MANDAN - The first win of the season tastes the sweetest.
But for the Dickinson High football team, it almost didn’t happen. The Midgets held off Mandan for the slim 24-22 West Region win on Friday.
Down by one point, 22-21, Dickinson marched down the field and got Tony Kostelecky within field goal range. He completed the 35-yard field goal with 4 minutes, 40 seconds left to seal the win. Kostelecky completed all four kicks, which included three extra points, he attempted.
Midgets quarterback Andrew Heckaman was 2 of 11 but picked up 40 yards on a pick six in the second quarter. Kass Dvorak had 19 carries for 95 yards and scored Dickinson’s first touchdown of the game on a 24-yard run. Ben Twist was behind him also with 19 carries worth 41 yards. Carter Blackwell had two catches for 40 yards.
The Braves struck first in the game as Jake Carlson connected with Jesse Bruner – receptions for 95 yards – on a 36-yard TD pass. Carlson was 5 of 15 with an interception, two touchdowns and 107 yards. Nick Miller led Mandan on the ground, and rushed for 65 yards on 21 carries.
Dickinson is back on the road this week, traveling to Jamestown for a West Region game at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Dickinson 0 21 0 3 - 24
Mandan 6 8 0 8 - 22
First quarter
M–Jesse Bruner 36 pass from Jake Carlson (pass failed), 4:04.
Second quarter
D–Kass Dvorak 24 run (Anthony Kostelecky kick), 11:03.
D–Andrew Heckaman 40 interception return (Kostelecky kick), 9:45.
M–Bruner 54 pass from Carlson (Nick Miller run), 7:59.
D–Dvorak 4 run (Kostelecky kick), 4:40.
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
M–Carlson 1 run (Carlson run), 11:56.
D–Kostelecky 35 field goal, 6:50.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: D, Kass Dvorak 19-95, Ben Twist 19-41, Anthony Koselecky 1-(minus-4), Andrew Heckaman 8-(minus-31). M, Nick Miller 21-65, Trever Leingang 5-24, Carlson 5-16, Dale Spilman 1-13, Jason Moore 3-9, Dmitri Tausend 3-4.
PASSING: D, Heckaman 2-11-0, 40 yards; Twist 0-1-0. M, Carlson 5-15-1, 107 yards.
RECEIVING: D, Carter Blackwell 2-40. M, Jesse Bruner 3-95, Jarad Zittleman 1-18, Miller 1-(minus-6).
