2 weeks Ago By Landon Dierks
WATERTOWN — For a half, the Mitchell High School football team gave No. 1-ranked Watertown all it could handle in a bid to spoil the Arrows’ Homecoming. But in the end, Watertown was too much for the Kernels, claiming a 47-14 victory in Eastern South Dakota Conference action on Friday night at Watertown Stadium.
Mitchell led the top-ranked Arrows 14-7 midway through the second quarter and trailed just 21-14 at halftime after limiting Watertown to 12 yards on 15 rushing attempts, including sacks in the opening 24 minutes of play. ADVERTISEMENT “We put the challenge to the kids this week, and the kids answered the bell. They were going to want to come out and run the football, and we kind of took it away from them for a half,” said MHS coach Pat Larson in a postgame interview with KORN-AM.
“It's just a half, but I told the kids at the end of the game, we have something to build on now.” Hudson Borgan helped kick start Mitchell’s strong open to the contest, as a long punt return set up the Kernels inside Watertown territory to start their second possession, which Mitchell turned into its first points in more than nine quarters of play. Parker Denne plunged in for a 2-yard rushing score, capping a 10-play, 38-yard march for a 7-0 lead.
After Watertown converted a Jeremiah Schulte interception into a Treyton Himmerich touchdown pass to Markus Pitkin from 24 yards out to tie the contest, Mitchell went back in front early in the second quarter. TJ Jellis, who missed last week’s Kernel Bowl game with an illness, connected with Hunter Magee for a 25-yard touchdown for the 14-7 advantage. But from there, it was all Arrows, who scored 40 straight points to close the game.
Himmerich found Mitch Olson for two touchdown passes covering 20 and 9 yards, giving Watertown its 21-14 halftime edge. In the third quarter, Marcus Fossum scored rushing touchdowns from 5 and 18 yards out, bookending an interception return touchdown by defensive lineman Jayden Lambert that put the home team ahead 41-14 through three quarters. Himmerich and Olson connected for a third time early in the fourth quarter to bring the game to its final margin.
In all, Watertown (3-1, 3-0 ESD) capitalized on six Mitchell turnovers (five interceptions and one fumble), turning four into touchdowns. For Mitchell, Parker Denne gained 102 total yards (67 rushing, 35 receiving), while Hudson Borgan added 60 yards (46 receiving, 14 rushing). Jellis was 11-of-21 for 138 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Logan Bessler had three catches for 25 yards. Defensively, Kaiden Allen racked up 10 total tackles, including five for loss with two sacks, while Borgan added nine stops. Bessler had five tackles, and Mason Kempf had three tackles with one sack.
Mitchell (1-3, 0-2 ESD) is on the road again next week for a meeting with Tea Area at 6 p.m. Sept.
27. It marks the inaugural game between the two teams with the Titans as members of the ESD Conference. ADVERTISEMENT Watertown 47, Mitchell 14 Scoring summary First quarter MHS: Parker Denne 2 rush (Hunter Magee kick), 4:17 WAT: Markus Pitkin 24 pass from Treyton Himmerich (Talan Jurgens kick), 0:56 Second quarter MHS: Magee 25 pass from TJ Jellis (Magee kick), 10:37 WAT: Mitch Olson 20 pass from Himmerich (Jurgens kick), 4:56 WAT: Olson 9 pass from Himmerich (Jurgens kick), 1:39 Third quarter WAT: Marcus Fossum 5 rush (Jurgens kick), 7:59 WAT: Jayden Lambert 30 interception return (kick failed), 7:01 WAT: Fossum 18 rush (Jurgens kick), 3:37 Fourth quarter WAT: Olson 9 pass from Himmerich (kick failed), 10:18 Subvarsity scores Junior varsity: No game this week Freshmen: Mitchell 34, Huron 12.
