On to the playoffs!

It was a party 18 years in the making.

The Griggs/Midkota Titans broke a long playoff drought dating back all the way to 2006 with a 48-20 victory over the Enderlin Eagles at Hendrickson Field in Enderlin to earn the 9-Man – Region 2 crown.

The Titans (4-2, 3-0 Region 2) have just one game left on their conference obligations, as they played Richland on the road this past Friday. G/M will finish the regular season in Cooperstown October 11 against Tri-State (Fairmount/Campbell-Tintah, Minn./Rosholt, S.D.)

After that, they will have a first-round bye as a region champion in the 24-team playoff bracket, and would face the winner of the #2 vs. #3 seeds from Region 1.

Coach Ryan Dockter's Titans forced five first-half turnovers on the Eagles (2-4, 1-1), with four fumbles and a Trace Spickler interception.

"We had some trials earlier in the season, but our defense is playing really well right now," Dockter said. "Everywhere we go, [opposing] coaches give our guys the credit, as we are very physical upfront."

Cole Vincent had another game to remember offensively, rushing for 179 yards on 15 carries. He had three first half touchdowns, and added a fourth in the third quarter as the Titans rolled to a 48-0 advantage.

"Cole never gives up, and always keeps digging for those extra yards. We kept giving him the ball, and he kept finding the end zone," Dockter said.

Brady Haugen, the Titan senior quarterback, also ran for two scores in the first half, and had a 32-yard scoring play to Levi Kautzman in the first quarter.

With the starters resting up, Dockter got some of his younger players valuable experience against the Enderlin varsity. The Eagles scored their three touchdowns in the second half on two Orien Adargo passes, one to Jacob Cimbura and the other to Karson Gruba.

Gruba capped the game's scoring with a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Dockter singled out the play of those young players in the final 24 minutes.

"Kade Halvorson stepped up big for us on the offensive line after Colten Walker got injured in the May-Port-CG game," he said. "Dominic Ressler also came up big in the secondary with some nice plays, as we knew Enderlin was going to throw a lot."

While their opponent this past Friday, Richland, has not won a game yet this season, Dockter and his staff have made it a point to never overlook anyone.

"They've had a tough year, but they're scrappy," he said. "They do a good job at adjusting their style to the team they're playing. We look forward to the challenge, and are aiming for an undefeated season in Region 2."

Nine-Man - Region 2 Football

Griggs/Midkota 48, Enderlin 20

G/M 20 22 6 0 48

Enderlin 0 0 6 14 20

First Quarter

G/M: Brady Haugen 3 yard run (2 pt. conversion failed)

G/M: Levi Kautzman 32 yard pass from Haugen (Kindle Carlson pass from Haugen)

G/M: Cole Vincent 1 yard run (Vincent run)

Second Quarter

G/M: Vincent 62 yard run (2 pt. conversion failed)

G/M: Haugen 5 yard run (Carlson run)

G/M: Vincent 32 yard run (2 pt. conversion failed)

Third Quarter

G/M: Vincent 30 yard run (2 pt. conversion failed)

Enderlin: Jacob Cimbura 1 yard pass from Orien Adargo (2 pt. conversion failed)

Fourth Quarter

Enderlin: Karson Gruba 12 yard pass from Adargo (Adargo run)

Enderlin: Gruba 12 yard run (2 pt. conversion failed)

Griggs/Midkota Statistics

Offense

Passing: Haugen 3-5-54 yards-TD

Rushing: Vincent 15-179-4 TD; Carlson 13-61; Haugen 7-56-2 TD; L. Kautzman 6-29; Lane Ressler 8-26; Hunter Singletary 3-9; Max Ludwig 1-3; Isaac Stadler 1-1; Dominic Ressler 2-(-2)

Receiving: L. Kautzman 2-51-TD; Carlson 1-3

Defense

Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Ludwig (7-3); L. Kautzman (3-1); Trace Spickler (3-0); Lakin Ronningen (3-0); Stadler (2-2); L. Ressler (2-1); D. Ressler (2-0); Rori Kautzman (1-1); Haugen (1-1); Jace Boote (1-1); Vincent (1-0); Tristen Zaun (1-0); Hayden Schudar (1-0); Singletary (0-1)

Interception: Spickler

Tackles for Loss: L. Kautzman 2, Stadler

Forced Fumbles: Ludwig, Stadler

Fumble Recoveries: Wyatt Hoyt, L. Kautzman, R. Kautzman, Stadler