WATERTOWN, S.D. — A week after celebrating a homecoming victory over Yankton, the Watertown Arrows found themselves on the wrong end of a double-overtime thriller on Oct. 2, falling 23-22 to the Mitchell Kernels. However, Watertown rebounded in dominant fashion on Oct. 9, rolling to a 35-7 road victory over Aberdeen Central.
Against Mitchell, Watertown fell behind early before kicker Carson Schlaht got the Arrows on the board with a 26-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, bringing the score to 6-3.
Watertown took its first lead of the game with 6:18 remaining in the fourth quarter when Tyson Miller broke free for a 15-yard touchdown run, making it 10-6. Mitchell responded quickly, taking a 13-10 lead on a 68-yard touchdown pass with 3:42 left. Schlaht tied the game with 18 seconds remaining in regulation on a 27-yard field goal to force overtime.
The teams traded field goals in the first extra period, with Schlaht hitting his third field goal of the night from 27 yards before Mitchell answered with a 25-yarder.
In double overtime, Mitchell took a 23-16 lead on a 9-yard touchdown run by Brady Hoesing. Watertown answered when quarterback Kaden Himmerich connected with Braden Jenc for a 10-yard touchdown pass. However, Mitchell blocked the potential game-tying point-after attempt to secure the victory.
Himmerich completed 18 of 31 passes for 198 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while adding 41 rushing yards on nine carries. Miller led the ground attack with 96 yards and a score, while also pacing the defense with 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception. Kutler Swenson added seven receptions for 61 yards, and Kye Paulson caught three passes for 72 yards. Maxx Sears and Caden Corey contributed eight tackles each.
Watertown put the heartbreak behind them the following week, racking up 436 yards of total offense in a 35-7 win at Aberdeen Central.
The defense sparked the scoring early in the first quarter when Corey returned an Aberdeen Central fumble 10 yards for a touchdown. Early in the second quarter, Himmerich connected with Swenson for a 78-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
Miller added a 6-yard touchdown run, and Watertown capped off a commanding first half with a 1-yard rushing score with 15 seconds remaining before halftime, building a 28-0 advantage.
Aberdeen Central broke the shutout in the third quarter on a 5-yard run by Swenson to pull within 28-7. Watertown sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter with a nine-play, 57-yard drive finished off by an Owen Engelbrecht touchdown run with 2:21 left on the clock.
Himmerich finished 9-of-20 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns, adding 27 yards on the ground. Miller rushed 16 times for 125 yards and a score, while Swenson hauled in 78 receiving yards and a touchdown. Engelbrecht added two catches and a score.
Corey anchored the defense with 11 tackles. Charles Whiting added nine tackles and two sacks, while Luke Roark chipped in seven tackles and a sack.
With two games remaining in the regular season, Watertown sits at 4-3 and holds the No. 4 spot in Class 11AA. The Arrows travel to face Huron (3-4) on Friday afternoon, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
