Herreid-Selby Area bolted out to a quick start, played with a lead all game and claimed a 46-28 non-conference football win over Ipswich in the first ever high school football game at Dacotah Bank Stadium on the campus of Northern State Friday night.

The Wolverines jumped in front 16-0 thanks to touchdown runs by Brenden Begeman and Trey Sayler in the opening quarter.

“Our seniors really led and came out right away and set the tone for the rest of the team, and we followed them,” Begeman said.

It was a battle after that as Ipswich came roaring back and closed the gap to 16-14 on a pair of Ian Beyers touchdown passes, one to Trevor Beyers and another to Ty Kadlec.

“We knew we were playing a really good team coming in here. We didn’t think 16 was going to be enough,” said HSA coach Clayton Randall. “Any time you’re playing a good team, you know that they’re going to swing back. Coach (Brian) Hogie had his kids ready to go. They fought until the end and we were fortunate to make enough plays tonight to be on the winning end of it.”

While the Tigers clawed back, they were never able to get over the hump as the teams traded the next four touchdowns which still left Herreid-Selby Area with a 32-28 advantage. Begeman, who had already scored twice in the contest, then added two more scores for the final margin of difference.

Begeman said Ipswich presented a challenge with its size up front.

“They had a really big D-line and some good linebackers,” Begeman said. “They had a lot of weight and height.”

In the end, a two-touchdown deficit to start out proved to play a key role in the contest.

“We didn’t start out very well. We talked about a lot of the things defensively that we wanted get done early in the game and we didn’t do that,” Hogie said. “Once our kids finally settled down and adjusted and did what we kind of talked about in the game plan, then we kind of held our own there for a little while. But you can’t put yourself in a 16-0 hole early in the ball game.”

Begeman finished with 229 yards rushing in the contest. The Wolverines racked up 459 yards of offense in all.

“They’re fast and they’re physical and they’re strong,” Hogie said. “They do everything well.”

While Ipswich finished with four touchdowns, including one on a 77-yard kickoff return by Tyler Hettich, Herreid-Selby Area was still able to force multiple turnovers and make plays when it needed to on defense.

“Our defense is definitely an opportunistic defense,” Randall said. “We get our hands on footballs. We’re coming into the game with 17 forced turnovers in five games.”

Begeman said he enjoyed playing at the new facility.

“Its amazing” he said. “Brand new Dacotah Bank Stadium. It’s awesome. New turf; it felt great.”

Ipswich fell to 4-1 on the season, while Herreid-Selby Area moved to 6-0.

Randall said the game benefitted both squads as they move into the second half of the season.

“This was a great opportunity for both of our teams, Ipswich and Herreid-Selby Area, to compete against a high-level opponent to see where we’re at,” Randall said. “I know that they’ve got big plans for a post-season run and I know we do, too. Both teams did each other a favor and competed at a high level and made each other better.”

Herreid-Selby Area 16 8 0 22 – 46

Ipswich 0 14 8 6 – 28

HSA – Brenden Begeman 9 run (Begeman run).

HSA – Trey Sayler 2 run (Darion Barker pass from Hettick)

I – Trevor Beyers 16 pass from Ian Beyers.

I – Ty Kadlec 26 pass from I. Beyers (I. Beyers run).

HSA – Begeman 2 run (Begeman run).

I – Carson Gohl 3 run (Luke Peterson run).

HSA – Chance Gregg 18 run (Sayler run).

I – Tyler Hettich 77 kickoff return.

HSA – Begeman 2 run (Begeman run).

HSA – Begeman 24 run.

OFFENSE: Herreid-Selby Area rushing 68-333 (Begeman 33-229, Sayler 20-43, Sayler 3-42), passing 8-13-1 for 126 (Hettick 8-12-1 for 126), receiving (Begeman 3-78, Sayler 5-48), first downs 18; Ipswich rushing 30-74 (Gohl 13-41, I. Beyers 9-28, Peterson 6-16), passing 8-15-2 for 113 (I. Beyers 8-15-2 for 113), receiving (Kadlec 4-69, T. Beyers 4-29, Matthew Jaenisch 2-15), first downs 10.