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ELKTON, S.D. — The will to win can consume a team.
But, earning that victory is all the sweeter when the will accomplishes the feat.
That’s essentially the dynamic that carried Elkton-Lake Benton past state powerhouse Parkston, 14-8, in the South Dakota Class 9AA semifinals at teeth-chattering Elkton Athletic Complex Friday, Nov. 7.
This marks ELB’s first state championship appearance since 2006 — after the past four years as a semifinalist.
Elkton-Lake Benton quarterback Colt Beck smiles after the final play of the Class 9AA state semifinals on Friday, Nov. 7, as the Elks defeated Parkston, 14-8. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
The 9AA second-ranked Elks (10-1) will play the top-seeded undefeated Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy coop at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the University of South Dakota’s DakotaDome in Vermillion.
“I think this group of seniors has been driven this whole year by the fact we have come up short the last three seasons, especially on the five-yard line (at Hamlin in 2024),” said senior quarterback Colt Beck, who scored the game-winning TD on a 1-yard plunge with 3:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Colt Beck lunges across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“I just think we all went into this game with the mentality that we just weren’t going to lose,” Beck continued. “On the touchdown on the last five, I was just trying to remember all the times we came up short in the past, and how badly I didn’t want that to happen again.”
ELB head coach Kaleb Haas, in his first year leading the squad, was impressed by that will.
“It was inspiring to see the willpower to win that our players showed in the fourth quarter,” Haas explained. “We had our backs against the wall. Some things weren’t going our way. But, they kept fighting and wouldn’t be denied.”
The official announces Elkton-Lake Benton earned a new set of downs during the Elks’ game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
On the game-winning drive, the Elks were helped by a roughing the passer call against Parkston. Beck scored several plays later, and he added the ensuing two-point conversion run.
Beck was the only individual to have a 100-yard plus outing, rushing 25 times for 173 yards and two TD. He raced 85 yards for the game’s first score with 11:48 left in the second quarter.
He also threw a pair of interceptions; however, neither team could muster much in the passing game thanks to the cold conditions. Wind chills plummeted into the teens during the second half.
Defensively, Beck made eight tackles.
“Our defense played awesome,” Beck said. “We played very physical. Any game you only give up eight points is really impressive. A lot of the credit goes to coach Haas. He puts us in good spots, and gives us all the information he can. We just have to go make the plays.”
Overall, ELB held Parkston to 197 yards and forced several drive-killing fumbles. Mason Jervik accounted for the Trojan scoring with a 1-yard TD and two-point pass to Jaxon Leischner.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Jaycob Westley bursts through the line while playing defense during the Class 9AA semifinal game versus Parkston on Friday, Nov. 7. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Eliot Erickson forced one of those fumbles. Jaycob Westley had several meaningful tackles, including a negative yardage play and a quarterback sack. Myles Poindexter was the top defender with 10 stops, many of them solos.
Historical background
During the team’s last state football run in 2006, Parker defeated Elkton 26-8 in the 9AA championship.
The Elks reached the state championship with a 52-0 thrashing of Florence-Henry (first round), 52-26 over Clark (quarterfinals) and Eureka-Bowdle, 42-20 (semifinals).
Lake Benton won a handful of Minnesota 9-player championships during the 1970s.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s David Olson attempts to block during the South Dakota Class 9AA semifinals on Friday, Nov. 7. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Looking at F/M/FA
Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy is the lone school to beat ELB (42-28) during the third week of the season on Sept. 5.
That game occurred in Freeman. This time, the contest will be on a neutral field.
“They run a spread offense, and they have a very talented quarterback in Riley Tschetter,” Haas said. “They have many talented receivers to target, a physical offensive line, and running backs who find the gaps.
Defensively, look for the Phoenix to run a three-player front.
“They have a lot of depth in the trenches, with some of their linemen able to play only on one side of the ball,” Haas added. “This is a luxury.”
F/M/FA is coming off a 45-12 trucking of 2024 state champion Hamlin. They also rolled Garretson, 59-7, in the playoff opener and then blanked Kimball/White Lake, 52-0, in the quarters.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Colt Beck (0) looks for room to run during the first quarter of the Class 9AA semifinals versus Parkston on Friday, Nov. 7. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Both Beck and Haas know the challenge ahead, but they have embraced it.
“Our goal has not been just to make it there,” Haas said.
Added Beck: “It feels really good to get over the hump, finally. I think my teammates agree, though, that we didn’t do so much work in the offseason just to get to the state championship. We’re very excited, and we want to win this last game.”
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Eliot Erickson (0) delivers a stiff arm to a Parkston defender during the South Dakota Class 9AA semifinals on Friday, Nov. 7. Erickson rushed 12 times for 44 yards in a 14-8 win. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
INFORMATION
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
SDHSAA Class 9AA Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 7
At Elkton Athletic Complex
Elkton-Lake Benton 14, Parkston 8
Score By Quarters
P 0 8 0 0 — 8
ELB 0 6 0 8 — 14
Records: ELB, 10-1; Parkston, 9-2
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
ELB — Colt Beck 85 run (conversion failed)
P — Mason Jervik 1 run (Jaxon Leischner pass from Jervik)
Fourth Quarter
ELB — Beck 1 run (Beck run)