The Lennox High School Oriole football team stormed past the Dell Rapids Quarriers with a resounding 35-0 victory on Friday, Nov. 8 in semifinal playoff action to secure their place in the Class 11A State Championship game. Lennox, now 9-2 on the season, will face the undefeated Sioux Falls Christian Chargers (11-0) this Saturday, Nov. 16, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Kick-off is set for 12 p.m.
This will be Lennox’s first championship appearance since 2019 when they fell short to Canton.
With their last state title win dating back to 1982, Lennox is looking to end a 42-year drought.
Against the Quarriers, the first half proved to be a defensive showcase, with Lennox holding the defending state champions Dell Rapids—who clinched the title in both 2022 and 2023—to zero points. The Orioles were turned away at the goal line in the opening quarter after it appeared they breached the endzone twice on that drive.
Dell Rapids came close to breaking the scoreless tie with 23 seconds left in the second quarter, but their field goal attempt veered far left, leaving the game 0-0 at halftime.
Lennox’s offense exploded in the second half, led by standout performances from Ramsey Williams, Tate Gerdes, and Boston Katzer.
Williams initiated the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Gerdes soon followed with an 11-yard run, extending Lennox’s lead to 14-0. Katzer then connected with Drake Mikkelsen on a 63-yard touchdown pass, with Cloy McVey’s extra point putting Lennox up 21-0 with 4:43 left in the third.
The Orioles’ defense continued to pressure Dell Rapids, as Gerdes intercepted a pass with 2:53 left in the third.
In the fourth, Katzer ran it in from 41 yards out. The point after by McVey gave the Orioles a 28-0 lead.
The Lennox defense again flexed their muscles as Gerdes intercepted another pass and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown, boosting Lennox’s lead to 35-0 in the fourth quarter. Another interception by Braeden Harmelink wih 5:59 left in the game sealed the shutout.
Lennox head coach Shawn Flanagan praised his team’s disciplined play.
“The players executed at a high rate, played tough football in terms of blocking, tackling, shedding defenders, stopping the run and running the ball. We made big plays in the pass game and also didn’t allow big plays on defense and created turnovers through coverage, pressure on the qb, and getting to the ball. Special teams executed great not allowing big plays. Overall, it was great team football,” Flanagan said. “For us to be successful versus Sioux Falls Christian, we need to do the same.”
In the win over Dells, Lennox finsihed with 393 yards off offense, bettering Dell Rapids 182. Lennox had 176 passing and 217 rushing.
Katzer finished the night completing 11 of 15 passes for 176 yards. He also rushed for 55 yards on five carries.
Mikkelsen grabbed seven passes for 108 yards. Layton Smith grabbed two for 65 and Talen Eich also caught two passes.
On the ground, Williams rushed for 89 yards on 17 carries. Gerdes rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries.
Defensively, the Orioles had four interceptions in the game, two by Gerdes, one by Williams and another by Hamelink. Emory Lefers recorded a sack in the win. Max Weeldryer and Nolyn Spielman led the team in takcles with six each. Jevyn Lefers had five.