DAKOTA — Dakota proved to have the heart of a champion Friday night, overcoming a spirited Forreston team and hanging on to win 18-14 in a contest decided in the final seconds.

The Indians became only the third team in school history to finish the regular season 9-0, and have now extended the Dakota football win streak to 23 consecutive games.

Early in the game, however, it appeared Forreston might have found a formula to upset the Indians. The Cardinals scored at the 2:52 mark in the first quarter on a 40-yard burst by running back Luke Myers. It was the second long run of the drive for Myers, who racked up 134 yards on just five carries before halftime.

Forreston led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, but the Indians tied the game at the 1:57 mark in the second quarter on a 5-yard run by Austin Oberbruner. Oberbruner added the 2-point conversion to give Dakota an 8-6 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Myers picked up the ball at the 15 yard line and raced through the middle for an 85-yard touchdown return. After a two-point conversion pass, Forreston led 14-8 at halftime.

Dakota’s defense proved the difference in the second half.

The Indians drove to the Forreston one-yard line in the third period, but failed to score, with 1:43 left in the quarter. That appeared to give the Cardinals momentum, until two plays later, when Myers was caught on a sweep play in the Forreston end zone for a safety to make the score 14-10.

Dakota’s offense relied on the running game to drive into Forreston territory in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Indians, the third quarter proved costly, as starting quarterback Oberbruner was carried from the field with a season-ending ankle injury.

Running back Tommy Bowers, however, carried the Indians on a drive to the two yard line. At the 8:10 mark, Dornink finished the effort with a two yard run. The Indians added the two-point conversion for the final score.

- Eric Petermann, rrstar.com