Canistota beats Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan in Sioux Falls 16-8

SIOUX FALLS — Canistota’s school-record winning streak extends to 26.

The Hawks’ defensive effort secured a 16-8 victory, and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan’s comeback attempt was stopped short. Canistota’s Isaac Fuhrman deflected a pass on fourth-and-7 with 1:13 to play in the fourth quarter Friday night at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes SoDak Bowl at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls.

It was the second year in a row Canistota beat the Seahawks in Sioux Falls.

“Our defensive effort was huge,” said Canistota head coach Lenny Schroeder, whose team has two back-to-back 9-man state football titles and hasn’t lost since the 2009 season. “In the end, they were moving the ball pretty easily. But at key times we had good pressure up front.”

Canistota quarterback Cody Bunger, who scored both of the Hawks’ touchdowns, said the defense won the game.

“Our defensive effort was stellar,” Bunger said. “I think we played the best power football team we’ve ever played.”

Neither team scored in the first half of the game, but both had looks inside of the red zone.

“We need to make those plays when we have the chance, and we didn’t do that,” said BEE head coach Jeff VanLeur, whose team suffered its first loss of the year. “I’m very proud of our effort and thought we played hard.”

It took until the fourth quarter until the Seahawks found the end zone.

“Our defense was holding it out for us but the offense wasn’t doing what it needed to,” Bunger said. “We needed to make changes on the offense and we did that.”

The Hawks, the defending 9A champion, scored 16 points in the third quarter to separate themselves from BEE, the defending 9AA state champion. Bunger made a 1-yard touchdown rush to put the first points of the game on the scoreboard with 5:26 left to play in the third quarter. The run was set up by a 25-yard pass to Alex Robertson from Bunger on fourth-and-19.

Later in the third, Canistota got a break when Fuhrman recovered BEE’s Anthony Huber fumble at the BEE 35-yard line. Canistota then lengthened its lead to 16-0 on a 2-yard rush from Bunger.

Bunger went 7-of-8 passing for 79 yards, while Robertson and Eric Tieszen each had 91 yards rushing for the Hawks.

The Seahawks lone touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard TD pass from Jace Conner to Clayton Dye.

BEE’s Anthony Huber led with 84 yards rushing followed by Conner with 54 yards and Kyelle Herrick with 30 yards. Conner also completed 7 of 8 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in the game.

“(BEE) have always been our rivals from the get-go, and playing a team that you’re friends with makes your emotions run high,” Bunger said. “We played well and we’re just so hyped up that we won.”

Schroeder said he’s proud of his team’s effort in the game.

“This is the game that people mark on the calendar,” Schroeder said. “It always means something when you play a big rival like these guys. We’ve been fortunate the last few years, and hopefully it will springboard us into the second half (of the season).”

Third Quarter

C: Cody Bunger 1 run (Alex Robertson run good)

C: Bunger 2 run (Dylan Seubert from Bunger good)

Fourth Quarter

BEE: Clayton Dye 8 pass from Jace Conner (Terry Weber from Conner good)

Tags: sports, bridgewater, emery, ethan, canistota, football, updates