SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The 46th annual Bob Burns Dakota Bowl makes its return today as one of the biggest events in high school football. And to add to the hype, this year’s game is a top-five ranked matchup.
The stage is set as fourth-ranked O’Gorman will host #1 Harrisburg in front a crowd filled with community members. For the Knights, they lost a host of talented players, as they have to fill the gaps left behind by Ryland Satter, Hayden Groos (Gross), Henry Theobald, Maverick Jones and several others.
“I mean we’re going to learn a lot no matter what and game one is always that case, even if you bring back experienced guys, but especially a team like ours where we just don’t have that experience. Not many of our guys in the team even played second team reps,” O’Gorman head coach Jayson Poppinga said.
“To start out with a test like Harrisburg it’s getting to show what we need to work on, what they need to work on and we’re looking forward to the challenge right away. Some of the younger, inexperienced guys, I think, are ready to step up and I think the Dakota Bowl is a great environment to be ready and to show what we’ve been working on,” O’Gorman senior Sullivan Schlimgen said.
Harrisburg brings back seven players who have already committed to play college football ahead of the season, which alleviates pressure. But to go up against the defending state runner-ups on their home field comes with challenges, that the Tigers are ready to face head on.
“They’ll be inexperienced early, but the way that Poppinga is coaching, they’ll get their teams ready by the end of the year. So this game, obviously is going to come down to turnovers and mental mistakes. Who has the least amount of them and who can capitalize off of mistakes the other team makes,” Harrisburg head coach Brandon White said.
The top-ranked team returns signal caller Sam Knuth and coach White says the nervousness he felt as a junior starting QB last year, is well behind him.
“There’s just a different level of calmness with him and you can sense that in the whole team now. He’s just even keel trying to make plays every single time he has the ball in his hand and I think as a coaching staff, we’re feeding off that as well,” coach White said.
This year’s Dakota Bowl will be split into a two day event with a cheer camp, football camp, and more festivities happening Friday and the game Saturday.
“You look at the atmosphere, the tailgating and everything that goes on in the day, I mean, it’s just an outstanding experience for our kids to be a part of. And really, the community’s never been out to a Dakota Bowl I mean, just come to the school and walk around for a little while, you know that it’s not a normal high school Saturday or Friday night,” coach Poppinga said.
“It’s bringing an entire community of two fanbases together, two schools, together for a huge event. It’s the granddaddy of them all it’s the Rose Bowl and the Dakota bowl is that for South Dakota football and to be a part of that is special,” coach White said.
And the annual Dakota Bowl will air live tonight. Kick-off is set for 7:30 on KELOXTRA and KELOLAND.com.
Play-by-play will be provided by Grant Sweeter, with commentary from Jordan DeSmet.
