STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers used a punishing running game and four forced fumbles to defeat Spearfish 41-20 on Thursday night at Woodle Field.

The Scooper crowd honored senior athletes in football, golf, cross country and sideline cheer along with two student managers prior to the game.

Spartan quarterback Thomas Hughes coughed up the football on their first drive of the game, giving Sturgis solid field position at the Spearfish 39-yard line. Four plays later, Scooper running back Zhoel Irion used a spin move to shed a defender and scored from 10 yards out. The extra point kick was good and Sturgis led 7-0 with 7:23 left in the first quarter.

Irion punched the ball into the end zone from seven yards out early in the second to give the Scoopers a quick 14-0 lead.

Spearfish running back Graham Hughes fumbled the football on the Spartans first possession of the second quarter, putting an end to a promising drive.

The Scoopers took advantage of the third Spartan fumble of the first half as Austin Flohr found Gage West with a 13-yard touchdown pass with just :08 seconds left in the second quarter. Izaac Smith’s kick was good and Sturgis led 21-0 at intermission.

The Scoopers extended their lead to 28–0 on a 5-yard Gage West touchdown run midway through the third quarter.

Spearfish finally got on the scoreboard with 1:47 left in the third as Graham Hughes ran the ball in from the 4-yard line. Sturgis led 28-7.

Irion added a 38-yard touchdown run with 1:25 left in the third quarter to extend the Sturgis lead to 35–7.

The Spartans answered as Hughes found Kade Vavruska with a 13-yard touchdown pass late in the third to make the score Sturgis 35, Spearfish 13.

Hughes hit Karsen Seyer with a 9-yard touchdown pass, and Smith added field goals of 27 and 52 yards in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. Sturgis defeated Spearfish in the regular season finale for both teams, 41–20.

Both teams made the postseason as Sturgis (6-3) earned the #5 seed and travels to Tea Area next Thursday to take on the #4 Titans (6-3) in the playoff quarterfinals. Spearfish (5-4) is the #6 seed and travels to #3 Watertown (6-3) to take on the Arrows.