Rangers get tumbled by Trojans

The Hill City Rangers football team played at home to kickoff the season Aug. 21.

They faced the Parkston Trojans who ended the 2025-26 season 9-2.

Mason Buehler is the starting quarterback for the Rangers football team this season. The game began on a hot field as the Trojans kicked the ball to the Rangers for the 2026 season opening drive.

Alan Harvey brought the ball to the 11 yard line, where the Rangers began their drive. The first pass gained the Rangers five yards, but the Rangers quickly faced a fourth down and punted the ball.

The Trojans took over on the Hill City 39.

A handoff to the right side gave the Trojans a quick six points and their two point conversion resulted in an 8-0 lead with 10:38 left in the first quarter.

Hill City’s second possession did not go much better, and they again punted to the Trojans, who took over at their own 40-yard line.

The Rangers defense forced the Trojans into a fourth down situation on their second drive. A fumble on the play gave Hill City possession on its own 49-yard line once again.

Despite a complete pass to Breylon Rahn, the Rangers were again forced to punt.

After getting a first down, a flag against Parkston negated a huge  Trojans play, forcing them to repeat a first down. Parkston took to the air but was unable to connect on a third down play forcing another punt in the game.

With 2:32 to go in the first quarter, it was still Parkston 8, Hill City 0.

The Rangers were once again unable to make anything happen, and a poor snap meant Logan Street’s punt gave the Trojans good field position on the last drive of the opening quarter.

Parkston could not get anything going in either the air or the ground and once again were forced to punt. But rather than kick, they  faked and a run by Reco Muilenburg gave the Trojans a first down.

The Trojans soon found themselves in a first and goal position after a pass down the side. After three downs of Rangers defense stopping the drive, Parkston took a time out. Coming back on the field a pass to the side gave the Trojans another six points. 

On the Parkston kick  Harvey was able to bring the ball to the Rangers 40 yard line on the kickoff.

But once again the Rangers were unable to convert. The Rangers punted, and the Trojans ran past nearly every Hill City player before being stopped around the 40-yard line by Street.

A few plays later the Trojans were again in the end zone. The Rangers were down 22-0 after a missed extra point. A special teams  fumble would give the Trojans possession again and another six points extending the lead to 30.

An unanticipated onside kick gave Parkston the ball and points on the board.

Hill City grabbed a late first half drive that brought it into Parkston territory, with Street kicking a 39- yard field goal with seconds left bringing the score to 46-3.

The Trojans’ second half roster was decidedly different and helped the Rangers in the second half of play. Hill City’s defense showed up, not allowing Parkston any points in the third quarter. 

A pass to Brody Moriarty in the third quarter gave the Rangers some momentum. The fourth started with the score 46-10.

A fourth quarter pitch to Harvey, who ran long, set up Buehler to run up the middle giving the Rangers another six points. 

The Rangers went on another drive with seconds left in the game scoring a late game six points losing their home opener 54-24.

Despite the loss, coach Brett Eckert is moving forward with the season. 

“For a quarter and a half we did our jobs how we are taught, and it was an eight nothing game at that point.  We became undisciplined and didn’t do our jobs the correct way and that cost us,” said Eckert. 

The Rangers graduated a lot of key players last year in what was by all accounts a very successful season.

“We have areas of growth, but I believe we have a good group of guys and right now it is just finding out how all of the pieces of the puzzle need to fit together to help us create the best team possible,” Eckert said.

The Rangers now face the 0-1 Stanley County Buffaloes. Eckert said that Stanley County is a good team, despite losing its opening game this season against Bon Homme. 

“Stanley County has size up front and some skill positions that if you don’t do your job the way you are supposed to, they will make it hurt. We will need to be efficient on offense and disciplined on defense to come out on top.”

Kickoff is an 7 p.m. local time Aug. 28 at Ole Williamson Field.