A pair of perennial Lake Region Conference football powers put on an offensive show Friday night during the LRC Classic at Dacotah Bank Stadium.

While there were plenty of solid hits on defense, Warner and Faulkton combined to produce numerous big plays on the way to scoring a combined 77 points as the second-rated Class 9A Monarchs remained undefeated with a 45-32 victory.

“We were fortunate to beat a good ballclub,” said Warner coach Kerwin Hoellein. “I told our kids all year, you’re not going to win every game by three touchdowns and along the way you need to win one like this. I was proud of them.”

It appeared that Warner would indeed win another game by at least three touchdowns after jumping out to a 20-0 lead in the opening half. Hunter Cramer scored on a short run, before Zach Wood added back-to-back touchdowns. However, the Trojans soon battled back and it was game on.

Layne Cotton threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Roman DiMaria before hooking up with Daniel Stoll for an 81-yard scoring strike.

“I was proud of our guys,” said Faulkton coach Shayne Geditz. “We got down 20-0 and the next thing you know at half it’s 20-16 and we have a shot to win the game. We never quit playing.”

The Monarchs again looked like they had regained control as a pair of Charlie Dulany touchdown runs pushed the margin to 33-16. However, Cotton scored on a quarterback keeper and the Trojans stayed within striking distance.

Dulany added a third touchdown run as Warner extended its lead once again only to have Faulkton bounce right back when DiMaria returned a punt 76-yards for a touchdown as the Trojans trimmed the deficit to 39-32.

“This game is a game of momentum,” Hoellein said. “I thought three times we had things where we wanted to be and then pretty soon we’re behind the 8-ball again.”

Warner finally delivered the fatal blow, though, when Cramer broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run just 11 seconds after DiMaria’s punt return to give the Monarchs a two-possession cushion.

Cramer finished with 179 yards rushing and Dulany added 129 as Warner racked up more than 350 yards on the ground.

“I thought Charlie Dulany, our fullback, was running extremely hard and all his runs are between the tackles,” Hoellein said. “They had some big guys up front. Credit to our line. We were handling them up front.”

Dulany echoed those sentiments, giving full credit to the linemen for opening the holes.

“The strong side was blocked up, but the cut-back lane was there and that’s only responsible for my line,” Dulany said, “so I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my line.”

Warner has an experienced group up front and it showed throughout the contest.

“Our line, all seniors, they just blow things up,” Dulany said. “My job’s easy. I just run straight.”

Cotton finished with 168 passing to pace the Trojans.

“Our goal each week is to get better and I think we’re getting there,” Geditz said. “We’re becoming dangerous. Our kids are playing hard. We’re getting better.”

The contest provided a unique opportunity for area high school athletes to get to play at state of the art facility on the campus of Northern State.

“It was amazing. I mean the lights, the atmosphere, lots of people in the stands, more than I’m used to,” Dulany said. “I was nervous, I got the jitters going, but we adapted well and we played through that game.”

Warner, 5-0 on the season, will get another test next week when the Monarchs play host to unbeaten third-rated Class 9AA Hamlin on Friday night.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Hoellein said. “I told these kids enjoy it for the weekend, because on Monday we have to get back to work.”

Warner (5-0) 14 6 13 12 – 45

Faulkton (3-3) 0 16 8 8 – 32

First Quarter

W – Hunter Cramer 5 run (Brodey Sauerwein run), 8:18.

W – Zach Wood 5 run, 4:34.

Second Quarter

W – Wood 3 run, 10:34.

F – Roman DiMaria 7 pass from Layne Cotton (Garrett Cramer run), 5:21.

F – Daniel Stoll 81 pass from Cotton (Cramer run), 2:28.

Third Quarter

W – Charlie Dulany 6 run , 8:43.

W – Dulany 10 run (Levi Scepaniak kick), 5:33.

F – Cotton 1 run (DiMaria pass from Cotton), :58.

Fourth Quarter

W – Dulany 8 run, 9:38.

F – DiMaria 76 punt return (Cramer run), 6:11.

W – Cramer 53 run, 6:00.

OFFENSE: Warner rushing 52-351 (Cramer 18-179, Dulany 21-125), 6-8-0 for 98 (Sauerwein 6-8-0 for 98), receiving (Wood 4-43, Clayton Dulany 1-36, Austin Schuchhardt 1-20), first downs 25; Faulkton rushing 24-67 (Cramer 13-56), passing 7-22-0 for 168 (Cotton 7-22-0 for 168), receiving (Stoll 1-81, Cramer 1-47, DiMaria 5-40), first downs 10.

DEFENSE: Warner, Schuchhardt 10 tackles, Landon Jensen 6 tackles, Isaac Hoeft 5 tackles and 1 fumble recovery; Faulkton, Cotton 13 tackles, Cramer 6 tackles, DiMaria 5 tackles, Charlie Deiter 5 tackles.