Titans score 28 unanswered points to defeat Mitchell

The Tea Area High School football team scored 28 unanswered points after halftime to pull away from Mitchell for a 41-21 victory Friday night, Oct. 9, at Titan Stadium.

The Titans held a 13-0 lead in the first quarter before Mitchell rallied to take a 14-13 advantage into halftime. Tea Area responded with a dominant second half, scoring four touchdowns while keeping Mitchell off the scoreboard until the final minutes.

Tea Area opened the scoring with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter when Devyn Rhodes broke free for a 69-yard quarterback keeper. The two-point conversion attempt failed, giving the Titans a 6-0 lead.

Tea Area extended its advantage with 1:59 left in the quarter when Mitch Grant scored on a two yard quarterback keeper. Landon DeRuyter added the point after to put the Titans ahead 13-0.

Mitchell answered in the second quarter, scoring on a one yard run with 8:14 remaining. The visitors added another touchdown on a four yard run with 30 seconds left in the half, taking a 14-13 lead into the break.

The Titans regained control in the third quarter. With 7:57 remaining, Grant connected with Lucas Randall on a 29-yard touchdown pass. DeRuyter’s extra point put Tea Area back in front, 20-14.

Tea Area added to its lead at the 2:13 mark when Rhodes scored on a 2-yard run. DeRuyter’s kick was good, giving the Titans a 27-14 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Grant delivered one of the game’s biggest plays early in the final quarter. At 7:26, he intercepted a Mitchell pass and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown. DeRuyter converted the extra point to extend Tea’s lead to 34-14.

The interception return was tied for the second-longest in Titan football history. The school record is 95 yards.

Tea Area struck again with 4:01 remaining when Rhodes connected with Griffin Wiebenga on a 10 yard touchdown pass. DeRuyter’s extra point made it 41-14.

Mitchell scored one final touchdown on a 90 yard run with 1:11 remaining, but the Titans maintained their lead to secure the 41-21 victory. The win improved Tea Area’s record to 6-1 and extended its all-time series lead over Mitchell to 4-0.

Tea Area finished with 272 yards of total offense, including 190 rushing yards and 82 passing yards.

Rhodes led the ground game with six carries for 136 net yards and two touchdowns. Grant added 46 rushing yards on seven carries and scored on a quarterback keeper.

Through the air, Grant completed five of eight passes for 46 yards, including the 29-yard touchdown to Randall. Rhodes completed five of seven passes for 36 yards, including the scoring pass to Wiebenga.

Lane Sieber caught three passes for 11 yards, while Randall had two receptions for 37 yards. Wiebenga finished with two catches for 22 yards, and Adam Berglund recorded two receptions for 12 yards.

The Titan defense helped secure the victory by forcing three Mitchell turnovers and delivering several key plays.

Grant recorded a sack and an interception, highlighted by his 92 yard touchdown return. Ben Bruns also had a sack, and Bruns and Thiik Lual combined for another sack. Bruns and Beau Wranek each recovered a fumble, while Ryles Kirschenman forced a fumble.

Sam Stansbury led Tea Area with 16 tackles. Brayden Gniffke recorded 11 tackles, followed by Grant with nine and Bruns with eight.

Tea Area will take on 3-4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt this Friday, Oct. 16 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. On Thursday, Oct. 22 the Titans will host Yankton in the final regular season game.