By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

The Bison scored on their third play from scrimmage, a Braden Peterson 41-yard touchdown run. Peterson finished with 225 rushing yards on 15 carries and scored four touchdowns. 

“The quick touchdown obviously took some wind out of their sails,” Kramer said. “That’s an excellent team. They are well coached and for us to cross the river, long bus trip, extended bus trip, with the roads and stuff, yeah, that’s pretty awesome.”

After Peterson’s opening touchdown, the Cossacks (9-1) quickly answered, on a Boden Schiller to Maverick Nelson 34-yard touchdown pass. 

Iverson connected with Maciejewski for the first of three straight Bison touchdowns. Peterson added two more touchdown runs (18 and 50 yards) in the second quarter. Sioux Valley’s Brock Christopherson added a seven-yard touchdown run before halftime, a 28-13 Bison lead. 

After a scoreless third quarter, the Bison put the game away with two Maciejewski touchdowns and a Peterson score. 

The Cossacks were limited to 178 yards rushing and committed two turnovers. Donovan Rose led Sioux Valley with 78 yards rushing. 

“That’s an explosive offense,” Kramer said. “We knew we would probably give up a couple big plays. We just had to sustain and go touchdown for touchdown if we wanted. It wasn’t what I envisioned, but I will take what the ending was.”

Hot Springs will now face Rapid City Christian, which defeated Deuel 13-8 in the quarterfinals. The Bison just defeated the Comets, 23-13, on Oct. 6. 

“That’s a tough team,” Kramer said. “I think they were probably the most underrated team this season and they are going to come into our house, thinking that they let one slip away last time we played. It’s tough to beat the same team twice in one season. But we will be ready and we get to stay home.”