The Bulldogs football team traveled to Mott on Oct. 7 to take on the Mott-Regent Wildfire for the last game of the regular season and a chance for either team to make the playoffs. Fans on both sides were treated to an old fashioned shoot out.
The Wildfire took the opening kickoff and drove 25 yards in their first three plays. On the next play Tristen Peterson made a nice tackle for a 6 yard loss, but two plays later the Wildfire made their way into the end zone. Along with the two point conversion, Mott-Regent was up 8-0.
The Bulldogs would counter with their first possession. Five rushes by Mathew Carlson behind excellent offensive line blocking and Bowman County would be in the end zone. The two point conversion was denied, making the score 8-6 in favor of the Wildfire.
Mott-Regent would get pinned down on their own 6 yard line after the kickoff. Two long pass plays and a 26 yard touchdown run would get the Wildfire into the end zone again. The two point conversion was successful and the Wildfire extended their lead 16-6.
On the ensuing kickoff the Bulldogs would fumble the ball and the Wildfire would get the ball back on Bowman County’s 43 yard line. The Bulldog defense would answer with a turnover of their own. Alex Madrigal would intercept a pass and give the ball back to the Bowman County offense on their own 20 yard line.
Again the offensive line executed nicely, providing the running lanes needed for Carlson and Adam Powell to amass a 12 play, 80 yard drive for a touchdown. The two point conversion was successful and the Bulldogs would only be down 14-16.
Not to be discouraged the Wildfire would again put together another offensive drive. 6 plays and 72 yards, to include a 35 yard pass play, would find Mott-Regent in the end zone again. This time the Bulldog defense would dig in and hold the Wildfire out for the two point conversion. Mott-Regent would lead 22-14.
On the third play of the Bulldogs next offensive series Corban Massey would scramble for a 40 yard gain, taking the ball down to the Wildfire 15 yard line. With the Bulldogs knocking on the door again, the Wildfire defense would push back with an interception, getting the ball back on their own 11 yard line.
With the Wildfire pinned deep in their own territory, the Bulldog defense would dig in and force the first punt of the game.
On the first play of the offensive series, Carlson would take a pitch and cut back across the field behind excellent open field blocking to take the ball in for a 40 yard touchdown run. With a successful two point conversion the game was tied at 22 each.
The Bulldog defense would come up big again, with a fumble recovery by Carlson at mid-field.
The Bulldog’s offense would take over on their 47 yard line.
As luck would have it, the Wildfire would recover a fumble three plays later and get the ball back close to the same field position that they had lost it three plays earlier.
Mott-Regent would strike fast with an 18 yard run followed by a 34 yard touchdown pass. With a successful two point conversion, the Wildfire would take the lead again 30-22.
A short kickoff would be recovered by the Wildfire, giving them the ball back on the Bulldog 42 yard line. The Bulldog defense would counter with a sack by Nate Boehm for a 10 yard loss. An exciting first half would end with the Wildfire leading 30-22.
Bowman County would get the ball back to open the second half. A short kick would give them the ball just short of mid-field. Adam Powell would have a 29 yard run followed by a 17 yard touchdown run to get the Bulldogs quickly into the end zone for the first score of the second half. After the two point conversion the Bulldogs would tie the score at 30.
Not to be outdone, the Wildfire would answer with a 7 play, 67 yard drive. A successful two point conversion would give Mott-Regent the lead again 38-30.
The Bulldogs would again get the kickoff just short of mid-field and methodically drive the ball 53 yards in 5 plays for another touchdown. Two more points would give the game its third tie at 38 points each.
The Wildfire would again answer; their second play was a quarterback keeper that would go for an 80 yard touchdown run. Not to be discouraged, the Bulldog defense would stop the two point try and the Wildfire would again take the lead, 44-38.
In true gunslinger fashion the Bulldogs would answer with a 10 play, 63 yard drive. A successful two point conversion would give Bowman County their first lead of the game, 46-44.
As if the crowd would expect anything less, Mott-Regent would counter with an 11 play, 75 yard march down the field for yet another touchdown. Digging deep, the Bulldog defense would again keep the Wildfire from the two point conversion. The fourth quarter would start with the lead changing again putting Mott-Regent ahead 50-46.
Carlson would take the ball 25 yards on the first possession of the drive for the Bulldogs. Four plays later Carlson would run through a huge hole provided by the line and take the ball 30 yards for another Bulldog touchdown. The two point conversion was successful and Bowman County would take the lead again 54-50.
The Wildfire would get the ball back with just under three minutes left in the game. They would march down the field in what appeared to be the game winning drive. Eight plays would get them to the Bulldog 17 yard line with less than two minutes to play. In a shot-gun formation the play looked to be a quarterback keeper, Tristen Peterson came from the back side to reach in and strip the ball before the quarterback could get to the line of scrimmage, the loose ball was recovered by a heads up play from Beau Jeffers. Giving the Bulldogs the ball on their own 11 yard line.
Two plays later the Bulldogs had enough yards for a first down which sealed the win. Bowman County took a knee on the last two plays and the Bulldogs would be going to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years with a 54-50 nail-biter victory.
The Bulldogs will be traveling to St. John to take on the Woodchucks in the first round of the state playoffs. The game starts at noon Mountain Time Oct. 15.
Team Awards
Offensive Player of the Week – Jacob Boehm
Defensive Player of the Week – Dylan Scott
Special Teams Player of the Week – Devin Septon
Bowman County 54, Mott-Regent 50
Individual Stats
RUSHING: BC: Carlson 29-274 yds, 4 TD; Powell 14-129 yds, 3 TD; Massey 6-40 yds
