The fifth-rated Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles had second-rated Yankton right where they wanted, but they couldn’t keep the Bucks in check Friday night.

The visitors rallied for 17 unanswered points in the third quarter on the way to a 31-21 Eastern South Dakota Conference football victory at Brownell Activities Complex.

“I’m proud of the guys the way they played tonight,” said Central coach Justin Briese. “Like I told them, just a few mental lapses, executing things that we just couldn’t do in the second half that we did the first half.”

After Yankton took the opening kickoff and drove right up the field for the game’s first score, Central took advantage of a 64-yard punt that was downed at the Yankton one-yard line. One play later, Brandon Schwan tackled the Bucks’ ball carrier in the end zone for a safety.

The score remained 7-2 until Yankton got a defensive score when Edly Amaro sacked Central quarterback Parker Lemer, causing a fumble just outside the Central goal line, and Ryker Freng picked up the ball and went into the end zone for a touchdown.

The Golden Eagles then got momentum on their side, scoring 19 straight points. It started early in the second quarter when Avery Ligon ran 27 yards and was tackled just short of the end zone. Lemer scored on the next play to slice the margin to 14-8.

Central then took a 15-14 lead into the break on another Lemer quarterback keeper after a 19-yard pass to Cooper Eisenbeisz once again set up the Eagles right outside the Yankton end zone.

It was a tough first half for the Bucks who had three turnovers and were penalized for 40 yards in the opening 24 minutes.

That all changed in the second half.

“We did a little bit better job of taking care of the football and penalties,” said Yankton coach Brady Muth. “We were not very disciplined in that first half, and it showed up and kind of bit us in the rear.”

Central extended its lead to start the third period when Ligon sprinted 38 yards for a touchdown, managing to tight rope into the end zone to give the Eagles a 21-14 lead.

“I didn’t expect it to go that long,” Ligon said of his TD carry. “I was running and then I saw the wide open gap to the left, so I cut and then I just kept zooming. I thought the safety might have pushed me out of bounds, but I was able to set my feet in and get the touchdown.”

That surge in momentum was quickly erased, however, when the Bucks responded with an 8-play 62-yard drive to tie the score at 21-21.

The Golden Eagles then mishandled a punt snap which set Yankton up at the Central 22-yard line. However, the hosts held Yankton to a 40-yard field goal. It was the next Yankton drive that proved to be the game-changer.

After stopping Central, the Bucks moved down the field and scored a touchdown with 5.6 seconds left in the period with the wind at their back to go up by double digits.

“I thought we did a good job of managing the clock, especially in the third quarter,” Muth said, “scoring right before with the wind was a big deal.”

Central was unable to score again, its best attempt halted by a penalty and Yankton’s fifth sack of the evening.

“The first half we played well, both offensively, defensively, kind of kept them in check with what they did offensively,” Briese said. “The second half kind of wore us down a little bit. I think we got a little bit tired.”

Evan Serck topped Yankton with 132 yards rushing. Ligon finished with 142 yards on the ground for the Golden Eagles.

“Credit to Aberdeen, too,” Muth said. “They’re a good running football team, and they really stuck to it and they made it really tough for our guys.”

While Ligon had a big night on offense, he was disappointed the Eagles could not grab the victory.

“We were competing really well,” Ligon said. “We just need to compete the whole time and not just let up on the gas.”

The Central defense was led by senior Bodey Tracy, who finished with nine tackles and was all over the field. He was determined to bring maximum effort in his final home game for the Eagles.

“I wanted a different outcome,” Tracy said. “I was just really hoping for a win and to end my last home game my senior season, probably the last time I’ll ever play on this field, on a high note and it didn’t happen.”

Central, 4-4 on the year, heads to top-rated Class 11AAA Sioux Falls Lincoln next Thursday to conclude the regular season.

“Obviously, they’re a very good team. I don’t care what class they’re in, they’re a very good team,” Briese said. “We’re going to go in there and execute our game plan and keep guys healthy, and then work towards playoffs first round.”

The Golden Eagles will likely be underdogs from here on out as they play each game on the road. Tracy still has confidence in his team’s ability going forward.

“I’m not too worried about us, really,” Tracy said, “because I know if we play a complete game to our ability we can beat I think pretty much anybody. It’s just as long as we can play a full and complete game.”

Yankton (7-1) 14 0 17 0 – 31

Aberdeen Central (4-4) 2 13 6 – 21

First Quarter

Y – Evan Serck 2 run (Josue Trujillo-Melgoza kick), 9:44.

AC – Safety, Brandon Schwan tackled Serck in end zone, 7:36.

Y – Ryker Freng 1 fumble recovery return (Trujillo-Melgoza kick), 11:18.

Second Quarter

AC – Parker Lemer 1 run (kick failed), 10:55.

AC – Lemer 1 run (Joey Dallman kick), 1:13.

Third Quarter

AC – Avery Ligon 38 run (kick failed), 9:58.

Y – Matthew Sheldon 3 run (Trujillo-Melgoza kick), 7:27.

Y – Trujillo-Melgoza 40 field goal, 4:28.

Y – Tucker Gilmore 1 pass from Lucas Kampshoff (Trujillo-Melgoza kick), :05.6.

Fourth Quarter

No scoring

OFFENSE: Yankton, rushing 37-191 (Serck 25-132, Kampshoff 5-30, Carson Ness 3-10), passing 13-26-2 for 114 (Kampshoff 13-26-2 for 114), receiving (Gilmore 4-42, Ness 3-34, Connor Slaba 2-25, Austin Gobel 2-7, Payton Peterson 2-6), first downs 12; Aberdeen Central, rushing 43-106 (Ligon 26-142), passing 9-11-0 for 69 (Lemer 9-11-0 for 69), receiving (Cooper Eisenbeisz 3-39, Dallman 2-18, Colby Dauwen 1-8, Brody Aesoph 2-6), first downs 11.

DEFENSE: Yankton, Sheldon 9 tackles including 1 sack, Bryce Kral 7 tackles, Donald Rounds 5 tackles, Edly Amaro 4 tackles including 1 sack, Gilmore 4 tackles, Tyson Prouty 3 tackles including 2 sacks; Aberdeen Central, Bodey Tracy 9 tackles, Tate Huff 5 tackles and 1 interception, Jayden Biegler 4 tackles, Brandon Schwan 2 tackles including a safety.