Errors Late Prove Costly for Bulldogs

The Madison Bulldogs turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter, which became the difference in their 28-20 loss to the Vermillion Tanagers in the DakotaDome.

Vermillion jumped out to a 13-0 lead off of two passes from QB Hayden Chistopherson before Bruce Galde ran it in from one yard to finally put Madison on the board. The Tanagers took a 15-6 lead into the intermission after a 39-yard field goal from Luke Knutson.

The Bulldogs came out of the half ready to score, with QB Ben Brooks scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter, one on a 32-yard pass to Andrew Comes and also on a 31-yard run and score. 

However, the Bulldogs wouldn’t score again and Vermillion came back in the fourth two scores of their own. The first one being Christopherson’s third touchdown pass of the night, after finding Trillion Sorrell in the back of the endzone.

Then, Brooks threw an interception to Connor Peterson that was taken back for a 25-yard return and touchdown, giving Vermillion a 28-20 lead. 

Elsewhere in the quarter, Carson Wolf muffed a punt at the 50-yard line, setting the Tanagers up with good field position, and helping to swing the momentum the Bulldogs had at the time back to the home team. 

Brooks threw one more interception with just over a minute left, and with no timeouts left for Madison it finished off the Bulldogs, sending them home with a 28-20 loss and dropping them to 3-5 on the season.

Brooks finished the night going 5/16 passing for 79 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also added 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Galde finished with 40 yards and a score for Madison. 

The Bulldog defense, meanwhile, gave up 276 yards and three touchdown passes to Christopherson, but was able to pick him off four times.

Madison will return home for their season finale and for their Senior Night next Thursday, October 20th when they host Cuter. Game will start at 6pm and can be heard on AM 1390