Sports

WNG Sioux take down fifth-ranked St. John

By Tyler Ohmann

10/08/2013

The Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn Sioux traveled straight into St. John and handed the Woodchucks their second loss of the season last Friday.

The Sioux used a pair of early scores to take a 16-0 lead and never relinquished that lead, resulting in a 38-20 lead over the 5-1 Woodchucks, who were ranked fifth in the state.

“There was nothing to pinpoint specifically, it was just execute, execute, execute,” said Sioux head coach Tom Nesvold. “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot so many times, ending a drive with a pick returned for a touchdown or a fumble, so limit the turnovers and don’t compound the mistakes by trying to do too much.”

“Do your job, stay consistent, and that’s the way it was all game, we got out front, stayed out front and never trailed,” Nesvold added.

Senior Ethan Miller snagged both a 10-yard touchdown and the following two-point conversion from fellow senior Hunter Braaten in the first quarter to put WNG up 8-0.

The Sioux struck again in the second quarter as Braaten rushed in a touchdown from 10 yards out. Braaten again found Miller for a conversion to go up 16-0.

The Woodchucks would draw within a score after a touchdown later in the second.

WNG added another score to kick off the second half. Again it was through the air as Braaten this time found Reese Schell for a six-yard score. The conversion failed, but the Sioux led 22-8 largely thanks to the aerial assault.

“We started to put some quarters together,” Nesvold said on the win. “The biggest thing is that we hung on to the football, and got into a rhythm.”

The St. John connection of Kiefer Langan to Andrew Hanretty hooked up for the second time in the game later in the third to draw the Woodchucks within 10.

However, Hunter Braaten all but put the game away later in the third as he jettisoned to an 80-yard touchdown and followed it up with a successful conversion run to put WNG up 30-12.

In the fourth Langan would score for the Woodchucks, but the Sioux would again answer with a 25-yard run from Chase Conway. Miller and Braaten hooked up for a third two-point conversion to conclude the game with a 38-20 win.

Braaten concluded the strong effort with an impressive 22 carries for 189 yards and two scores. Through the air he had one of the best games of his career in his fourth-year as the Sioux leader, finishing 15-of-19 for 176 yards and two scores. He did throw two picks.

Miller had his best effort of the season snagging eight balls for 107 yards and the one score.

WNG’s defense was also good as they forced three turnovers, had five pass deflections and five sacks.

Senior Hawkin Smette was particularly impressive as he had 15 solo tackles, including three for a loss, recovered a fumble and a sack.

Conway was also in double digits in tackles with 10 solo and eight assists, two for a loss, and recovered a fumble, had a sack and deflected a pass.

Also with sacks were Dustin Weeks with two and Mike Lemay. Weeks also had four tackles for a loss.

WNG’s (5-2) season has been eerily similar to last season where the Sioux had their share of struggles in the regular season, but then put together a spirited run that led all the way to the Dakota Bowl, where they finished runner-up. That experience from a year ago is a bonus according to Nesvold.

“Just by past experience, most of them at least by watching have seen that it can be done,” Nesvold said. “You just have to continue to execute well, throw the ball, run the ball, catch the ball, block and tackle. Every coach will tell you that.”

“Now do that consistently, that’s what happened Friday night,” Nesvold added.

The Sioux will play their final road game of the regular season on Friday as they travel to take on Drake-Anamoose.

Nesvold said it won’t be an easy win by any means, especially due to the Raiders size.

“It doesn’t get any easier this week, Drake is huge,” Nesvold said. “We just have to approach it the same type of way, and do our jobs and things will take care of themselves.”

“We need to make plays where plays are available,” Nesvold added.

The Raiders are also 5-2 on the season, with their two losses coming to undefeated Towner-Granville-Upham and Divide County. They haven’t played St. John.