STORY BY MARK MCKENZIE
LAMOURE (NewsDakota)- LaMoure-Litchville-Marion is headed back to Fargodome for Dakota Bowl 2025 after defeating South Border Saturday at Townsend Field 48-12 in 9-Man semifinal round action.
A year ago the Loboes lost the title game to New Rockford- Sheyenne-Maddock, and these two teams will rematch for all the marbles on Friday, November 14th.
L-L-M scored on its first drive of the game on a four play 44 yard drive that was capped off when senior Gunner Thielges raced in from 22 yards out. The two point conversion was failed but the Loboes led 6-0 three minutes into the game.
The Mustangs weren’t phased as South Border put together an impressive 18 play 65 yard touchdown drive that burned 10:05 off the clock. Senior QB Berkley Frantz polished off the drive with a 12 yard scamper to tie the game. The two point conversion was failed and the game was knotted at six with 11:45 remaining in the second quarter.
L-L-M answered on its second possession when junior QB Mason Warcken bootlegged in from three yards out and this time the two point conversion was good when Warcken found freshman Owen DelaBarre in the endzone for a 14-6 lead.
The Loboes forced a three and out and struck again when Gunner plunged in from three yards out. Thielges also ran in the two point conversion and the L-L-M lead was at 22-6 with 5:40 remaining in the half.
After another Mustangs three and out, the Loboes made it four touchdowns on four first half possessions when junior Colby Thielges hauled in a 15 yard TD pass to extend the lead to 28-6. The two point conversion was failed.
The Mustangs got a defensive TD late in the half when Warcken was sacked and the ball came out. Senior Luke Piatz picked up the loose ball and bolted 60 yards for the score. That cut the Loboe lead to 26-12 at the half.
L-L-M tacked on another TD on its first possession of the second half when Warcken and Colby Thielges connected again, this time from eight yards out. The two point conversion was failed but the Loboes led 34-12 with 8:21 remaining in the third.
Junior Logan Potts came up with an interception to set up the Loboes next score. Gunner busted a 56 yard TD run to bump the lead to 40-12.
After a fumble recovery by junior Cody Briggs, Warcken fired a 32 yard TD strike to Colby Thielges late in the third quarter to put the game away. The same two guys hooked up on the two point conversion and that rounded out the scoring for the game.
L-L-M piled up 442 yards of offense on 49 plays. The Mustangs ended up with 159 yards of offense on 55 plays.
South Border wraps up the season at 8-3. The Loboes take their 11-0 record to Fargo for the championship game and will face 12-0 NRSM on Friday with coverage on KDDR The Tornado beginning at 8am.