PHOTO OF THE DAY: BIG PICK – BIG WIN
Erick Buechler goes up for — and brings down — his second interception of the game during Scotland/Menno’s battle with Burke Friday night in Scotland. The Menno senior and the Trappers took care of business in a big away against the Cougars putting up 45 points in the first half en route to a 53-14 victory. Here’s the full report.
Trappers move to 3-2
Scotland/Menno is positioning itself to make playoffs for the first time since the football cooperative was established back in 2021, and the Trappers are certainly making a case that they belong there.
Facing Burke as part of Scotland’s homecoming celebration Friday night, Sept. 19, the black and gold posted another convincing win, taking down the Cougars 53-14 on the shoulders of another big game from senior quarterback Izayah Ulmer, who accounted for 304 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns from scrimmage.
The victory over Burke (2-3) came one week after the Trappers put up 62 points in a 46-point win over Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian and moved them to 3-2 on the season.
Adding optimism to the prospect of what would be the first playoff appearance since the football cooperative was established in 2021 is that, following their bye week next week, the Trappers face winless Colome on Oct. 3 — a game that will almost assuredly move them to 4-2. It gets tougher after that, with SM hosting a 5-0 Avon team on Oct. 10 — that’s Menno’s homecoming — before closing out its season against an unknown opponent in the Great Plains Conference finale on Oct. 17.
But based on power points, the Trappers are currently tied for 10th in the Class 9AA standings, and 16 teams make the playoffs.
The Burke win
Against Burke on Friday, SM showed the strength of an offense that has averaged 42 points per game this season, putting up 45 points in the first half while holding the Cougars scoreless. Burke finally found the end zone in the third period and both teams scored in the final quarter, but for all intents and purposes, the game was over by the half.
And the Trappers are getting it done without its three top running backs:
Senior Keyen Fischer is out for the season after tearing a ligament in his ankle against Corsica-Stickney on Aug. 29, junior Micah Goehring was lost for the season after breaking a collar bone in practice shortly thereafter, and freshman Riley Keppen fractured three bones in his wrist against Bon Homme on Sept. 5, although he is expected to return this season.
But, as they showed Friday night, the Trappers are finding other ways to move the ball. Of Ulmer’s eight completions for 187 yards, three of those went to Hunter Clark for 63 yards and two touchdowns, and three others went to Jarret Andretta for 61 yards.
Ulmer led the ground game with 117 yards and two touchdowns, but others got in on the action, too. Ryder Hauck carried the ball 10 times for 89 yards and a touchdown while Andretta rushed four times for 54 yards and a touchdown.
And the defense was stout, with Erick Buechler pulling down two interceptions and Brayden Kludt leading the way with five solo tackles and four assists. Carter Fischer added four tackles and three assists while Andretta had three tackles and three assists.
This is the first year the Trappers are playing in Class 9AA. In the four previous seasons as part of the 11B class, SM finished 3-5 its first year, 4-4 in 2022, 1-7 in 2023 and 2-6 last fall.
