MITCHELL, S.D. — After opening the season in starkly different fashion, the Brookings Bobcats and Mitchell Kernels are set to square off in the annual Kernel Bowl this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Mitchell.
Mitchell enters the matchup riding high after a dominant 57-0 season-opening victory over Douglas, while Brookings will look to bounce back following a 25-21 road loss to Sturgis.
Kernels Riding Wave of Momentum
The Kernels left little doubt in their opener, overwhelming Douglas on both sides of the ball. Mitchell racked up 220 rushing yards and found the end zone six times on the ground. Senior Jaxson Hartman led the way with 64 rushing yards and a 45-yard touchdown. Logan Bessler added two scores on just five carries.
Mitchell’s defense was equally relentless, holding Douglas to just 16 total yards of offense — including negative-10 rushing yards. The unit registered 4.5 sacks and forced two interceptions, one of which was returned 27 yards for a touchdown by Colton Smith.
Bobcats Seek Redemption After Close Loss
Brookings showed flashes of potential in its Week 1 loss to Sturgis but fell just short after a comeback effort. Senior QB Gavin Anderson passed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, both to Bergan Tetzlaff, who finished with 103 receiving yards and added a rushing touchdown.
Despite the offense tallying 276 total yards, the Bobcats were plagued by early mistakes, including a pick-six that helped Sturgis jump out to a 13-0 lead. Anderson threw two interceptions, and Brookings’ defense struggled to stop the Scoopers’ run game, allowing three rushing touchdowns.
What to Watch
-
Trench Battle: Brookings allowed five tackles for loss in Week 1 and now faces a Mitchell front that tallied 13.5 TFLs against Douglas. The Bobcats’ ability to establish the run and protect Anderson will be critical.
-
Turnover Margin: Both teams forced two interceptions in their openers. With two opportunistic defenses, avoiding giveaways could decide the game.
Kickoff Details
-
Who: Brookings (0-1) at Mitchell (1-0)
-
What: 10th Annual Kernel Bowl
-
When: Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.
-
Where: Joe Quintal Field, Mitchell
- Listen: KORN News Radio FM 101.3/AM 1490 and KORNRadio.com