Titans prevail in defensive battle

When he looked at the defense statistics following his team's 16-6 win over the Maple River Raiders on Friday, September 13, Griggs/Midkota Coach Ryan Dockter had nothing to criticize.

Two sacks, two interceptions, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble, and the opposition's only touchdown coming on a recovered offensive fumble in their own end zone, meant that the Titans got their second win of the season and surpassed last year's victory total halfway through the fall slate.

"Our defense played big on Friday," Dockter said. "They set up the offense to be able to do our thing."

That thing was the Titans' ground-and-pound rushing offense, led by quarterback Brady Haugen and running back Cole Vincent.

Vincent scored G-M's eight points in the first quarter with a five-yard run and the two-point conversion, while Haugen punched it in from two yards out in the second quarter and Kindle Carlson added the deuce.

Those two first-half scores would end up holding up against the Raiders (1-3, 0-1 Region 2). Haugen finished as the game's leading rusher with 71 yards on 14 carries, while Vincent's 60 came with struggles on occasion, needing 19 attempts for that statistic.

G-M made a concerted effort to keep the clock moving, as Haugen only attempted five passes in the game. His one completion went to Trace Spickler for eight yards.

But the story of the win was the defensive effort. Vincent loomed large with two picks.

"We felt the last couple years we should have beaten Maple River, and this year we challenged the kids," Dockter said. "We knew they had a talented QB/RB combo, but felt we could be more physical up front."

Levi Kautzman finished with eight tackles, and Isaac Stadler had six.

Last Friday was one of the tougher matchups for the Titans in Region 2, as the May-Port-CG Patriots visited Cooperstown for Griggs County Central's Homecoming week.

"MPCG was picked as the favorite to win the region," said Dockter. "We'll have to play some good team ball, but our guys have been great accepting some tough tasks thus far."

Nine-Man - Region 2 Football

Griggs/Midkota 16, Maple River 6

MR 0 0 6 0 6

G/M 8 8 0 0 16

First Quarter

G/M: Cole Vincent 5 yard run (Vincent run)

Second Quarter

G/M: Brady Haugen 2 yard run (Kindle Carlson run)

Third Quarter

Maple River: Fumble recovery in G/M end zone, player unknown (2 pt. conversion failed)

Griggs/Midkota Statistics

Offense

Passing: Haugen 1-5-8 yards

Rushing: Haugen 14-71-TD; Vincent 19-60-TD; Levi Kautzman 4-21; Carlson 7-12; Brady Dewald 2-6

Receiving: Trace Spickler 1-8

Defense

Tackles (unassisted/assisted): L. Kautzman (8-0); Isaac Stadler (6-2); Vincent (4-3); Carlson (4-3); Haugen (4-2); Lakin Ronningen (3-4); Max Ludwig (3-3); Rori Kautzman (3-1); Colten Walker (0-1); Dominic Ressler (0-1); Lane Ressler (0-1); Tristen Zaun (0-1)

Sacks: L. Kautzman, Stadler

Interceptions: Vincent 2

Tackles for Loss: L. Kautzman 2, Carlson, Stadler

Forced Fumble: Stadler