Taming Cougars: Killdeer handles Heart River in regional game

Sept. 07--The last time the Killdeer football team was tagged with a state ranking, things didn't go well.

As the No. 2-ranked team, the Cowboys traveled to Hazen feeling confident and lost 21-6.

Coming into Saturday's game against Heart River, No. 4-ranked Killdeer refused to let the ranking get in their head and beat the Cougars 38-15 at the Biesiot Activities Center.

"Honestly, we don't really think about it we haven't said a word about it in practice," Killdeer quarterback Trenton Rohr said. The senior finished the game 8 of 10 with 134 yards and three touchdowns. "Last year, we were second going into Hazen and we made a lot of mistakes and we kind of let it get to our heads and we folded. This year, especially the seniors, aren't going to let that happen."

Killdeer, playing host team, didn't take long to get its offense moving down the field. Lewis Dobitz caught a 66-yard pass for a touchdown and an 8-0 lead two minutes into the first quarter. Dobitz scored the team's other first half touchdown with an 84-yard run.

In the first half alone, Dobitz logged 106 rushing yards and 66 receiving yards. He finished the game with 132 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Cougars cut their deficit down to six as Heart River quarterback Cole Olson blocked a punt by Hayes LeMieux and was recovered by Kadyn Malkowski at Killdeer's 14-yard line. Three plays later, Clayton Tangen scored the team's first touchdown on a 2-yard run. Tangen finished with 19 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

"We started out really good and then we just had too many mistakes in that first half," Tangen said. "I know we were still in it but, I think we were a little too confident and we came out and things started slipping. It just went downhill from there."

While Heart River was able to keep it close in the first half, the Cowboys raised the bar in the second half and flew right past the Cougars. The Cowboys scored 24 unanswered points -- including an 82-yard interception return by Rohr -- to insure their victory. Killdeer finished with 334 total yards, two interceptions and three sacks on Olson.

"We got a little bit better this week but a lot of missed opportunities, still turned the ball over a lot, missed tackles we just got to get better, I'm not satisfied," Heart River head coach Mike WilliamsKilldeer's a good football team, I give credit to them. They did a good job executing on offense and stopping us on defense."

For Heart River, Cade Shypkowski led his team with 14 carries for 90 yards. Seth Keator ran for 26 yards on 10 carries and receiver Seth Privratsky finished with three catches for 69 yards. Olson was 4 of 10 for 73 yards and two interceptions.

"All-around I think our kids really contributed," Killdeer head coach Lou Dobitz said. "A team like Heart River, on defense especially everybody's got to help out. We did a good job with team football."

While the Cowboys have many positives to take away from Saturday, there are a few glaring issues which will be addressed in practice before they travel to New Salem-Almont-Glen Ullin on Friday.

"Responsibilities and assignments and things like that on defense," Lou Dobitz said. "With the blocked punt, for example, that's an assignment deal. Somebody missed their assignment and gives Heart River momentum and kind of snowballs. We'll see it on film but we can see what we can get better at."

HR 0 8 0 7 -- 15

Killdeer 14 0 12 12 -- 38

First quarter

K -- Lewis Dobitz 66 pass from Trenton Rohr (John Knopik run good)

K -- Dobitz 84 run (Dobitz run failed)

Second quarter

HR -- Clayton Tangen 2 run (Tangen run good)

Third quarter

K -- Dillan Jepson 6 pass from Rohr (Dobitz run failed)

K -- Jepson 13 pass from Rohr (Jepson kick failed)

Fourth quarter

K -- Rohr 82 interception return (Jepson kick failed)

K -- Dobitz 22 run (Jepson kick failed)

HR -- Tangen 10 run (Cole Olson kick good)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: HR, Cade Shypkoski 14-90, Clayton Tangen 19-75, Seth Keator 10-26. K, Lewis Dobitz 10-132, John Knopik 8-43, hayes LeMieux 1-9, Tuff Kling 1-8, Trenton Rohr 4-8.

PASSING: HR, Cole Olson 4-10-2 73. K, Rohr 8-10-0 134.

RECEIVING: HR, Seth Privratsky 3-69, Blayne Smith 1-4. K, Dillan Jepson 4-49, Dobitz 2-66, Derek Tabor 1-10, Kling 1-9.

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