Colome runs away from Viborg-Hurley 52-36

COLOME — Andrew Odden was at a loss for words.

The Colome High School senior running back finished with 156 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and helped the Cowboys (10-1) punch their ticket to the state title game when they defeated Viborg -Hurley (8-3) 52-36 Saturday night in the semifinals of the 9B state playoffs.

“I have dreamed about this moment ever since my big brother made it to the dome, and when I was a little boy I thought I was going to make it,” Odden said, “and now I actually have.”

Odden and his teammates wasted no time putting points on the board in the first half against V-H, building a comfortable 22-0 lead on the back of two forced turnovers. One was an interception by defensive back Brady London and the other a fumble, forced by line man Cohl Ratterman on the Cougars’ 10-yard line.

Heading into the third quarter, the Cougars were down but not completely out. They began an aerial assault on the Cowboy defense, which resulted in a five-play, 51-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 25-yard TD pass from quarterback Jake Huether to running back Trevor Jacobsen to make the score 22-8 early in the third.

Viborg-Hurley was gaining momentum and looked poised to force Colome to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive. But Colome quarterback Terrance Kinzer took a sweep around the outside, turned up the sideline and scampered all the way to the end zone for a 61-yard touchdown to put more distance between the two clubs.

Kinzer ripped off three more big touchdowns runs and finished the game with 228 yards rushing and five TDs on the ground. Four of the touchdowns went for more than 20 yards.

“Terrance has been like that all year, and his offensive line should get a lot of credit,” Colome coach Kevin Keiser said. “They set it all up and Terrance has a lot of speed and quickness.”

The Cougars continued to move the ball through the air for the rest of the ball game but never seemed to get close enough to pose a threat to the Cowboys’ chances of making it to the big dance.

“I am happy for the kids and just really excited for the kids to experience this because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Keiser said.

The Cowboys head to Vermillion Thursday to play Harding County at 7:30 p.m. in the DakotaDome .

“It’s a dream of every football player here to make it to the dome,” Keiser said. “This place is a big football town, so it’s a real dream come true.”

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