HOWARD — Prior to facing Howard, the Parkston Trojans received a motivational speech about David vs. Goliath.

On Thursday, No. 6 seed Parkston played the role of David and slayed Goliath, upsetting No. 3 Howard in the Class 9AA quarterfinals. 

“They are our Goliath,” Parkston junior Luke Bormann said after the 34-7 upset win. “They have won championships in these last few years. We haven’t. We’ve gone through ups and downs, bumps and bruises. Since I have been a freshman it’s been about changing the culture around here.”

The Trojans (9-1) recorded a culture-building victory and defeated Howard, which won last season’s Class 9A state championship. It was Howard’s first time losing at home since Canistota/Freeman defeated it in the 2020 Class 9A semifinals. 

“It’s hard to put it into words,” Parkston coach Matt Grave said. “When I was a kid, I knew about Howard football and I knew about the tradition and the toughness of this community.”

Bormann scored three total touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving. Parkston running back Brayden Jervik added a touchdown and Kaleb Weber threw a passing touchdown. 

Jaron Nesheim scored Parkston’s first touchdown and helped the Trojans seize early momentum. The Tigers (9-1) marched down the field with a heavy dose of running plays on the game’s opening possession. 

Griffin Clubb plowed in for a one-yard touchdown run to cap off a drive that took more than six minutes off the clock. 

“We don’t like when people score on us very much,” Jervik said. “So when they scored on that first drive very easily, we took it within ourselves that it wasn’t going to happen again.”

And just eight seconds later, Parkston was in the end zone. Nesheim scooped up a pooch kick on the ensuing kickoff and raced in for the score.  

“That play doesn’t happen once in a thousand, if not more,” Grave said. “But to get that momentum, to bring it back to one play and say ‘Hey, they punched us in the mouth. We punched one time back and now we are square.’ ”

Parkston's Brayden Jervik carries the ball against Howard on Thursday in Howard. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

The momentum stayed on Parkston’s side, too. The Trojans pounced on a Howard fumble — its first of four turnovers — on the ensuing kickoff. Jervik plowed in for a touchdown and Parkston stretched its lead to 16-7. 

In the second quarter, the teams traded turnovers and Bormann again found the end zone for a 22-7 halftime lead. 

“We didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot and we didn’t fumble,” Grave said. “We threw one interception, but it was inside the 10. We didn’t beat ourselves tonight. They are an unbelievably talented team. Their defense is very, very, very good. But the ball rolled our way.”

Parkston received the ball to start the second half and methodically drove down the field. The Trojans took their time in between each play and milked precious seconds off the clock. 

“It felt nice just watching the clock go down,” Jervik said. “It felt like we were taking the pride out of them. They are a great team. I am not taking anything from them. They are great, but it felt good.”

On the drive, Parkston converted three fourth-down conversions, including two 4th and 1 plays. The final fourth-down conversion, however, was the biggest of the drive.

On 4th and 14, Weber spotted Bormann streaking down the sideline and they connected for a touchdown to go ahead 28-7.

“I am just blown away that I got the ball on that play,” Bormann said. “Because if you could see me in practice, I can’t catch and I still bobbled it.”

Bormann hauled it in and the momentum continued rolling in Parkston’s favor. Jesse Newton intercepted a Howard pass on the next possession and Bormann punched in a fourth-quarter touchdown for the final margin. 

Up next, Parkston will play Elkton-Lake Benton in the Class 9AA semifinals on Nov. 4 in Elkton. ELB defeated Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, 52-14, in the quarterfinals.