Okoboji bounces back

Sports Staff

The Okoboji football team used a balanced offensive attack to get back into the win column Friday on the way to a 34-14 Class 2A District 2 road victory over Buffalo Ridge.

The Pioneers broke open a scoreless tie midway through the second quarter when Ryan Wurtz connected with T.J. Alger for a 22-yard scoring pass. Tat Schmeling made the PAT kick to make the score 7-0 with 5:40 left in the first half.

Wurtz tossed his second scoring strike of the game four minutes later, hitting Blake Kliegl for a 33-yard touchdown pass to build the lead to 14-0.

Max Burgeson gave Okoboji a 21-0 lead with 9:40 left in the third stanza, capping off a six-play, 53 yard drive with an eight-yard scoring run.

Buffalo Ridge cut the deficit down to 21-14 with two straight scores, but the Pioneers quickly took control of the game with another long scoring drive.

Okoboji marched 54 yards on nine-plays on their first drive on the fourth quarter. Wurtz snuck over the goal line for a one-yard scoring plunge to make the score 28-14 after the extra point kick by Schmeling.

Kevin James got into the scoring action late in the fourth after the Bison turned that ball over on down on their final possession. James finished off Buffalo Ridge with a 22-yard scoring jaunt with 1:04 remaining in the game.

The Pioneers ended up rushing for 165 yards and passing for 162 yards. Wurtz was 9-of-18 for 162 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Kliegl lead the way through the air with four catches for 92 yards and a score. James hauled in three passes for 29 yards and Alger reeled in two for 41 yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, Burgeson carried 13 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. James toted the ball eight times for 85 yards and a score as well. He averaged 9.8 yards per carry in the contest.

Defensively, the Pioneers held the Bison to 182 total yards. They also forced four turnsovers (three interceptions, one fumble recovery) and recorded four sacks. Austin Millard had two sacks and five tackles. J.B. Ellis has five tackles and an interception. Taylor Louscher recorded six stops and recovered a fumble. Pat Lahr led the team with 16 tackles and had a sack while Tate Hansen finished with nine stops. Wurtz also had two interceptions.