Rebels drop triple OT heartbreaker

(Photo by Jeff Hasselmann) Sioux Central quarterback Trevor Tiefenthaler runs around the Spirit Lake defense for a 21-yard touchdown Friday, Sept. 5, 2008 in Albert City. [Order this photo]

Managing Editor

Calling it a game he won't "get over personally for a long, long time," Sioux Central Head Coach Jeff Tiefenthaler lamented his team's triple overtime loss to South O'Brien Friday night at Sioux Rapids, 15-14.

"It was an unbelievable loss…We dominated the first half but it was penalty after penalty."

Despite dominating the first half, all of the scoring the Rebels could manage was a 4-yard run by tailback Mike Ripke with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter.

"We had multiple opportunities to score, but penalties seemed to kill us. I felt like we should have been up 30-0. Sometimes that comes back to haunt you."

It did.

In the third quarter, quarterback Trevor Tiefenthaler went down and didn't return.

"When we lost our quarterback midway through the third quarter, we really started to struggle after that," Coach Tiefenthaler explained.

With about 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines would score and convert the 2-point play to knot the score, setting up the overtime showdown.

In the first overtime, outside linebacker Cole Erikson intercepted the ball and set the Rebels up well, but they would unable to score from the 2-yard line.

Both teams exchanged fumbles on the first plays of the second overtime.

South O'Brien would draw first blood in the third extra frame, and hit the extra point to go in front 15-8.

Sioux Central responded with an 8-yard touchdown toss from backup quarterback Caleb Miller to Jesse Hanson, but opted to go for the 2-point attempt.

"We went for the 2-point try because our quarterback (Trevor Tiefenthaler) is also our kicker," the Rebel coach explained.

After a penalty moved Sioux Central to the Wolverine 1 1/2-yard line, the South O'Brien defense came up big, stuffing the scoring try to end the game.

Ripke finished with 25 carries for 99 yards, and Trevor Tiefenthaler ran for 88 yards on 19 carries before leaving in the third quarter. The status of his injury is unknown.

* Sioux Central will travel to Hawarden next Friday night where they will face West Sioux in a 7 p.m. game.