Colts nudge Titans, 8-2, on rainy night at Homecoming

Wet weather is the great equalizer, if you have two teams that struggle to score at times.

At least that's what Griggs/Midkota was banking on in search of their first victory of the season, when the Richland Colts stopped in Cooperstown as the Homecoming opponent Friday night, September 22.

Two plays represented all of the output in that game, but unfortunately for the Titans, it was the last one that counted against them in an 8-2 loss to the Colts.

"We actually played pretty well," Head Coach Ryan Dockter said. "Even with the rain limiting our ability to pass the ball, our offense moved the ball on the ground with 185 yards, but five turnovers with no points ended up killing us."

G-M (0-6, 0-6 Nine-Man Region 1) drew first blood in the latter minutes of the first half, and it was on a play that was nearly a field-position disaster.

Inside their own 10-yard line, the Colts were forced to punt, and the wet grip caused the Richland snapper to hike the ball over the Colt punter's head and into the end zone. The G-M defense pounced on the opportunity, as Rori Kautzman made the tackle for a safety and a 2-0 lead.

On the play, the Titan punt returner nearly didn't get back in time to get in position to field the kick, but that ultimately meant nothing with the errant snap.

Richland's only score came in the third quarter, on a six-yard run by Otto Dockter plus the two-point conversion play by Nicholas Wulfekuhle.

"The defense was flying around, making great plays," said Coach Dockter. "We had two sacks, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a safety, and an interception."

G-M's top rusher was Kindle Carlson, with 23 carries for 105 yards, and quarterback James Woodstead ran 12 times for 74 yards, on a night when the rain kept the passing games in check.

Lakin Ronningen had one catch for 20 yards and Wyatt Hoyt had the other reception, a seven-yard play.

Max Ludwig had four solo and seven assisted tackles, along with a sack, and Rori Kautzman had seven total tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Also in the stat books, Latrell Rainey had an interception, and Isaac Stadler was credited with a forced fumble.

G-M hopes that next Friday night in Cooperstown is the magic evening to get a victory, as the also-winless Enderlin Eagles come to town for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Nine-Man - Region 1 Football

Richland 8, Griggs/Midkota 2

Richland 0 0 8 0 - 8

G-M 0 2 0 0 - 2

Second Quarter

G-M: Safety, Rori Kautzman tackled Richland punter in end zone

Third Quarter

Richland: Otto Dockter 6 yard run (Nicholas Wulfekuhle run)

Griggs/Midkota Stat Leaders

Offense

Rushing: Kindle Carlson 23-105; James Woodstead 12-74