Self-inflicted errors have hurt the Buffaloes throughout 2026 in the high school football season. They have faced one of the toughest schedules in 9AA, taking on three teams that drew votes to be raising the trophy in the DakotaDome at the end of the year. Even though they have not found victories against teams like Parkston, Bon Homme and now Platte-Geddes, they know if they get the little things right the final scores would look quite different.
Friday night, 5-1 Platte-Geddes came to Ole Williamson Field. While the Buffaloes were rather unfamiliar with the Black Panthers, they were well acquainted with star running back Landon Keiser, who scorched Stanley County in a Gregory jersey in year’s past. Keiser, who transferred in for his senior season, picked up where he left off with three more touchdowns. However, the 50-0 final score was not quite as indicative of how the game played out. Hard to say in a final score like that, that things could have looked different. However, outside of the Buffaloes errors committed on the offensive and special teams units, there is promise going into the final game of the season next Friday.
The Buffaloes shuffled around their starting lineup after a decision put forth by the entire coaching staff which thrust freshman quarterback Kaleb Boes into the starting role. Boes was thoroughly impressive, moving the Buffaloes into Black Panther territory on the opening drive. Though two false starts would stall out the initial drive and force a punt. The following play, Keiser took it 81-yards to the house to make it 6-0.
On the ensuing drive, Witt Meyers would fumble on his first touch and set up the Black Panthers inside Buffalo territory. A 21-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Leader followed by a successful two-point try to make it 14-0. On the ensuing kick return, Carson Bourne would have trouble fielding a bouncing kick and Platte-Geddes would cover up the live ball, again setting themselves up with great field position. A few plays later, Keiser would again scamper in for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 after a made extra point.
The Buffaloes defense would make a gritty stop inside their own five-yard line when Jack Deal would step in front of a 4th down pass and force a turnover on downs. But another turnover in the fashion of a Bryant Zeeb pick-six to Asher Kott would make it 27-0 going into half.
Platte-Geddes would run away with it in the second half leaving the Buffaloes questioning what could have been. Stanley County found great success on their offensive line, something to build on before facing off with Kimball-White Lake next week. Even in the loss, Max Foth knows there was some good that came out of the game. It is hard to beat a team like the Black Panthers when the mistakes are made at that level, however, if you subtract those errors you have a much closer ballgame.
Foth and his Buffaloes will build on the good, look to erase the bad and cap off the regular season with a win next Friday night.
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