Excitement brewing for Spearfish football following 2OT win

Spearfish has jumped up to the number two spot in 11AA this week, following a hard fought, double overtime win at top seeded Watertown this past Friday night, 27-20.

A year ago, the Spartans finished eighth in the standings and fell to the state champion Pierre Governors in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. But this year, there’s an extra boost with the Spearfish football team. They’re currently 5-1 with wins against Tea Area, Rapid City Central (11AAA), and Watertown to their resume.

“This year, what’s special about them, is their belief. Their belief in each other, their belief in the team, and their belief in themselves. They absolutely believe that they can go out and beat anybody. They believe they are the best team in the state, which is our vision,” explained Spearfish head football coach Tom Tieszen. “They believe it, and on top of that, their work effort – what they do Monday through Thursday, what they do in the offseason, all is because they believe. And then committing to action to make those beliefs come true.”

A lot of eyeballs were on Spearfish this past Friday when they traveled to Watertown to take on the Arrows, who were yet to suffer a loss to an 11AA opponent. It was an emotional game from start to finish, but it was the Spartans to make the final play to seal the win.

“Throughout the whole game, we knew we would have our chances and kept battling. In overtime, same thing, we believed that we’d be able to grit one out. It was a hard fought game, fun game, and luckily we were able to have one more play than they did go our way,” exclaimed coach Tieszen.

Despite the win, coach Tieszen said he’s also proud of the way his team handles themselves and how they represent themselves in a positive manner.

“Not just the wins and the losses,” Tieszen told. “After the Watertown game, the janitors said that the locker room was the cleanest they’ve seen it after a team has been in it, so this team gives me plenty of things to be proud of.”

Up next for the Spartans is a home game against Douglas. Coach Tieszen mentioned staying focused on one game at a time.

“We do a great job of resetting. Whether that’s in a game, resetting between plays, good plays, bad plays, or in between weeks – resetting,” he said. “We know this week we’re 0-0 and Douglas is 0-0. It all comes down to how we prepare this week and how we play on Friday night. We know every week is the most important week, because we’re 0-0 and we have to go out and prove it.”

Spearfish hasn’t been to the dome for a state championship game since 2003 when they beat Aberdeen Central for the 11AA crown. Even though there is a lot of season left, including playoffs, this year’s Spartans team has rejuvenated a lot of that football excitement in the community.

“The community and school has really rallied around our guys, and all the sports really,” explained Tieszen, who himself played high school football for the Spartans. “Spearfish athletics are doing some great things right now, and it’s exciting to see the community support for all these young men and women doing big things in Spearfish.”

After this week’s game against Douglas, the Spartans will close out the regular season with a road game at Pierre, and then back at home against Sturgis Brown.