Trinity dominates Ray-Powers Lake 49-0 in Class 11B playoffs

Dickinson Trinity came into its Class 11B first-round playoff football game with a bit of a new look defensively.

Its juggernaut offense, meanwhile, functioned the same Saturday as it had all season.

The combination led the Titans to a five-touchdown first quarter en route to a 49-0 victory over Ray-Powers Lake at the Biesiot Activities Center.

“The kids really bought into what we were selling all week,” Trinity head coach John Odermann said. “That’s really what it takes to win playoff games, is believing in what you’re doing. Our kids executed well in all three phases of the game.”

In the first quarter alone, the No. 4-ranked Titans (9-1) scored touchdowns on two well-managed drives, a long run, and off two Outlaws turnovers.

Trinity junior quarterback Jace Kovash threw for 157 yards and four touchdowns, three of which came in the first quarter.

A 35-yard pass to Luke Shobe to open the game helped set up Kovash’s 11-yard TD pass to Ty Dassinger to open the scoring.

Trinity forced a fumble on the first play of Ray-Powers Lake’s ensuing possession, and sophomore Tyler Danbom recovered the ball just outside the end zone and ran it in for the touchdown.

“We really got some good momentum going on the defensive side of the ball – especially within the run game,” Odermann said. “I was really happy with what our defense looked like today.”

After getting the ball back, Dassinger put Trinity ahead 21-0 on a 54-yard touchdown run.

He finished with 187 yards on just 13 carries after adding a 60-yard TD run in the third quarter.

“We were pretty good,” Kovash said. “Not many penalties and a nice well-balanced offense, which is what we like to have. That’s tough for a team to stop.”

Kovash hit Jeremiah Jilek from 8 yards out on Trinity’s next possession and just 70 seconds later found Jake Shobe from 9 yards out. That score was set up by a Thomas Jacobs 46-yard interception return.

The barrage gave Trinity a 35-0 lead going into the second quarter.

Kovash added a 11-yard touchdown pass to Gage Glaser in the final minute of the first half to make it a 42-0 halftime score.

Ray-Powers Lake (6-4) sustained some possessions in the second and third quarters and had strong moments defensively in which it slowed down Trinity’s offense.

But playing without Tyson Enget, its do-everything senior quarterback who was injured in a weight-lifting accident earlier this season, proved too much for the Outlaws.

The No. 3 seed from Region 3, started the season 6-1 with Enget in the lineup but lost the last three games of the season in which he didn’t play.

“Where we felt it the most was in his leadership,” Outlaws co-coach Seth Wisthoff said. “Just the energy he brings to the field, getting guys going.”

By the time the Outlaws got going Saturday, it was far too late. They never reached the red zone and totaled just 135 yards, most of that coming on just three series.

“I really like what we’re doing defensively, and I think it’s going to work going on further into the playoffs,” Dassinger said.

The Titans now hit the road to face second-ranked Velva/Drake-Anamoose/Garrison (10-0) in the state quarterfinals.

“They’re a good team, but we’ve had a lot of tough road games this year,” Kovash said. “We’ve been playing well on the road. We’re confident we can just do our stuff.”

First quarter

T–Ty Dassinger 11 pass from Jace Kovash (Jeremiah Jilek from Kovash), 9:43

T–Tyler Danbom 5 fumble return. (Nick Sobolik kick)

T–Dassinger 54 run (kick failed), 6:12

T–Jilek 8 pass from Kovash, (Sobolik kick), 2:08

T–Jake Shobe 9 pass from Kovash (Sobolik kick), :58

Second quarter

T–Glaser 11 pass from Kovash (Sobolik kick), 0:33

Third quarter

T–Dassinger 60 run (Sobolik kick), 9:06 – first play of half for Trinity

RUSHING: RPL, Team 31-91. T, Dassinger 13-187; Kovash 2-6; Cade Fitterer 1-5; Bryce Kadrmas 1-3, Glasser 3-(minus-4).

PASSING: RPL, Schroeder 4-16-1 44. T, Kovash, 13-19-0 157.