WALL — After jumping out to a 22-0 lead to open the game, the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds survived a spirited comeback by the top-seeded Wall Eagles and scored with just over a minute remaining in the game to score an upset 30-28 victory on the road in Wall on Friday.

The first quarter looked like a game between two of the best in the state as each team could get the opposition’s defense to bend, but not break.

On their third possession, Wall used the scrambling feet of sophomore quarterback Tanner Volmer to scramble to a first down inside the Wolsey-Wessington 15, the best chance for any team to that point of the game. The Warbird defense stiffened up, though, forcing a turnover on downs on their own nine-yard line.

That defensive stand inspired the visitors, as the Warbirds took over with two minutes remaining in the first period. A 4-yard run by Moshe Richmond and a 5-yard run by Caleb Richmond got to the quarter break and out of the shadow of the end zone.

Caleb then went off tackle for a three-yard gain and a first down. He then became the first quarterback to connect on a pass, finding brother Moshe down the field for a 33-yard big gainer. A pass interference and the second offsides penalty on Wall of the drive put the Warbirds on the Wall 23.

From there, Peyton Rainford sprinted off guard for nine yards for a first down and Caleb ran twice, finishing with an 8-yard run up the middle, getting the touchdown as he leaned across the goal line just before the ball was swatted out of his hand. The two-point pass was incomplete, giving the Warbirds a 6-0 lead with 8:40 left in the second quarter.

The Eagles tried to follow the athletic legs of Volmer, but he fumbled on his second carry of the drive, turning it over to the Warbirds on the Wall 41.

The Warbirds mixed and matched passes and runs to get down to the one yard line, with Moshe taking the ball untouched on a sweep for the Warbirds’ second score. Caleb found Sawyer Nelson after scrambling for the 2-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.

After an unsportstmanlike penalty on Wall pinned them down on the 16 on the ensuing kickoff, Volmer stepped back and well overshot his downfield receiver, allowing Rainford to settle under the ball for an easy interception.

Caleb completed three quick passes with the time winding down, connecting with Colin Hughes for a big gainer inside the 20 and then finding Hughes on the next play for a 19-yard touchdown. He then found Nelson again on the conversion pass to make it 22-0 with 30 seconds left in the half.

The Eagles tried a reverse to Dawson Handcock that picked up nine with time winding down and then Volmer completed his first pass of the half, a hook and ladder pass that ended up in the hands of Handcock down to the 8-yard line, but Wall did not have enough time to get the ball snapped before the clock clicked off to end the half.

The Warbirds got the ball first in the second half, but they had a quick three-and out. The Eagles then got an impressive run from big running back Jace Mohr for 59 yards to the five-yard line before Jace Blasius punched the ball in to give Wall their first score of the game on their first possession of the second half.

The Warbirds got a pair of long runs, one each from Caleb and Moshe Richmond to cross midfield, but the drive then stalled, turning over on downs on Warner’s 41.

The Eagles pounded the ball on the ground, with a 12-play drive, all on the ground, capped by a two-yard touchdown from Volmer. He would also run in the two-point conversion to bring the home team within 22-14.

With all the momentum on their side, Wall gambled with an onside kick and recovered on the Warbird 47. They then continued to meticulously work down the field on the ground, with a big 23-yard run by Volmer putting the Eagles inside the Warbird 10-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Two plays later, Mohr punched the ball in for a 4-yard touchdown. Volmer converted another two-point run to tie the game.

The Warbirds did get a first down on a Caleb run, but they had to punt, setting up another long Wall drive.

The Warbirds did force a long third down play, but then committed pass interference, putting the ball inside the Warbird 20. Three plays later, Volmer broke through the line for an 11-yard run. The Warbirds were able to stop the conversion run, but Wall had come all the way back for a 28-22 lead.

Wolsey-Wessington got the ball back on their own 23 and went to work. Caleb Richmond scrambled for a 10-yard run for a first down and then found Rainford for a huge 36-yard completion on fourth down to get into Warner territory.

Caleb then found brother Moshe crossing the field for a 17-yard gain inside the Warner 20. The next play, Richmond broke a tackle and sprinted the rest of the way for a 17-yard touchdown with 1:15 left. However, he cramped up in the back of the end zone, so he was unable to run the 2-point conversion.

Warbird coach Hayden Hooks took a timeout to put together the plan, and he sent in Moshe Richmond to take the snap from center. Moshe side-stepped one tackler and sprinted into the end zone for the two-point conversion to give the Warbirds the 30-28 lead.

The Eagles got the ball with 1:08 left on the clock on their own 30-yard line. After a trick play led to a 9-yard loss, Volmer found Handcock for 23 yards to the Warner 44. Another completion to Kale Cowser got the Eagles into Warbird territory, but the Warbird defense then stiffened up, earning a turnover on downs.

Wolsey-Wessington kneeled on the ball and began the celebration.

The Warbirds move to 10-1 behind three touchdowns by Caleb Richmond. He was 11 of 25 passing for 179 yards and a score and also ran 18 times for 104 yards and two scores.

Rainford ran 10 times for 20 yards and had a pair of catches for 48 yards while Moshe ran six times for 34 yards and a touchdown and also caught five balls for 69 yards.

Hughes grabbed four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles finish at 10-1 despite a dominant night on the ground. Mohr had 14 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Volmer had two scores and 112 yards on 17 carries. Blasius ran six times for 48 yards and the final Wall score.

Through the air, Volmer finished 4-14 for 97 yards and an interception. Handcock had two catches for 65 yards.

The Warbirds will return to the state finals for the first time since 2020, a 32-14 win over St. Mary, and to the Class 9A finals for the first time since 2014, a 32-20 loss to Howard.

Howard will again be the Warbirds’ competition Friday at 10 a.m. in the 9A title game after a huge fourth quarter led to a 40-13 win over Warner Friday.

Wolsey-Wessington 0 22 0 8 30

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
No scoring

2nd Quarter
8:40 - WW - Caleb Richmond 8-yard TD run. (2-pt pass failed)
1:19 - WW - Moshe Richmond 1-yard TD run. (Sawyer Nelson 2-point pass from C.Richmond)
0:30 - WW - Colin Hughes 19-yard TD pass from C.Richmond. (Nelson 2-pt pass from C.Richmond)

3rd Quarter
9:34 - W - Jace Blasius 5-yard TD run. (2-pt pass failed)
0:46 - W - Tanner Volmer 2-yard TD run. (Volmer 2-pt run)

4th Quarter
11:04 - W - Jace Mohr 4-yard TD run. (Volmer 2-pt run)
3:49 - W - Volmer 11-yard TD run. (2-pt run failed)
1:15 - WW - CRichmond 17-yard TD run. (M.Richmond 2-pt run)