Titans’ season ends with 21-14 loss to Sturgis Brown
The Tea Area High School football team saw its season come to an end Thursday, Oct. 29, with a 21-14 loss to Sturgis Brown in the first round of the Class 11AA playoffs in Tea.
The loss marked the first time Tea Area has fallen to Sturgis Brown. The Titans had won the previous six meetings between the two programs.
Tea Area got on the scoreboard first, taking a 7-0 lead with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter when Devyn Rhodes scored on a one yard run. Landon DeRuyter added the extra point.
Sturgis answered in the second quarter, tying the game at 7-7 on a 12 yard touchdown run. The Scoopers took the lead in the third quarter on a 37 yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave Sturgis a 14-7 advantage.
Sturgis extended its lead to 21-7 early in the fourth quarter on another touchdown run from 37 yards out.
The Titans continued to battle and cut the deficit to 21-14 with 4:25 remaining when Rhodes found the end zone on a five yard quarterback keeper. However, Tea Area was unable to close the gap further before time expired.
For the Titans, Rhodes led the ground game with 87 net rushing yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. He also completed 12 of 21 passes for 163 yards. Henry Fortin also gained 23 yards on eight carries and Beau Werder gained 12 yards on two carries.
Adam Berglund led the receiving corps with 57 yards on three catches, while Lane Sieber added four catches for 31 yards. Grifin Wiebenga had 27 yards on three catches and Grant McKnelly had one grab for 32 yards.
Defensively, Brayden Gniffke led Tea Area with seven total tackles. Trevin Audiss added five tackles, while Thiik Lual also recorded five tackles, including a sack. Ben Bruns also recorded a sack in the game and had four tackles. Wiebenga, Werdel, and Landen Bolte also had four tackles in the game.
Sturgis Brown advances to the Class 11AA semifinals, where it will face top-ranked Pierre on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in Pierre.
Titans Earn Five All-Conference Football Honors
Five Tea Area football players were named to the Eastern South Dakota Athletic Conference (ESD) AA Football All-Conference Team.
Representing the Titans were Trey Krell, a senior offensive lineman; Mitch Grant, a junior defensive back; Hayden Bialas, a senior defensive lineman; Thiik Lual, a junior defensive lineman; and Landon DeRuyter, a junior kicker, who earned special teams honors.