. It was electric. It was a fun deal."

The best part of the night is that it was an entertaining matchup between two pretty evenly-matched teams. Yes, Washington to fell to 1-3 but the Warriors do play in the state's top class and certainly were a formidable matchup for the Arrows.

Washington twice led by one point, including 27-26 with nine minutes remaining on quarterback Thomas Hoffman's third-down pass to Lane Knutson from 7 yards out.

The Arrows couldn't let that be the ending and wrote their own. It started with a lengthy drive that ended when senior running back Juven Hudson fumbled while nearing the end zone and junior center Jayden Lambert pounced on it for the go-ahead score with 3:33 left. Hudson added the conversion run to put Watertown ahead 34-27.

"I've never felt that feeling (scoring a touchdown) before and it felt really good," said Lambert, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound junior who also plays defensive line. "I thinking Juven's going to fall in the end zone when I see the ball just pop out. I just dove on it and held on for dear life."

Holding on for dear life was the same feeling the Arrow football team and fans had in the final three minutes when they watched Hoffman, who completed 23 of 38 passes for nearly 450 yards and three touchdowns, led the Warriors back down the field.

Washington had pushed it's way into Watertown territory before Spartz picked off Hoffman and dashed to the end zone for a the game-deciding score.

"It definitely wasn't me that won the game," said Spartz. "It was team effort. Everyone played an amazing game. Our defensive line and linebackers stepped up and our defensive backs did too. We had lot of injuries but everybody stepped up. It was awesome."

The game turned out to be somewhat of a passing shootout between Hoffman and Watertown's Treyton Himmerich.

Hudson, Watertown's senior standout running back and the Champion of Arrows for homecoming week, again drew plenty of defensive attention and had to work hard to produce 125 yards rushing on 27 carries.

The Arrows needed to mix things up and that's where Himmerich delivered, completing nine of 15 passes for 227 yards. That performance included two TD passes to Nathan Briggs (57 and 28 yards) in the first quarter, a 7-yarder to Mitch Olson late in the first half and a 45-yard scoring pass to Spencer Wientjes in the third quarter.

Hoffman kept Washington around all game, tossing TD passes to Jhace Woods (83 yards) in the first quarter, Pierce Gomarko (56 yards) late in the third quarter and Knutson early in the fourth quarter. Hoffman also scored on a 33-yard TD jaunt in the second quarter.

Hoffman teamed with Woods six times for 155 yards, Carter Akkerman six for 142, Gomarko three for 72 and Jakob Kruse five for 71. Dontai Smith recorded two quarterback sacks for Washington's defense.

Briggs made three catches for 127 yards before leaving with an injury for the Arrows. Hach had five solo tackles and three assists, Wientjes 4-3, Lambert 3-2, Austin Johnson 2-4 and Caden Beauchamp 2-3 for the Arrow defense. Lambert was credited with two sacks and Hach, Wientjes and Beauchamp each one. Lambert recovered two fumbles.

Watertown snapped a one-game losing streak before visiting top-rated and six-time defending state Class 11AA champion Pierre at 7 p.m. next Friday. Pierre rallied in the second half to beat No. 2 Yankton, which downed Watertown last week, 27-14.

"This is a big win for us," said Lambert. "Next week will be even bigger for us. We have to prove that we are one of the best teams in Class 11AA."

Week 4 Football: Yankton's Lucas Kampshoff throws for 371 yards, four total TDs in win

Great Plains Lutheran 44, Sunshine Bible Academy 14

WATERTOWN — Micah Holien rushed for 165 yards and scored four touchdowns in Great Plains Lutheran's homecoming victory on Saturday afternoon at Watertown Stadium.

Holien rushed seven times and scored on runs of 25, 76 and 7 yards. He also caught a 17-yard scoring pass from Brody Scharlemann for the Panthers, who led 44-0 in the first half.

Scharlemann also tossed a 10-yard TD pass to Alex Heil and Thomas Erickson dashed 32 yards for another score for the Panthers (2-3). Erickson added 92 yards rushing and Kowynn Muhl 49. Austin Rubendall recorded six tackles, including two quarterback sacks, for GPL's defense. Muhl chipped in with four tackles and Heil an interception with a 44-yard return.

Troy Paul rushed for 153 yards and a 91-yard TD for SBA (0-4). Tarrence Mickelson scored on a 21-yard run.

Aberdeen Central 21, Mitchell 6

MITCHELL — Brayden Comstock and Cordel Rychlik each returned interceptions for touchdowns to help the Golden Eagles (2-2) win the Kernel Bowl.

Parker Lemer added a 5-yard TD run for Aberdeen. Rychlik finished with two interceptions.

Parker Denne scored on a 25-yard run for Mitchell (0-4).

De Smet 14, Wolsey-Wessington 6

De SMET — Second-rated Class 9B De Smet (3-1) slipped past third-rated Class 9AA Wolsey-Wessington with the help of two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing) from Britt Carlson.

Carlson ran for 45 yard and completed four of eight passes for 51 yards, teaming with Tom Aughenbaugh three times for 51 yards and a TD. Melville Deloye added two point-after kicks.

Gannon Gilligan recorded 13 tackles, Slayten Wilkinson 12 and Trace Van Regenmorter, Tristan Olson and Kadyn Fast nine each for De Smet's defense. Grant Wilkinson and Aughenbaugh each added eight and Carlson seven.

Moshe Richmond scored for Wolsey-Wessington (2-2). He finished with 41 yards rushing and 69 receiving. Caleb Richmond went 8-for-18 passing for 94 yards and also ran for 89. Gabriel Case contributed 56 rushing yards and Collin Hughes six tackles.

Sioux Valley 42, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 6

VOLGA — No. 2 Sioux Valley throttled No. 3 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan in the battle of rated Class 11B squads.

The Cossacks (5-0) racked up 354 yards rushing. Donovan Rose rushed 12 times for 138 yards and two scores (47 and 14 yards), Boden Schiller 16 for 106 and two scores (2 and 4 yards) and Brock Christopherson six for 95 and a TD (50 yards).

Sioux Valley also scored on a 12-yard pass from Schiller to Hudsyn Ruesink and on three conversion runs by Schiller,. Ruesink caught two passes for 23 yards. Skylar Trygstad and Ruesink each had eight tackles and Schiller and Caden Murphy seven each. Trygstad and Jakob Guthmiller each contributed interceptions.

BBE (4-1) scored on a 9-yard pass from Drake Gustafson to Taite Klumb. Gustafson completed seven of 14 passes for 81 yards and added six tackles on defense. Wyatt Anderson recorded eight tackles and Macklen Weber 43 yards rushing.

Week 3 Football: Watertown handles Huron, Deubrook Area turns back Great Plains Lutheran

Warner 69, Castlewood 16

WARNER — Hunter Cramer rushed 10 times for 121 yards and four touchdowns and also completed 11 of 14 passes for 225 yards and another score for second-rated Class 9A Warner (4-0).

Gage Broderson added three touchdowns and Payton Volk two for the Monarchs, who also scored on an interception return.

Lane Tvedt completed eight of 18 passes for 101 yards and two scores (one to Jackson Schofield and the other to Brody Bass) for the Warriors (1-3). Schofield caught four passes for 44 yards. Cameron Eng made seven tackles and Yader Munoz five.

Deuel 24, Groton Area 6

GROTON — Trey Maaland compiled 362 yards of offense and three touchdowns to help Deuel (5-0, 4-0) remain unbeaten with the Northeast Conference win.

Maaland rushed 22 times for 215 yards and two scores (49 and 19 yards) and also completed six of 15 passes for 157 yards and an 87-yard TD pass to Oliver Fieber. Robert Begalka contributed a safety and Brandon Fieber two point-after kicks.

Groton Area (3-2, 3-2) scored on an 8-yard pass from Lane Tietz to Christian Ehresmann. Tietz completed 17 of 26 passes for 143 yards, teaming with Keegan Tracy five times for 69 yards.

Ehresmann notched 14 tackles, Brevin Fliehs eight and Logan Ringgenberg seven for Groton Area, which also got an interception from Tietz. Maaland, Kaden Tekrony and Reed VanWormer led Deuel's defense. Oliver Fieber added an interception.

Waverly-South Shore 58, Florence-Henry 36

HENRY — Zach Ries completed 22 of 42 passes for 294 yards and six touchdowns for Waverly-South Shore (1-4 overall and 1-2 in the Eastern Coteau Conference).

Ries teamed with Cody Thompson three times (5, 15 and 22 yards), Sam Appelhof twice (37 and 8) and Kyle Kneeland once (22) on TD passes and also scored on a 1-yard run. Ries, also ran the ball 15 times for 58 yards, tossed three conversion passes and added a conversion run.

The Coyotes' defense also joined the act with a 70-yard fumble return for a TD from Colton Schroeder and a safety by Evan Eschen.

Appelhof hauled in seven passes for 159 yards and Thompson nine for 89. Thompson also ran for 47 yards.

The Falcons (0-4 and 0-2) got two TD passes from Dawson Lantgen to Tate Hartley (44, 45 yards), two TD runs from Karter Kohlenberg (17 and 1) and another by Tristyn Sumner (1 yard). Sumner added two conversion runs and James Kahnke another.

Kohlenberg rushed 25 times for 159 yards and Sumner 10 for 49. Lantgen went 7-12 passing for 129 yards, connecting with Hartley three times for 92. Kohlenberg was involved in 15 tackles, Kahnke seven and Carter Frost six, including three quarterback sacks.

Week 2 Football: Watertown football opens season with dominant home win

Hamlin 43, Leola-Frederick Area 8

LEOLA — Tyson Stevenson passed for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the second-rated Class 9AA Chargers (5-0).

Stevenson threw TD passes to Turner Stevenson (6 yards), Easton Neuendorf (15 yards) and Zac VanMeeteren (20 yards) and also scored on a 1-yard run. He went 13-19 passing for 211 yards and also ran for 62 yards.

Mason Trowbridge scored on runs of 80 and 65 yards and finished with six carries for 198 yards. Turner Stevenson caught four passes for 66 yards and Neuendorf four for 57. Jackson Wadworth was involved in 10 tackles, VanMeeten seven with three quarterback sacks and Jameson Nebel six.

Gavin Nickelson scored on a 1-yard run and also recorded six solo tackles for LFA (3-2). Noah Kippley had four solo tackles and two assists and Austin Mantei five solos.

Deubrook Area 50, Iroquois-Lake Preston 6

WHITE — The Dolphins improved to 4-1 with multi-touchdown performances from four players in the win over the 0-5 Sharks.

Gavin Landmark rushed five times for 119 yards and three TDs (4, 60 and 48 yards) and Ty Landmark eight for 86 and two scores (35 and 16 yardsa. Jace Vomacka completed three of five passes for 141 yards, including two to Jake Jorenby for 101 yards and two TDs (31, 70).

The Dolphins were cited for a team effort on defense. Brady Gladis had an interception and a fumble recovery and Devin Landmark also recovered a fumble.

Parker 18, Clark-Willow Lake 12

PARKER — Landon Wieman passed for 140 yards and two scores and also contributed 14 tackles to lead Parker (2-3) to the win over Clark-Willow Lake (1-4).

Wieman also rushed for 34 yards and Michael Even 33. Ray Travnicek caught five passes for 122 yards. Connor Even added eight tackles and Andrew Even and Lincoln Kippes seven each for the Pheasants. Travnicek added an interception.

The Cyclones scored on a pass from Emmerson Larson to Lincoln Reidburn. Larson completed 10 of 24 passes for 108 yards and also rushed for 25 yards. Reidburn had 37 yards receiving.

Canistota 24, Elkton-Lake Benton 12

ELKTON — Top-rated Class 9A Canistota improved to 5-0 with the win over the fourth-rated Class 9AA Elks (4-1).

Tage Ortman led the winners, completing 12 of 22 passes for 189 and a touchdown and rushing 17 times for 115 yards. Cayden Scott added two TD runs and caught three passes for 75 yards. Brady Scott made six catches for 69 yards and Ty Doblar two for 38 and a TD.

Colt Beck rushed 21 times for 146 yards and two TDs and also completed 18 of 25 passes for 185 yards for the Elks. Carson Griffith caught seven passes for 104 yards and Tanner Stein nine for 49. Blake DeVries recorded 8.5 tackles and Griffith 6.5 on defense. DeVries, Beck and Taiton Boersma each recovered fumbles and Quinten Poindexter intercepted a pass.

Week 1 Football: Week 1 high school football roundup: Britton-Hecla hangs on vs. Great Plains Lutheran

Kimball-White Lake 52, Potter County 8

GETTYSBURG — Iden Myers racked up 263 rushing yards and three touchdowns for Kimball-White Lake, which improved to 2-3.

Gavin Braun added 121 rushing yards and a TD. Lucas Lenz and Blake Leiferman hauled in touchdown receptions. Graden Holan added 11 tackles and Myers nine.

Aberdeen Roncalli 42, Mobridge-Pollock 22

ABERDEEN — Zane Backous rushed 17 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns and also completed five of 11 passes for 100 yards and three TDs to lead Roncalli (4-1).

Backous scored on runs of 1, 9 and 29 yards and also completed TD passes to Aiden Fisher (40 yards), James Behan (11 yards) and Jett Johnson (11 yards). Fisher rushed 13 times for 79 yards. Keegan Stewart and Behan each had interceptions on defense.

Jackson Eisemann threw TD to Mack Saxon (4 yards) and Simon Fried (65 yards) for Mobridge-Pollock, which fell to 2-2. Eisemann rushed for 56 yards and completed 14 of 28 passes for 136 yards, including seven to Fried for 110. Saxon, who rushed for 57 yards, and Fried each intercepted passes and Brayden Wientjes recovered a fumble.

Estelline-Hendricks 14, Colman-Egan 6

COLMAN — Mattix Hausman tossed scoring passes to Carson Reitz and Wyat James for the Redhawks, now 2-2.

Hausman gained 133 yards rushing, completed five of nine passes for 34 yards and also had an interception. Matthew McAninch contributed 13 tackles and Camden Miller 11. James Axtell scored on a conversion run.

Jack Mousel completed 17 of 33 passes for 172 yards, including a TD to Jace Mousel, for Colman-Egan (0-4).

Webster Area 48, Dakota Hills 0

WEBSTER — Five players scored touchdowns for Webster Area (2-3) in the victory.

Carson Mount scored on runs of 1 and 13 yards, Brent Bearman 14 yards, Gavin Witt 30 yards and Tommy Vergeldt 38 yards. Jacob Keller added a 43-yard punt return for a score.

Witt and Mount each finished with 39 yards rushing and Ian Lesnar completed five of 10 passes for 67 yards.

Defensive leaders for the Bearcats included Bearman, six solo tackles, two assists including a sack; Matthew Mount 6-3, Isaac Nelson 6-2, Trey Dunse 4-4 and Gage Baumgarn 4-2. Jeron McCreary intercepted two passes and Keller one.

Dylan Rumpza rushed 12 times for 57 yards and also made five tackles for Dakota Hills. Caleb Miller and Brooks Dolan each contributed four tackles.

Faulkton Area 50, Northwestern 0

MELLETTE — The top-rated Class 9B Trojans improved to 5-0 behind three TD runs from Garrett Cramer (15, 13 and 5 yards).

Landon Coyle scored on a 16-yard run and a 21-yard fumble return, Kamryn Rhodes dashed 46 yards for another score and Charlie Deiter hauled in a 25-yard scoring pass from Layne Cotton for Faulkton Area.

Landon Braun made eight tackles for Northwestern (0-5), which was held to zero yards of offense (8 passing and negative-8 rushing).

Ipswich 44, Herreid-Selby Area 20

HERREID — Ipswich (3-2) knocked off fifth-rated Class 9B Herreid-Selby Area (3-2) behind a big games from Max Kulesa.

Kulesa completed 19 of 30 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns, two to Trevor Heinz (17 and 24 yards) and one each to Chet Peterson (17 yards) and Kyle Hettich (10 yards). Heinz set a school record with 15 receptions, covering 177 yards. Hettich hauled in seven for 81. Casey Geditz ran for 79 yards, including a 15-yard TD.

HSA scored on runs by Kaleb Claymore (5 yards), Houston Hauge (35 yards) and Mason Vetter (5 yards. Hauge gained 106 yards on 13 carries and Wayde Grage went 7-for-12 passing for 107 yards, teaming with Vetter three times for 49.

Hettich made 17 tackles, Peterson 15 and Justin Rohrbach 13 for Ipswich. Tristan Kvansnicki had 10 for HSA.

Avon 32, Hitchcock-Tulare 28

AVON — Noah Watchorn's 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter lifted fourth-rated Avon past third-rated Hitchcock-Tulare in a battle of rated Class 9B teams.

Aziah Meyer (28 and 41 yards) and Paxton Bierema (1 yard) added TD runs for Avon (4-1), which also scored on a 37-yard pass from Bierema to Trace Pelton.

Erik Salmen found the end zone on runs of 67 and 64 yards and on an 11-yard pass from Brendan Nowell. Blaze Binger added a 2-yard scoring plunge for the Patriots (3-2).

Dell Rapids St. Mary 46, Arlington 8

DELL RAPIDS — Nic Gaspar, Lucas Flemmer, Lincoln LeBrun and Owen Vargas each had a hand in two touchdowns for St. Mary (3-2).

Gaspar, Flemmer and LeBrun each had TD runs. Vargas tossed TD passes to Gaspar and LeBrun and Flemmer also returned an interception for a TD.

Gaspar finished with 76 yards rushing and 9.5 tackles, Flemmer 67 yards rushing and 7.5 tackles and LeBrun 59 yards rushing. Vargas completed six of 10 passes for 71 yards. Camden Gilbert and Carlo Pica each also intercepted passes.

DRSM outgained Arlington (1-3) 344-209 in total yards.

Wagner 18, Sisseton 15

SISSETON — Wagner (3-1) spoiled Sisseton's homecoming by holding on for the win.

The host Redmen (1-4) scored on a 50-yard fake punt by Ethan DeSpiegler and on an 8-yard pass from DeSpiegler to Christian Shepherd.

DeSpiegler completed 12 of 30 passes for 199 yards, combining with Nate Tchida six times for 136 yards and Shepherd five for 39. Landyn Steichen rushed for 42 yards. Caden Gibson was involved in seven tackles, Mason Shultz five and DeSpiegler four.

Jhett Breen rushed for 115 yards and Gannon Knebel 107 for Wagner, which got six tackles from Karstyn Lhotak.

Other Friday Games

Dakota Valley 42, Milbank 0

Tiospa Zina 36, Omaha Nation (Neb.) 0

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Week 5 South Dakota High School football coverage