WARNER – Warner’s defense was up to the task in an 8-6 win over Hamlin in a battle of undefeated football powers Friday night.

The second-rated Class 9A Monarchs made big plays when they needed them in knocking off third-rated Class 9AA Hamlin. Both teams entered the contest first in power points in their respective classes.

“It was a total team effort,” said Warner coach Kerwin Hoellein. “We had so many kids make plays.”

It was Warner’s defense that led to the team’s only touchdown.

Hunter Cramer picked off a pass and returned it 46 yards to put Warner deep into Hamlin territory. Cramer scored moments later and then added a crucial PAT throw to Landon Jensen to put Warner in front 8-0.

The Chargers eventually broke through in the fourth quarter on a quarterback sneak by Tyson Stevenson. However, Warner stopped a PAT run to maintain its lead.

The Monarchs needed one last stop in the closing minutes and got it to preserve the victory.

While Hamlin had more yardage in the contest, Warner prevented the big strike.

“One of our defensive philosophies is try not to give up the big play,” Hoellein said. “How often is a high school team going to put together 13 plays in a row and score a touchdown?”

Cramer finished with 17 tackles and Ashton Schuchhardt had eight tackles, including three sacks and also recovered a fumble. Devin Woosley caused that fumble.

“You talk about defense wins championships,” Hoellein said, “our defense definitely stepped up tonight without a doubt.”

Hamlin (6-1) 0 0 0 6 – 6

Warner (6-0) 0 8 0 0 – 8

W – Hunter Cramer 3 run (Landon Jensen pass from Cramer).

H – Tyson Stevenson 1 run (run failed).

OFFENSE: Hamlin rushing (Luke Fraser 205), passing (Stevenson 7-16 for 98), first downs 16; Warner rushing (Cramer 15-42, Charlie Dulany 5-19), passing (Cramer 4-9 for 37), receiving (Ashton Schuchhardt 1-17, Clayton Dulany 1-13), first downs 7.

DEFENSE: Warner, Cramer 17 tackles, 1 interception, Schuchhardt 8 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery.

Faulkton 54, North Central 3

Faulkton (4-3) 26 22 0 6 – 54

North Central (1-5) 0 3 0 0 – 3

F – Carter Schulte 5 run.

F – Layne Cotton 30 run (Roman DiMaria pass from Cotton).

F – DiMaria 6 run.

F – Garrett Cramer 37 run.

F – Cramer 6 run.

F – Cramer 13 pass from Cotton (Schulte run).

NC – Landon Wolf 41 field goal.

F – DiMaria 77 kickoff return (Schulte run).

F – Spencer Melius 5 run.

OFFENSE: Faulkton rushing 28-237 (Cramer 7-129, Cotton 2-35, Melius 4-27, Schulte 5-25), passing 5-11-0 for 99 (Cotton 5-11-0 for 99), receiving (Charlie Deiter 1-59, Cramer 2-24, DiMaria 1-18), first downs 19; North Central rushing 34-160 (Spencer Buechler 13-83, Wolf 13-39, Cole Bukaske 5-31), passing 0-8-0 for 0, first downs 7.

DEFENSE: Faulkton, Gus Kopecky 5 tackles, Cramer 4 tackles 1 interception, Deiter 4 tackles; North Central, Wolf 5.5 tackles, Triton Grajzyck 5.5 tackles.

Webster 28, Groton 21

Webster (2-5) 6 14 0 8 – 28

Groton (3-4) 7 0 7 7 – 21

W ­- Trey Dunse 65 pass interception return.

G – Amdrew Marzahn 3 run (Nicolas Fernandez kick).

W – Carson Mount 1 run (Carter Williams pass from Ian Lesnar).

W – Mount 51 run.

G – Marzahn 10 run (Fernandez kick).

W – Brent Bearman 60 run (Bearman run).

G – Tate Larson 6 pass from Lane Tietz (Fernandez kick).

OFFENSE: Webster rushing 40-190 (Bearman 15-102, Mount 11-82), passing 60 (Lesnar 3-5 for 43, Ethan Opitz 1-3 for 17), receiving (Jacob Keller 4-60); Groton rushing 30-158 (Marzahn 17-96, Taylor Diegel 8-47, Tietz 4-15), passing 183 (Tietz 20-36-2 for 183), receiving (Larson 7-59, Diegel 4-49, Marzahn 4-39, Ethan Gengerke 4-32, Colby Dunker 1-4).

DEFENSE: Webster, Bearman 9 tackles, Keller 9 tackles, Gavin Sannes 7 tackles, Carter Williams 7 tackles, Tommy Vergeldt 6 tackles; Groton, Logan Riggenberg 12 tackles, Holden Sippel 12 tackles, Dunker 11 tackles, Brevin Fliehs 7 tackles, Marzahn 5 tackles.

Britton-Hecla 51, Langford Area 19

Britton-Hecla (4-2) 12 14 25 0 – 51

Langford Area (0-7) 6 0 7 6 – 19

BH – Tucker Mertens 7 run.

BH – BoDell Davidson 2 run.

L – Jesse Keough 11 run.

BH – Davidson 5 run (Tucker Mertens run).

BH – Gage Storley 5 pass from Davidson.

BH – Davidson 42 run.

BH – Mertens 59 run.

BH – Bryce Hawkinson 5 run.

L –Keough 50 run (Rico Andrade kick).

B – Davidson 50 run (Kendall Knudson kick).

L –Keough 55 run.

OFFENSE: Britton-Hecla rushing 447 (Davidson 16-208, Mertens 5-117, Hawkinson 6-62, Trey Atkinson 4-33), passing 83 (Davidson 4-6 for 83), receiving (Dawson Treeby 1-50, Mertens 2-28, G. Storley 1-5); Langford Area rushing 256 (J. Keough 20-197, Kalen Godel 16-72), passing 92 (Kassen Keough 8-16-1 for 92), receiving (J. Keough 5-78, Jacob Samson 1-9, Conner Glines 1-8).

DEFENSE: Britton-Hecla, Mertens 7 tackles 1 INT, Davidson 5 tackles, Collin Beaner 4 tackles, Hawkinson 4 tackles; Langford Area, J. Keough 10 tackles, Glines 6.5 tackles, Godel 5.5 tackles, K. Keough 4 tackles).

Herreid-Selby Area 66, Northwestern 26

Northwestern (1-6) 0 6 20 0 – 26

Herreid-Selby Area (6-0) 28 16 16 6 – 66

HSA – Brenden Begeman 24 run (Trevor Gill pass from Tray Hettick).

HSA – Begeman 38 run.

HSA – Begemen 59 run.

HSA – Gill 64 pass from Hettick (Begemen run).

HSA – Begeman 64 run (Barker pass from Hettick).

NW – Cameron Wilson 45 run.

HSA – Darion Barker 45 pass from Hettick (Begemen run).

HSA – Begemen 65 run (Begemen run).

NW – Ashton Remily 80 kickoff return (Chase Neiber pass from Dallas Stoltenberg).

HSA – Gill 83 pass from Hettick (Begemen run).

NW – Jude Ortmeier 33 run.

NW – Ortmeier 7 pass from Stoltenberg.

HSA – Matthew Neeley 70 kickoff return.

Northwestern stats not reported

OFFENSE: Herreid-Selby Area rushing (Begemen 10-277, Houston Hauge 5-22 Mason Vetter 3-13, Hettick 4-11), passing 259 (Hettick 9-18-2 for 259), receiving (Gill 5-179, Barker 3-58, Begemen 1-22).

DEFENSE: Herreid-Selby Area, Nathan Bradford 10 tackles 1 sack, Kaden Sayler 7 tackles, Hauge 5 tackles, Collin Tisdall 5 tackles 1 sack, Hunter Friend 5 tackles 2 sacks, Gill 4 tackles 2 sacks.

Sioux Falls Christian 35, Milbank Area 6

Sioux Falls Christian (4-2) 14 14 7 0 – 35

Milbank Area (0-6) 0 0 0 6 – 6

SFC – James Woodward 19 pass from Tate Snyder (Jacob Docter kick).

SFC – Johnny Skyberg 4 run (Docter kick).

SFC – 56 run (Docter kick).

SFC – Brady Witte 5 run (Docter kick).

SFC – Carter Van Donge 44 pass from T. Snyder (Docter kick).

M – 10 pass from Garrett Mertens.

OFFENSE: Sioux Falls Christian rushing 176 (Skyberg 14-69, Witte, 9-58), passing 96 (T. Snyder 5-11 for 96), receiving (Van Donge 1-44, Woodward 1-19, Cole Snyder 1-17); Milbank Area rushing 67 (Mertens 5-30, Sawyer Gauer 7-20, Eli Johnson 3-15), passing 36 (Mertens 4-18-1 for 36), receiving (E. Johnson 2-15).

DEFENSE: Sioux Falls Christian, Jacob Congdon 3 tackles 1 sack, C. Snyder 1 tackle 1 interception; Milbank Area, Barrett Schneck 11 tackles, Jayden Johnson 6 tackles, Aidan Foell 1 tackle 1 sack, Gauer 1 tackle 1 sack.

Leola-Frederick 26, Potter County 12

Leola-Frederick 0 0 14 12 – 26

Potter County 0 6 0 6 – 12

PC – Ryder Falkenhagen 5 pass from Landon Larson.

LF – Gavin Nickelson 78 kickoff return (Brayden Sumption run).

LF – Austin Mantei 3 run.

PC – Falkenhagen 45 pass from Larson.

LF – Hans Lapka 9 run.

LF – Sumption 15 run.

OFFENSE: Leola-Frederick rushing 28-207 (Lapka 9-91, Sumption 9-86, Jericho King 6-21), passing 1-5-1 for 0); Potter County rushing 29-13 (Carter Luikens 14-24), passing 12-23 for 147 (Larson 12-23 for 147).

DEFENSE: Leola-Frederick, King 12 tackles, Mantei 6 tackles, Lapka 6 tackles and 1 sack, Dustin Wurtz 6 tackles; Potter County, Luikens 6 tackles, Chance Smith 6 tackles, Falkenhagen 5 tackles and 1 interception.