Colts quarterback Preston Arity runs for a first down against the Patriots Tuesday night in 7th grade Midget Football action. (Photo Sam Hurst/IDS)

There are games and then there are important games. There are rivalries and then there are rivalries that get personal. There’s Michigan versus Ohio State. There’s the Bears versus the Packers.

…and then there’s the three-year old midget football league smack down rivalry between the Patriots and the defending champion Colts.

For three years, this has been the most hard-nosed rivalry on the youth gridiron, played between boys who are close friends, cousins, all-star teammates and middle school classmates while the sun shines on Tuesday afternoon, transformed into rival beasts when the sun sets on Tuesday night.

It was often commented over the summer that the Harney All-Stars, who played their way to the Little League World Series, were among the most talented group of athletes to come through Rapid City in a generation. Now imagine those same boys evenly divided, smashing into each other on two rival football teams, coached by their fathers. On the Colts: Erik Petry, Kyle Maguire, Seth Brewer, and Cameron Fees. On the Patriots: Riley McSherry, Madden Pikula, Hayden McGriff, Timmy Paris, and Zach Solano.  Imagine these boys surrounded by teammates who are sometimes bigger, sometimes faster, and just as good.

Midget football is an instructional league, a size and age appropriate introduction to the complex strategies of football that boys will see if they play at higher levels. For most boys, confronted with one or two eye- popping tackles, and a smothering pile up, these games are last time they will ever play. The Patriots and Colts are different. Their formations are tight, and the quarterback cadences are crisp. The runners hit their holes with power and speed. It’s easy to watch a Patriots/Colts game and imagine half of the starting lineup at Central and St. Thomas More in five years. (By the way, that’s Central High School Head Coach Trent Pikula coaching the Patriots from the sidelines).

This is football with its most primal male instincts played out full throttle, and there is nothing more primal than bragging rights between cousins and friends.

For the last two years, the Colts and Patriots have split their regular season games, and played their way into the championship game. Both years the Colts have emerged as champions. This season the teams were split 1-1 entering Tuesday night’s showdown, with the #1 seed for the playoffs on the line.


(Photos Sam Hurst/ID

The first half was a slugfest where neither defense was willing to give a yard. Hard running tailbacks Cameroon Fees and Zack Diehl pounded the middle for the Colts, but could make no headway. The Patriots countered with speedy Riley McSherry and Madden Pikula, but they could not turn the corner until Pikula broke free on a brilliant 45 yard run midway through the 2nd quarter for the game’s first score.

The first half ended with the Patriots up 6-0.

The Colts turned to the power running game of Cameron Fees and Zack Diehl in the 3rd quarter, and took over momentum in the game when Diehl scored on a two yard punch up the middle. The Colts defense, led by Erik Petry, spent most of its time in the Patriots backfield, disrupting passes, forcing fumbles, and sacking Patriots quarterbacks.

The game stayed knotted at 6-6 until the 4th quarter, when Colts quarterback Preston Arity bootlegged his way around the left side for a 30- yard touchdown run. Petry’s extra point kick made the score 14-6, and the Colts were in control.

After the ensuing kickoff, with time running out, Patriots quarterback Madden Pikula went to the air in a desperation attempt to get his team back in the game. Pikula was looking for Zack Solano in the flat, but Zack Diehl jumped the route and took the interception to the house. “I saw Madden peeking over where he wanted to throw, so I knew it was coming to Zack. I just stepped in the way.” Diehl told IDS after the game.

Final score: Colts 22-Patriots 6.

“How important is it to beat these guys?” I asked Diehl.

“For us, it’s just like the Packers and the Bears. They’re a really good team. They’re hard to beat, and you have to play every play hard to win the game.”

Midget football league playoffs start in a week. Odds are, the Colts and Patriots will be right back on the field for the championship game; one more chance for the Patriots to break through, one more chance for the Colts to secure their dynasty.

After the championship comes a long, cold winter of bragging rights.