Tea Area Titans get decisive win over Aberdeen Central

The Tea Area High School football team turned in a dominant performance Friday, Sept. 5, earning a decisive 25-7 victory over Aberdeen Central. Behind a relentless defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack, the Titans controlled the game from start to finish.

Defensively, senior Hayden Bialas had a standout night. He registered four tackles, including one sack and another tackle for loss, broke up two passes, and blocked a punt. Beyond the stat line, his constant pressure disrupted the Golden Eagles’ passing game, forcing hurried throws and stalling drives.

On the offensive side, the Titans capitalized on the defense’s efforts with efficient scoring drives. Tea Area struck first on a Mitch Grant quarterback keeper for a one yard touchdown run in the opening quarter. The point after by Cameron Hillestad put the Titans up 7-0.  

In the third quarter, Tea Area put up two scores, one by Grant who took the keeper 26 yards for the score and another by Griffin Wiebenga who intercepted a pass and returned it 77 yards for the score. The point after was blocked again but Tea Area increased their lead, 19-0. 

In the fourth, Kade Korleski took the carry in for the score and despite the a failed attempt on the point, Tea Area held a commanding 25-0 lead. 

Aberdeen Central’s only score of the game came with just under four minutes remaining, leaving the final score 25-7. 

Tea Area finished the night with 296 yards of offense, gaining 213 on the ground and 83 in the air. 

For the Titans, quarterback Grant completed five of 12 pass attempts for 38 yards. Daschle Lowery completed two of three attempts for 45 yards. Wiebenga was the favorite target, grabbing three catches for 52 yards. Korleski had two catches for 25 yards and Caden Bohnenberger and Zac Webb each had one catch. 

On the ground, Grant led the rushing attack with 93 yards on nine carries. Korleski had 69 yards on 15 carries, Carter Brown 27 on seven carries and Braeden Gniffke 26 yards on six carries. 

Defensively, Bialas had a strong night for the Titans but was joined by fellow teammates Leyton Moran who led the team in tackles with nine and Emmett DeGeest who had eight tackles in the game. Moran also broke up a pass. Brown had seven tackles, Thiik Lual and Kingston Nyberg three each and Bohnenberger and Korleski two each. Korleski and Wiebenga each had an interception in the game. 

The Titans will host Huron in the 2025 Homecoming match-up this Friday, Sept. 12 with a 6 p.m. kick-off. Huron comes into the contest with a 1-1 record, having lost to Yankton (41-24) in the season opener and defeating Pierre T.F. Riggs last week, 13-7.