Midgets riding momentum from win in season opener
More than a week has past in the school year and, just like answers to their homework, the Dickinson High football team has already responded to a few questions.By: Royal McGregor, The Dickinson Press
- Michael Cherwinski
More than a week has past in the school year and, just like answers to their homework, the Dickinson High football team has already responded to a few questions.
The Midgets started off with an impressive offensive and a rock solid defensive performance to start the season with a 44-0 win against Dawson County, Mont.
“The question marks going into the game was, ‘Are we going to come out confident and are we going to play like a team that’s played varsity football before?’” Dickinson head coach Dennis Morris said. “That question was definitely answered. We came out hungry, we came out very physical and for our first game very sharp.”
Dickinson’s work, however, has only just begun. The Midgets host Custer County, Mont., at 7 p.m. today in their home opener at the Badlands Activities Center.
“This game is important for us,” Morris said. “The competition level we’re going to see is a little bit better, but our goal is go undefeated into conference play.
“The kids understand that week two is better than week one. Week three is definitely better than week two and things just increase.”
The maturity from one year to another is already showing said Jordan Wanner, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior offensive and defensive lineman.
“Last year we got a lot of experience. This year we’re bringing the physicality and the intensity, he said. “I believe we’re already 50 steps above where we were last year.”
The Midgets (1-0) had eight different people carry the ball against Dawson County. Junior Michael Cherwinski led the rushing attack with six carries for 129 yards and one touchdown. Dickinson had a total of 26 carries for 279 yards, an average of 10.7 yards per carry.
“We have kids with experience with Dylan Skabo and Michael Cherwinski and William Schwindt,” Morris said. “We have young guys that are every bit as athletic coming in and feeling more comfortable with the game.”
Skabo, a junior quarterback, went 2 of 4 for 40 yards and a touchdown pass to senior Taren Staudinger in the third quarter. Skabo also had four rushes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
On the flipside, the Midgets’ defense stacked up tough and held Dawson County to 1.8 yards per play.
Morris said at the beginning of the season the Midgets wanted to be best run-stopping defense in the region. They’re on the right track as Dawson County’s running game was limited to 13 carries for seven yards, a half-yard per carry average.
“I think we’re on that right track,” Wanner said. “I think we have a really good opportunity to do that. It’s just all about what we have to bring to the table.”
It’s no surprise to Dickinson that Custer County, based in Miles City, Mont., will be a much tougher test. But, junior wide receiver Levi Jordheim said the hot start against Dawson County helped them build confidence.
“We came out with a lot of fire against Dawson County,” he said. “We’re hoping to come out with that same intensity against Miles City.”
Tags: high school football, dickinson midgets, sports, preps
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