FAULKTON – Faulkton took advantage of six turnovers to help fuel its Class 9B semifinal win over Potter County Friday night. The Trojans picked off four passes and recovered a pair of fumbles on the way to a 42-0 victory.
Faulkton will face Avon in the 9B state title contest at 10 a.m. Thursday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
The semifinal game was tight until the second quarter when Faulkton exploded for 28 points to open up a 36-point lead at the half. Layne Cotton played a major role in the surge, running for two scores in the period and throwing a TD pass to Charlie Deiter for the other score.
Cotton finished the contest with 76 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and 85 yards passing and a TD.
Garrett Cramer, who led the Trojans with 102 yards on just nine carries, also ran for a second-quarter score.
Landon Coyle produced Faulkton’s final touchdown in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Trojans came up big on defense, forcing those six turnovers. Deiter, Cramer, Spencer Melius and Gian DiMaria all picked off passes for Faulkton, while Lincoln Dikoff and Trey Machtemes each recovered a fumble.
Deiter and Melius both finished with six tackles and an interception in the game. Faulkton has yet to give up a point in three playoff games. The Trojans have outscored their three foes by a combined total of 140-0.
Landon Larson threw for 117 yards to lead the Battlers, who had won back-to-back road playoff games to reach the semifinals. Ryder Falkenhagen had six receptions for 78 yards.
Faulkton will take a 10-1 record into the state title contest, while Avon is 9-2.
Potter County (5-6) 0 0 0 0 – 0
Faulkton (10-1) 8 28 0 6 – 42
F – Layne Cotton 2 run (Charie Deiter pass from Cotton).
F – Deiter 13 pass from Cotton (Gian DeMaria pass from Cotton).
F – Cotton 20 run.
F – Cotton 6 run (Garrett Cramer run).
F – Cramer 11 run.
F – Landon Coyle 3 run.
OFFENSE: Potter County, rushing 16-54 (Carter Luikens 6-37), passing 9-23-4 for 117 (Lanson Larson 9-21-4 for 117), receiving (Ryder Falkenhagen 6-78, Jhett Simon 1-12), first downs 8; Faulkton, rushing 28-240 (Cramer 9-102, Cotton 7-76, Coyle 5-37, Spencer Melius 4-21), passing 4-9-0 for 85 (Cotton 4-9-0 for 85), receiving (Deiter 3-44, Melius 1-41), first downs 15.
DEFENSE: Potter County, Chance Smith 5 tackles; Faulkton, Melius 6 tackles and 1 interception, Deiter 6 tackles and 1 interception.
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