Turnovers costly for Fliers

FLANDREAU Five takeaways and a big third quarter from Sioux Valley on Friday night led the Cossacks to a 31-13 victory over Flandreau.
Sioux Valley (6-0) led 14-0 at halftime and then scored 17 points in the first six minutes of the third quarter to put the game away.
We knew if we kept on [Flandreau], theyd eventually crack and we saw that in the third quarter, said Sioux Valley head coach Dan Hughes.
Flandreau (4-2) fumbled the ball on the second play of the game and the Cossacks hopped on it. Sioux Valley would cash in on the turnover as Brock Christopherson ran it into the end zone from one yard out to put the Cossacks up 7-0 five minutes into the game.
That score would remain heading into the second quarter and it looked like the Fliers were going to tie things up. Flier quarterback Paul Parsley connected with Kody Kneebone for a 52-yard pass but on the next pass play, Flandreau fumbled the ball again and Sioux Valley recovered it.
The Cossacks made the most of the turnover again. Just two plays later, Christopherson found Mitchell Guthmiller wide open for a 66-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 9:13 left in the first half. Sioux Valley forced one more turnover before halftime as Brody Haaland intercepted Parsley with three minutes left in the half. However, the Cossacks were unable to turn that into points and took a 14-point lead into halftime.
It didnt take long for the Cossacks to score again though as Donovan Rose took the opening kickoff of the second half 97 yards to the house to put Sioux Valley up 21-0, 12 seconds into the third quarter.
The Fliers then went three-and-out and on the punt the snap was mishandled and the Cossacks took over inside the Flandreau 20 yard line. Sioux Valley took advantage of the good field position again as Christopherson ran it in from 12 yards out to make it 28-0 three minutes into the third.
Flandreau would turn it over yet again on its next possession as a snap went over the quartebacks head and the Cossacks fell on it. That was the fifth turnover that the Cossacks capitalized on the night.
Sioux Valley was forced to kick a field goal this time but Jameson Degen came through, making it from 36 yards out to make it 31-0. With the kick return for a touchdown and the field goal, Hughes was happy with his special teams play on Friday night.
Our kids really love special teams. The good kids want to play on them and they make some huge plays on special teams. Its one of the identities of our team and we love it, Hughes said.
Flandreau got on the board in the fourth quarter as Parsley found Luke Sheppard for a five-yard touchdown. The Fliers would score one more touchdown later in the quarter as Alex Poitra ran it into the end zone from two yards out, but the two-point conversion was no good and that made the final 31-13.
The Fliers did take advantage of a couple Sioux Valley turnovers. Both of Flandreaus touchdowns in the fourth quarter came off Cossack fumbles.
Flandreau head coach Josh Edlund was proud of his team for not giving up.
We played a great second half. Statistically, we didnt have the best day offensively, but our boys fought until the end. Im proud of them for staying in it, Edlund said.
Sioux Valley had 191 yards rushing. Rose led the way with 102 yards on 17 carries. Christopherson had 18 carries that went for 87 yards. His lone completion on the night was the 66-yard touchdown.
Parsley was 11-for-24 with 145 yards. Kneebones only catch was the 51-yarder. Poitra had three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown and four carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. The Fliers only earned 34 rushing yards.
The Sioux Valley defense was led by Guthmiller who had eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Christopherson and Wyatt Nelson each had six tackles and a fumble recovery. Preston Top had six tackles.
Justin Klein led the Flier defense with 13 tackles and Sheppard had 10 tackles. Gauge Ballard and Tyton Peters each had a fumble recovery.
After playing the number two ranked Cossacks last Friday, Flandreau will head to number three ranked Elk-Point Jefferson to take on the Huskies, this Friday at 7 p.m.