Hot Springs smothers Pheasants, ranked fifth in Class 11B media poll

Assistant coach Josh Rickenbach talks to Dawson Kieppe on the sidelines.

Bison score on half of plays from scrimmage

The Hot Springs Bison opened the 2023 season with a dominating 55-0 win over Redfield Saturday night at Woodward Field.

The game was called at halftime because of the 50-point mercy rule.

With their win, the Bison moved into fifth place in Monday's South Dakota Media poll in Class 11B. Returning state champion Winner leads the way with 12 first-place votes and 88 points. Elk Point Jefferson is second with seven first-place votes and 80 points, followed by Sioux Valley with 55 points, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan with 30 points and Hot Springs with 17 points.

The Bison took control from the start, scoring on its first four touches and six of seven. They also had one TD called back on a punt return but would score a few plays later. Hot Springs would have just 15 plays from scrimmage, scoring on seven of them.

On just their first play from scrimmage, Camron Maciejewski would put the Bison on the board on a 21-yard run. Josh Kleinsasser would kick the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Again, after a dominating defensive stop, it was Maciejewski scoring after one play on a 35-yard run. Kleinsasser again had the PAT, sending the football over the Woodward Field fence and into the street.

Senior Braden Petersen made it 20-0 in the first quarter on a 53-yard punt return and he added two straight rushing touchdowns, from 54 and 42 yards. Kleinsasser had those two extra point kicks.

In the second quarter Peterson scored from 5 yards out and Maciejwewski added a 31-yard TD run. Quarterback Colin Iverson got into the act when he bulled it in from 2 yards out. Kleinsasser added three more PAT kicks.

Maciejewskli led the way rushing with 129 yards on five carries, while Peterson added 101 yards on juts three rushes. Iverson finished with 23 yards on three carries and Conner Kramer added eight yards on two rushes. As a team, the Bison finished with 261 yards on 14 carries.

The Bison defense might have been more dominating, holding Redfield to a minus 26 yards on the ground and minus 14 yards of total offense.

The Bison return to action Saturday at McCook Central/Montrose at 5 p.m. MT. McCook Central/Montrose fell to Flandreau 14-0 in its season opener.

Camron Maciejewski running past Redfield's Noah Johnson.

Caleb Rickenbach celebrating another stop.

Colin Iverson, 3, looks to cut down Redfield quarterback Chase McGillivary for a loss.

Braden Peterson runs for a score.

Colin Iverson enjoys the sidelines late in the lop-sided win.

Bryson Venables with the sack of Chase Gillivary.

Braden Petersen, 2, and Camron Maciejewski celebrate Maciejewski's first of three touchdown runs.

Connor Kramer looks for some running room with Matt Close blocking (4).

Dawson Kleppe, 51, and Owen White, 79, enjoy another score while taking a break.

Camron Maciejewski (1) celebrates with Colin Iverson after a score.

Blake Haines celebrates on the sidelines

Hot Springs High School athletics director Mike Deming, left, and head coach Ben Kramer talks things over on the sideline.

Caleb Rickenbach, 57, makes another stop for a loss.

Braden Peterson gives the ball back to the ref as he celebrates a score with Modes Kerr.

Colin Iverson, 3, looks to score at the goalline with the help of Aidyn Janis, 55, and Caleb Maciejewski.