James Jackson/MDN Velva/Garrison/Drake-Anamoose head coach Larry Sandy has the chance to go out in style by bringing home a state title this Friday after the Aggies’ 20-12 semifinal victory over Hillsboro/Central Valley.

Before the prairie winds had a chance to howl across Larry Sandy Field on Saturday afternoon, the Velva/Garrison/Drake-Anamoose Aggies defense saddled up and corralled the Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros to earn a hard-fought 20-12 semifinal victory and a trip to Friday’s upcoming Dakota Bowl to play for the North Dakota 11B state football title.

Touting an unblemished record entering Saturday’s semifinal matchup, the No. 2 Velva/Garrison/Drake-Anamoose Aggies (12-0) have averaged 37 PPG so far in the 11B playoffs after impressive wins against Bowman County and Dickinson Trinity.

However, although easy to be overshadowed by the explosive play this season of sophomore offensive lynch pins in quarterback Ben Schepp, wide receiver Treyson Iglehart, and running back Hank Bodine, the often under-heralded Aggies defense has proved instrumental throughout Region 3 play, and more recently in the playoffs, by shutting down an esteemed list of high-powered offenses on the way to compiling a still-perfect record.

Standing tall on the defensive line has been Kyle Sandy, whose outside pressure has served as just one of many problems that a senior-heavy Velva defense has served up to opposing quarterbacks and their supporting casts when in the trenches.

Bringing a proven defense of their own into Saturday’s contest, the No. 3 Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros (10-2) have allowed an average of 10.5 PPG this season, putting them just two-tenths of a point behind Velva’s 10.3 PPG average.

After squeaking by Lisbon by less than a touchdown in the opening round, the Burros defense asserted their dominance in a 20-0 shutout quarterfinal victory over an Oakes team that entered the game averaging 31 PPG.

Yet, despite their stellar showing against the Oakes offense, Hillsboro’s defense faced a different caliber of beast at Larry Sandy Field in the form of dual-threat stud quarterback Schepp and his assortment of well-honed offensive weapons.

Making the most of the opening possession of the game, Velva put an exclamation mark on a patient five-minute drive when Schepp slung a bullet pass out to Iglehart on a left-sideline bubble screen that he converted into a 61-yard TD after trucking a Hillsboro cornerback on the way to paydirt to put the Aggies up 8-0.

Not to be outdone by the offense, the Velva defense readily accepted the challenge to showcase their capabilities on the Burros’ first drive, shutting down their progress and forcing a quick punt as a result.

Drawing from the overflowing exuberance of their rowdy Aggies’ home crowd that packed the bleachers while bundling up in an array of Velva blankets and hoodies, Schepp and his crew returned to the field only to be rebuked by a Hillsboro defense unfazed by the swelling energy emanating from the crowd.

Exchanging fruitless possessions back and forth for the majority of the first half, both teams’ defenses made pivotal plays that led to a score of 8-0 heading into halftime.

For the Aggies, the Bodines would come up huge, with Hank Bodine forcing a timely fumble by Hillsboro’s senior quarterback Riley Olson in the second quarter, along with Payton Bodine wrapping up a speedy Olson for a clutch chase down tackle from behind with just 15 seconds left before halftime to stifle what had the potential to be a Burros’ game-tying opportunity.

On Hillsboro’s side, they managed to neutralize a golden 2-minute drill by Velva with 58 seconds left before half by recovering a Schepp fumble that held the Aggies’ lead to 8-0 after two quarters.

As both teams faced down what could be the final 24 minutes of their season, defense remained king for Velva as Schepp showed he can score from either side of the ball by recovering a Hillsboro fumble at the 7:31 mark and returning it for 54 yards to push the Aggies lead to 14-0 on the only score of the third quarter.

With the scene set for a dramatic ending, the fourth quarter and everyone in attendance witnessed three urgent scoring plays throughout the final 12 minutes that served as the difference makers in the contest’s outcome.

Operating with their backs against the wall, Hillsboro found what they were looking for at the 8:43 mark when Olson made the most of a fourth-and-16 just outside of the red zone by hitting senior tight end Peter Dryburgh for a 25-yard TD pass to close the score to 14-6 and breathe renewed life into the Burros’ chances of victory.

Nevertheless, as has been the case throughout the season, Velva rustled up an answer of their own when Payton Bodine put the finishing touches on an Aggies’ drive consisting of numerous big plays when he punched in a strong run between the tackles for a 5-yard TD to stretch the lead to 20-6 with 6:16 left in the contest.

Refusing to fold, Hillsboro fought relentlessly not just against a steadfast Aggies defense in the closing minutes of the battle, but the clock as well when mounting time management issues began to take a toll on the Burros’ chances for victory.

Working to set the pieces in motion for a fairy-tale finish, Hillsboro’s senior offensive lineman Jake Swanson made the most of his offensive touch when working out of the Burros’ backfield by crashing home a goal-line touchdown to put the score at 20-12 with just 96 seconds left in regulation and narrowing the Aggies’ lead to one score.

Searching for a miracle, the Burros found only disappointment, as an onside kick straight to a member of the hands team of the Velva special teams unit put the dagger in not only Hillsboro’s comeback chances, but more significantly, their outstanding season.

Punching their ticket to the 11B North Dakota State Football Championship this Friday, Velva will face off against Central Cass at 9 a.m. inside the confines of the Fargodome.

When asked about his mindset as the Aggies approach a chance to bring home a state title, Ben Schepp succinctly summed it up in three words: “Win one more.”