YANKTON – Top-seeded Yankton’s high-scoring offense couldn’t gain much traction against eighth-seeded Aberdeen Central’s defense, but did just enough to oust the Golden Eagles from the Class 11AA football playoffs, taking a 28-6 win over Central Friday night at Crane-Youngworth Field.

For a team that spent the bulk of the season generating nearly 50 points per victory, the Bucks managed just two meaningful offensive touchdowns in Friday’s win.

“We were on them pretty good there,” said Central coach Justin Briese. “Our defense definitely played pretty well. Guys were flying around, making plays.”

One of those touchdowns came on Yankton’s opening drive of the game on an Evan Serck 18-yard run.

Briese noted that Yankton went no-huddle on that opening possession.

“I think that caught our defense off guard a little bit,” Briese said. “But after that, we really settled in and got a bead on what they were trying to run.”

The Bucks added a defensive touchdown on a pick-six later in the first quarter, but the Golden Eagle defense played as advertised, shutting down the Yankton offense for the remainder of the half, and went into the locker room down just two possessions.

“The guys were pretty excited,” Briese said. “I think the momentum was trending in our direction with the way the defense was playing and our offense was figuring some things out.”

Yankton added another touchdown late in the third quarter, a scoring drive aided mightily by a muffed punt that set the Bucks up deep in Golden Eagle territory.

Central, however, responded on its ensuing possessions, marching steadily downfield on a pass-heavy drive that culminated with an 8-yard Brayden Bowman to Colby Dauwen connection in the end zone with just under 11 minutes to play in the game.

“Great to see the offense get some things going and get that drive,” Briese said. “That put us in good position. We just needed to get a stop. The offense did it once, they can do it again. Just didn’t go that way.”

Still down just two possessions, the Golden Eagles couldn’t match that scoring effort, as the Bucks picked off Bowman again late in the quarter.

Yankton added a late score with under a minute left in the game for the final 28-6 margin.

“Give Yankton credit,” Briese said. “They’re a good team and they played hard and they played well. I told my guys I’m proud of them for their effort throughout the game and the season. We had some injuries and things that made it hard, but they kept with it and kept showing up every day.”

The loss ends Central’s season at 3-7 overall. Yankton (8-2) will move on to the semifinals where they will play host to Pierre next Friday for a chance to head to the finals.