Drake Mikkelsen flies in for the score in the Orioles’ Friday night match-up against West Central. Mikkelsen caught two touchdown passes from Boston Katzer in the game as the Orioles went on to secure the 40-28 victory.
On Friday, Sept. 20, the Lennox High School Oriole football team secured an impressive 40-28 victory over West Central, improving their season record to 3-1. The win moved the Orioles to second in Class 11A rankings, behind Sioux Falls Christian.
Despite trailing at the half, the Orioles powered through with a 22-point third quarter, setting the stage for a comeback win.
Lennox found themselves behind 6-7 after the first quarter and 12-13 at halftime. However, a strong offensive surge after the break, gave the Orioles the edge they needed to defeat the Trojans.
The Orioles racked up 464 yards of total offense, with 311 coming through the air and 153 on the ground. Lennox also dominated the first-down count, securing 24 to West Central’s 17. West Central managed 305 yards of total offense, heavily reliant on their rushing game, with 264 yards on the ground and just 41 passing.
Quarterback Boston Katzer was a standout, completing 23 of 32 passes for 311 yards, including three touchdown passes, though he also threw two interceptions. Two of his touchdown throws were to Drake Mikkelsen, who had six receptions for 120 yards. Chase Faulds contributed five catches for 60 yards, including a touchdown, while Talen Eich added three catches for 49 yards. Tate Gerdes and Layton Smith each had five and four catches respectively, combining for 82 yards.
On the ground, Gerdes led the team with 24 rushing attempts, amassing 128 yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns. Katzer added five rushes for 25 yards.
Defensively, the Orioles’ effort was led by Jevyn Lefers and Max Weeldreyer, each recording a sack. Gerdes, Lefers, Weeldreyer, and Ramsey Williams tallied four tackles apiece, while Katzer and Braeden Harmelink each added three. Corban Hanneman, Nolyn Spielman, Nate Haar, and Aiden Hanssen also contributed with two tackles each.
Next up, the Orioles will host Dakota Valley (3-1) for their 2024 Homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 27. Dakota Valley has posted wins over Tri-Valley, Lakota Tech, and Dell Rapids, with their only loss coming at the hands of Canton earlier in the season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with a pre-game tailgate meal beginning at 5:30 p.m. hosted by the Band Boosters.