Pioneers put it all on the line in Wibaux

For the second straight season, the Big Sandy Pioneers are back in the quarterfinals of the Class C Six-Man playoffs. But if they want to advance any further, the Pioneers will need to do something no one has done all season, and that’s beat Wibaux.

Wibaux, the champion of the Eastern Division in Six-Man football, opened the postseason with a 59-6 over Shields Valley last week, and now the Longhorns will set their sights on the Pioneers, who will pay a visit to Wibaux Saturday with a berth in the semifinals on the line. Kickoff between the two teams is set for 1 p.m.

“Wibaux is good,” Big Sandy head coach Chuck Terry said. “Their quarterback is probably one of the best quarterbacks in the state. We will have to contain him. They have some speed, too, but we will be alright.”

Behind an offense that features Tel Lunde, Cobe Begger and Cade Dschaak, the Longhorns have one of the most explosive offenses in Six-Man football, scoring an average of 49 points per game. Wibaux has scored at least 40 points in all nine games and is beating teams by an average of 35 points per game, an even bigger margin of victory than Big Sandy’s which has defeated its opponents by an average of 30.

While the Longhorns are in just their second season of Six-Man football, they are certainly familiar with postseason play. Wibaux advanced to the quarterfinals of the Six-Man playoffs a season ago and just before dropping down to Six-Man, the Lonhorns won the 8-Man state championship back in 2014.

Yet, Wibaux isn’t among the favorites to win the state championship because of what it did in the past. Instead, the Longhorns earned that distinction with an impressive regular season that featured a season-opening win over North Division champion Geraldine/Highwood, 40-38, as well as a regular-season win over defending state champion Mon-Dak.

“Wibaux is tough,” Terry said. “We are going to have to be physical and we will need to run the football.”

If you are familiar at all with the Pioneers, then you will know they can pound the rock as well as anyone in the Six-Man ranks, and they do so with running back Kade Strutz, who is among the most productive ball carriers in the state. After rushing for more than 1,600 yards in the regular season and 24 touchdowns, Strutz had another outstanding day in the playoffs last Saturday, rushing for more than 200 yards and six scores in a win over White Sulphur Springs. It was the second time in three postseason games that Strutz has scored six touchdowns. He also achieved that feat in an opening-round win over Richey-Lambert a season ago. Parker Proulx and Brock Proulx are also threats to run the football for the Pioneers. Parker Proulx is the quarterback and even though Brock has been his top target, both Strutz and Clint Darlington have also been solid as pass catchers, too.

Whether it has been on the ground or through the air, Big Sandy has been prolific on offense in 2018, yet racking up yards and points won’t be that easy against a Wibaux defense that is surrendering just 14.7 points per game. In fact, in nine games, the Longhorns have allowed 20 points or more only twice. The Pioneers, who average 58 points a game, are dynamic in their own right, however, with a defense that has allowed more than 50 points twice and 28 points per game, Big Sandy may need to win a shootout.

If the Pioneers win Saturday, the will advance to the state semifinals against either Winnett-Grass Range or West Yellowstone. If Big Sandy and West Yellowstone both won, Big Sandy would host. On the other side of the bracket, Geraldine/Highwood will host Richey-Lambert and Hot Springs will host Jordan. Big Sandy and Wibaux will meet Saturday at 1 p.m.