Madison defeated Dakota Valley 42-20 on Saturday afternoon in the Class 11A championship game. This is the third championship in a row for the Bulldogs football program.
The Panthers got the ball to start the game, as Madison won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Dakota Valley drove the ball down field at ease, scoring the first touchdown of the game when Nate Rice broke free around the edge for a 13-yard run. This gave the Panthers and early 7-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
Dakota Valley then held strong on defense forcing a Madison punt. However, a 50-yard punt by Jaxon Janke pinned the Panthers deep on their own half-yard line. On the very next play, the Bulldogs forced a fumble, which they recovered – giving Madison a first and goal. Jadon Janke ran it in from 5-yards out, tying the game 7-7 midway through the opening quarter of play.
The Bulldogs took the lead at the 1:40 mark of the first quarter, when Jadon Janke found the end zone for the second time of the game with a 4-yard touchdown run. This gave Madison a 14-7 lead over Dakota Valley.
End of 1st Quarter: Madison 14 Dakota Valley 7
Both teams offenses struggled to find rhythm in the early stages of the second quarter. Madison was given two-points with 4:03 to play in the half, when a Dakota Valley punt when over the head of punter Jevin Kratz. The ball went out of the end zone.
Madison would capitalize on the free offensive possession following the safety when quarterback Josh Giles found Jadon Janke down the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown. And with 2:37 to play in the first half of football, Madison led Dakota Valley 22-7.
Bulldogs quarterback wasn’t done through the air. On the next offensive series, he found wide out Jaxon Janke for a 66-yard touchdown. This gave Madison a 29-7 lead over Dakota Valley late in the first half.
Halftime: Madison 29 Dakota Valley 7
Madison quarterback Giles found Jaxon Janke for a three-yard touchdown to start the third quarter, increasing the Bulldogs lead 36-7 over Dakota Valley.
The Panthers offensive struggles continued in the second half as they turned it over on downs wit their first possession of the third quarter, near the midfield mark.
Bulldogs running back Jadon Janke got his third rushing touchdown of the game with 3:16 to play in the thrid quarter when he ran it up the gut for a two-yard score – giving Madison a 42-7 lead.
End of 3rd Quarter: Madison 42 Dakota Valley 7
Dakota Valley got a couple of late scores when quarterback Zach Poulsen found Luke Johnson down the middle of the field for a 55-yard touchdown pass, and then again from 22-yards away.
Final Score: Madison 42 Dakota Valley 20
Joe Robbie Award: Jaxon Janke of Madison was the 2017 Class 11A recipient of the Joe Robbie MVP Award. He had eight receptions for 197-yards and two touchdowns. He also had three punts in the game – two of which went over 50-yards and pinning Dakota Valley deep.
