Though a call-and-response pattern kept the opposing teams on pace throughout the first half, the Dell Rapids Quarrier football team bested Dakota Valley in the long run, as the traveling Dells boys added another win to their season tally.

Visiting Dakota Valley Oct. 5, the Dells boys took the first advantage of the night, with Matt Kolbeck sending a 41-yard pass to Cole Langer for the first Quarrier touchdown. The Panthers responded, though, scoring off of a seven-yard run to tie the game, 6-6.

Still chugging through the first period, Dell Rapids put forth Kolbeck again, throwing a 24-yard pass this time to Riley Schmidt for a second Quarrier touchdown. And before the close of the first quarter, the Panthers had snuck into the lead with one more trip to the endzone and a kick, 13-12.

Dells regained the lead at the top of the second quarter, running in Schmidt for 19 yards and a Quarrier touchdown. Dakota Valley put up one more attempt for the night’s win prior to halftime, sending a 28-yard pass to take the score in the favor, 19-18.

But thanks to a second quarter pass from Kolbeck to Schmidt, Dell Rapids stayed ahead at the halfway point, 24-19.

And the game stayed in Dells’ control for the remainder, as the team posted two more touchdowns, one each in the final two quarters. Schmidt ran in a 47-yard rally for the third-quarter score, and Ryan Nichols ran in the fourth-quarter touchdown to finish the game up at 37-19.

Leading off the Dell Rapids defensive line was Colin LeBrun, who tallied 6.5 tackles on the night, while Nathan Koens, Bryce Koch and Cody Nielsen each brought down four Panther tackles.

Schmidt rushed for 80 yards that night, while Langer brought in 54 yards of rushing. Nichols and LeBrun each ran in 37 for the Quarriers.

Schmidt proved most successful in receiving, bringing in 66 yards for Dell Rapids, while Koch posted 45 and Langer 41. Additionally, Schmidt tallied 29 yards of kickoff return gains.

Finally, Kolbeck led the passing game for the Quarriers, throwing 155 yards of successful gains.

The Quarriers now sit at 5-1 for the season, outdoing the previously undefeated Dakota Valley team as the Dells boys head into an Oct. 12 Sisseton match-up.