Are the Buffs tuff enuff to ruff up No. 1 Gregory
The Stanley County seniors have helped the Buffaloes rip off eight consecutive games on their way to a semi-final date with Gregory on Saturday.
Have been wanting to write something about this Stanley County squad all season. I follow the exploits of Damon Hoftiezer a bit as he's one of the best shot and disc guys in the state but after seeing the Buffaloes stumble out of the gate to an 0-2 start, I paid attention, but kinda figured this was a good team, just on the outside of dome contention.
And then, Stanley County goes and slaps around defending 9AA champ, Wolsey-Wessington, getting mine and everyone in the 9AA field's attention.
Damon Hofteizer looks like a load.
So, puttering around early this morning and hoping that Stanley County would post their stats on Maxpreps. Haven't given them a look stat wise all season so I rifled past QB Riley Hannum who has 5 TD passes on the season, wondering who is doing all the work on the ground. (I later went back and realized that Hannum has 366 yards rushing and 4 TD's.
Let's see, let's see...Hmmmmm, Trey Montana 8 games played, 919 yards and 16 TD's. Now, not sure if the stat numbers are perfect, but it's clear that Montana is doing some work on the ground and the Buffs rely on him along with Morgan Masteller to get the job done with a punishing ground game.
Trey Montana getting it done for the Stanley County Buffs.
Alright, so those first two losses and the 8-2 record are a tad deceiving.
Aug. 26, lost to Potter County - No shame in that, Potter County is the No. 1 team in 9A football and looking like a serious title contender from that division.
Sep. 2 - Head scratching, 39-6 loss to Sully Buttes who got crushed by Potter County in the regular season finale, but is looming down there in the bottom half of the 9A bracket taking on Warner in the semis on Saturday.
From there, all Stanley County has done is gotten better...
9/9 - Beat Lyman 33-0
09/16 - Beat Wall 21-13
9/23 - Beat RC Christian, 61-6
09/30 - Beat Kadoka, 40-0 win
10/14 - Beat New Underwood 55-6
10/20 - Beat Philip, 48-8
10/25 - Beat Hill City 52-0
10/31 - Beat Wolsey/Wessington - 35-28
Clearly, Stanley County has gotten better and that win over Wolsey/Wessington suggests these Buffs will be a handful. Hoftiezer looks like a handful in the blocking scheme and has three TD receptions on the season. Seeing a lot of beef up front there for Stanley County.
Is there a better collection of coaches in the 9AA field than -
Head Coach: Tom O'Boyle
Asst. Coaches: Max Foth, Lex Heathershaw, Steve Dolan, Kurt Seibel, Andrew Moore, Kyle Mobley
O'Boyle was the starting QB for the Coyotes in 82
Siebel is on his staff now, All-Time leading kicker and scorer in USD history
Heathershaw sounds like Wall and Max Foth, Sully Buttes has the basketball program turned around.
When the 9AA field was announced, it seriously looked like the toughest, most competitive of any in the state....Two Heavyweights of west river football collide on Saturday afternoon in Gregory and this should be one of the best games in the state, bar none....
