Bulldogs score solid win against Raiders

(Above) Brian Anaya (14) and Alex Madrigal (26) in on the tackle. (Pionner Photo by Jason Waskiewicz)

Strong team defense keeps Bowman County in the game

The Bulldogs football team played host to the Richardton-Taylor-Hebron Raiders Sept. 16, a Region 5 team that had beaten Mott-Regent, the fifth ranked team in the state, the prior week.

The Raiders started the game out on offense and put together an impressive 14 play, 80 yard drive to the end zone. The biggest play of the drive was a 31 yard run on 4th and 1, that took them to the Bulldog 15-yard line. The extra point conversion was good, and the Bulldogs would get the ball down 0-8.

The Bulldog’s first offensive series gained 17 yards in three plays, but a penalty put them at 2nd and 21, forcing them to punt. Tristen Peterson backed the Raiders up to their own 2 yard line with a 44 yard punt.

The Bulldog’s defense would reset after their first series and hold the Raiders to 14 yards on 5 attempts, forcing a punt.

The Bulldog’s second offensive series resulted in a strong 14 play, 43 yard drive to the end zone. Fourteen yard scramble by Corban Massey; six yard run by Brayden Jorgenson; six yard run by Adam Powell; 10 yard pass to Chance Andrews.

On a 4th and 3 at the Raider’s 3-yard line, Corban Massey connected with Matthew Osendorf on a leaping touchdown reception. The offensive line provided nice running lanes behind the blocks of Jacob Boehm, Parker Lambourn, Beau Jeffers and Tristen Peterson.

The Raider’s would fire back with 4 play 69 yard touchdown drive. Brendan Butterfield scrambled for a 43 yard touchdown run on a broken pass play.

Not to be outdone, the Bulldogs would answer with their own 10 play 67 yard scoring drive.

Brayden Jorgensen (22) scores one of Bowman County’s touchdown. The varsity team won 26-20 against Richardton/Taylor/Hebron on Sept. 16 (Pioneer Photo by Jason Waskiewicz)

Key plays of this drive where:

14 yard run by Adam Powell behind nice blocking from Tristen Peterson, Jacob Boehm and Chance Andrews.

13 yard boot-leg pass from Corban Massey to Tristen Peterson who tip-toed to stay in bounds.

11 yard run by Brayden Jorgenson behind the lead block of Adam Powell and7 yard touchdown run by Brayden Jorgenson with key blocks by Brian Anaya and Chance Andrews. Second effort by Jorgenson to reach the ball across the end zone with defenders closing put a nice touch to the end of an impressive drive.

The Raider’s offense came out strong with a 19 yard run by Owen Voigt, but the Bulldog defense would dig in. The Raiders would go to the air but come up with two incomplete passing plays. Tristen Peterson would pressure the quarterback on a deep pass while Brayden Jorgenson batted down the ball just in front of the receiver. The Raiders would go for it on 4th and 3, but the Bulldog defense held strong and gave the ball back to the offense on their own 45-yard line.

With the clock running down on the first half the Bulldog offense made one last push to the end zone.

Corban Massey would find Brian Anaya for a 6 yard pass with a nice block by Chance Andrews.

A penalty on the following play would give the Bulldogs a 3rd and 9 on their own 46 yard line.

The next play was a 20 yard pass from Corban Massey to Brian Anaya. Anaya would take the ball another 34 yards shaking off three defenders to put the Bulldogs into the end zone with less than 10 seconds left in the half.

A wide open pass to Adam Powell would convert the extra point and the Bulldogs would go into half time leading, 20-14.

The Bulldogs would receive the ball in the second half and continue to ride the momentum they developed in the second quarter. The Raiders kicked the ball to Alex Madrigal who returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, a late holding call negated the touchdown and the Bulldogs would start the second half on the Raiders 46 yard line.

The Bulldogs drove down the field in 7 plays, covering 46 yards for another touchdown.

The drive was capped off by a 4th and 1 scramble by Corban Massey which turned into a 21 yard touchdown run. Brayden Jorgenson provided a crushing block on the 12 yard line clearing the way for Massey into the end zone.

The Raiders would go 3 and out with key defensive plays by the Bulldogs. Tristen Peterson had a tackle for a 2-yard loss and Alex Madrigal had a sack for a 10-yard loss. Bowman County would get the ball back on their own 10-yard line and again start driving the ball.

A 13 yard roll out pass from Massey to Powell.

Followed by a 24 yard run by Brayden Jorgenson, through a huge hole provided by Adam Powell, Jacob Boehm and Tristen Peterson. At the end of the run a defender stripped the ball and the Raiders recovered it on their own 47 yard line.

A tough defensive stand by the Bulldogs would again have the Raiders going 3 and out.

The Raiders defense would stiffen up on the next series resulting in only 11 yards gained on 6 plays by the Bulldogs. Tristen Peterson would kick a 45-yard punt giving the ball back to the Raiders on their own 24-yard line. The third quarter ended with the Bowman County on top 26-14.

The Raiders would put together a nice 9 play drive for 34 yards, but not without tough defensive play by the Bulldogs. On a 2 yard run, Beau Jeffers squared up on the running back, picking him up and driving him to the ground in a textbook tackle. Several plays later Nate Boehm and Tristen Peterson had the quarterback wrapped up for a sack but he was able to throw the ball into the ground just before being brought down.

On 3rd and 10 the Raiders tried a tricky half-back pass. The Bulldogs weren’t fooled by the play, just has the ball was released Beau Jeffers took the passer to the ground and Corban Massey intercepted the pass and took it down the field on a nice 20 yard return.

Bowman County would start to move the ball again with 4 yard and 6 yard runs. A penalty and incomplete pass would give them a 3rd and 14. Adam Powell would rush for 11 yards through an open running lane provided by Tristen Peterson, Parker Lambourn and Chance Andrews, but it was three yards short. The Bulldogs lined up for a punt but snapped it to Corban Massey who ran for 22 yards. Tack on a penalty at the end of the play and the Bulldogs had a first and goal at the 10 yard line.

The Raiders defense would not quit and held the Bulldogs, getting the ball back on downs at the 4 yard line.

On the second play the Raiders would go deep down the center of the field, but would be intercepted by Alex Madrigal on the Raider’s 37 yard line.

Again the Raiders defense would hold tight forcing the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs at the 32 yard line.

The Raiders would put together one of their best drives of the game, a 10 play 68 yard touchdown drive. With 23 seconds left in the game the Bulldogs were up 26-20.

The Raiders attempted an on-side kick, but it was recovered by the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs took a knee on the ensuing play as the clock ran out.

Once again the Bulldogs played excellent team defense with 10 players having one or more tackles, led by Brian Anaya with 8 tackles and eight players with 4 or more tackles each.