FORT PIERRE – As Stanley County missed chances, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy capitalized on theirs and advanced in the playoffs.
Quarterback Karter Weber scored on a one-yard keeper with 4:51 left Thursday as Freeman/Marion Freeman Academy defeated Stanley County 32-28 in the first round of the 9AA football playoffs at Ole Williamson Field.
The Phoenix (7-2) started the winning drive in Stanley County territory at the 43 thanks to a personal foul penalty on the Buffaloes on a kickoff just after SC had taken a 28-24 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter on the third rushing touchdown of the game by Colton Brady.
Stanley County failed to convert on five fourth-down attempts, including three in the second half.
Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy scored on the game’s opening drive, capping it with a Weber touchdown pass to Rocky Ammann and the Phoenix led 8-0.
Stanley County (7-2) came within 8-6 on Brady’s first touchdown run with 1:13 left in the first quarter, but missed the two-point conversion.
SC then led for the first time with 2:32 left in the first half on a Brendon Bothwell nine-yard sweep for a touchdown. Just 1:53 later, Dominic Sperling ran in a score for Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, followed by a two-point conversion to give the Phoenix the lead again at 16-14.
Stanley County failed on fourth down for the second time in the quarter on their next possession and trailed by two at halftime.
Brady had a three-yard scoring run early in the third quarter and the Buffaloes led again at 22-16.
Luke Peters returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards just before Weber threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Donlan. Sperling then ran in the two-point conversion and Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy grabbed a 24-22 lead.
Brady was stopped on fourth down on each of Stanley County’s two next possessions and an interception cut off the drive after that.
But after Broch Zeeb intercepted a pass on the fourth quarter’s first play, the Buffaloes drove 52 yards, ending with Brady’s third rushing TD.
Brady broke past the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 120 yards on 25 carries.
Weber passed for 131 yards and two scores and rushed for 67 yards and one touchdown for Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy.
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