DEADWOOD - In a matchup of two teams under the direction of new head coaches, Bennett County benefited from a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes, rallying for a 12-6 win over Lead-Deadwood on Friday evening at Ferguson Field.
The Warriors and Golddiggers staged a defensive battle for the initial 3-1/2 quarters. Lead-Deadwood marched 53 yards in 10 plays for the opening score of the contest. Senior back Garret Aman's one-yard run handed Lead-Deadwood a 6-0 edge with 5:56 left in the game. Kenny Miller's conversion kick was blocked.
The lead only lasted 13 seconds. Clint Sasse returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to paydirt. However, Sasse was stopped on the two-point run attempt.
After a three-and-out on the Diggers' next possession, Lead-Deadwood punted and Jeff Krolikowski's Warriors took over at their own 42-yard line. One play later, Sasse raced 58 yards into the end zone, presenting Bennett County with a 12-6 advantage. Sasse rushed for 119 yards for the victors. Aman churned out 91 rushing yards for the hosts.
"It was a typical first game," said first-year Lead-Deadwood head coach Tony Biesiot, son of long-time Dickinson State head coach Hank Biesiot. "We had a lot of mental mistakes. "They had two big plays. Other than that, the defense played well.
"We know we have a ways to go. The kids played hard. We ran the ball pretty hard."
Bennett County had the first scoring threat of the game end on an interception in the end zone by defensive back Josh Thompson in the first quarter. In the waning minutes of the half, Thompson sacked quarterback Austin Haynes for a 10-yard loss. The two teams were deadlocked in a scoreless tie at halftime.
Bennett County was presented with a chance to change the goose eggs on the scoreboard in the third stanza. The Warriors tackled the Golddigger punter on the Golddiggers 1-yard line on a botched punt attempt. However, sophomore Lucas Reller came up with a big play, pouncing on a fumble at the eight.
Lead-Deadwood, (0-1) opens the Black Hills Conference season at defending conference champion St. Thomas More at 7 p.m. next Friday at O'Harra Stadium in Rapid City. Bennett County, 1-0, hosts Red Cloud in the Warriors' home opener Friday.
