Plainsmen overcome six turnovers in 24-17 win over Amherst

Lance Steffen’s Perkins County Plainsmen kept their record clean last Friday with a 24-17 win over the Amherst Broncos. 

The Plainsmen overcame six turnovers in the game for the 7-point win. 

“You make it hard on yourself when you turn the ball over six times,” Coach Steffen said this week.

Three of the Plainsmen’s first four drives in the first quarter ended due to fumbles. They gave the ball up on downs on the other drive and found themselves trailing 6-0 near the end of the first quarter. 

“We had some refocusing to do after the first quarter and responded well in the second quarter and the second half,” Steffen said. 

To stay focused and resilient after that many turnovers and still win really says something about this team, he added. 

Steffen said his seniors really stepped up in the win, especially Michael Beck. 

Beck took over at tailback against Amherst for sophomore Alex Patrick, who’s battling an injury. 

Steffen said Beck has worked hard in the weight room and really prepared himself for the season. 

Beck gained 163 yards on 25 carries, including two touchdowns, and added another 20 yards on a pass reception. 

Quarterback Charlie Johnson passed for 114 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 34 more yards. 

Ten of those yards came late in the game when the Plainsmen faced a fourth-and-7 at the Amherst 29. Steffen said Johnson wasn’t going to be denied that first down, picking up three more yards than needed. 

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