Bulldogs end season on a 18-14 loss to Vikings

By Kelsie Hoitomt

BOYCEVILLE – The Bulldogs ended their 2013 football season with an 18-14 loss to the Colfax Vikings last Friday, October 18 while at home.

The Bulldogs finished the season with a 1-5 record in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference with their one victory against Elk Mound two weeks prior.

The night started with the Bulldogs on top of their game as they were in possession of the ball for nearly the entire first quarter.

The Vikings received the kick off to start the game, but were forced to hand over the ball after coming up short on their fourth down attempt. This put the Bulldogs on the 30 yard line to begin their opening drive.

The Bulldogs carried the ball for 11 plays and three first downs, including a pass completion from Hunter Anderson to Brady Schutts for 32 yards to put the team on the four yard line.

Logan McAbee-Thomas carried the ball to the one yard line and then it was Anderson who put the ball in on the quarterback keeper for the Bulldogs first touchdown of the game.

Schutts tossed the ball up to Jake McIntyre for the two-point conversion to put the score at 8-0 with 1:27 left in the first quarter.

The first quarter would come to end, but before the clock hit zero, Noah Pretasky got his hands on the ball and sprinted down the field for a 75 yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed and the scoreboard now read 8-6.

The second quarter started with the Bulldogs on their own 26, however they would be forced to punt. It wasn’t long before they got the ball back after the Vikings came up short on their fourth down attempt once again.

The Bulldog’s started their possession on their own 40 yard line. McIntyre carried the ball 31 yards to put the team on the Vikings’ 14 yard line and in sight of the end zone.

However, the Vikings’ defense kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone as they stopped them on fourth down and one yard to go with the ball on the four yard line.

The Vikings got the ball back on the 10 yard line, but they were unsuccessful at moving it outside of the 20 yard line. They were forced to punt and the Bulldogs started their drive on the 44 with the clock now running under two minutes.

On the opening play of their drive, Anderson dropped back and airmailed the ball up to Buddy Hanestad who caught the pass and ran the ball into the end zone for a 44 yard touchdown completion.

The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, but the Bulldogs had furthered their lead at halftime with the score at 14-6.

The second half of the game saw a change in roles on the field as the Vikings took a strong hold on the ball and the Bulldogs fell behind.

The third quarter started with the Bulldogs receiving the kick. They ran three plays and then were forced to punt on fourth down.

The Vikings started on the 37, but quickly gained five yards after an offsides penalty was called on the Bulldogs.

The Vikings ran the ball seven times with two first downs collected before the ball rested on the one yard line. Jeremiah Wait carried the ball in for the touchdown after nearly five minutes was taken off the clock on their drive.

The two-point conversion was no good, but the Vikings were now within two points with the scoreboard at 14-12.

The last six minutes in the third quarter would run down with no points scored from either team.

The fourth quarter would begin with the Bulldogs in possession of the ball on their own 21 with it second down and seven to go. They would be forced to punt and the Vikings would take over on their own 38.

The Vikings lost five yards on their first play of the drive after a huge hit by Jordan Morse pushed them back. Then A.J. Volk sacked Jarrod Rudi for yet another loss. However, a personal foul on the Bulldogs moved the Vikings from the 50 yard line to the 35.

An 11 yard gain by Wait and Pretasky gave the Vikings two first downs to put them within reach of the goal line.

Ethin Kiekhafer then got his hands on the ball for the nine yard touchdown run to put the score at its final 18-14.

The Bulldogs would take possession of the ball, but were forced to punt. The Vikings would as well be forced to punt on their following drive.

This set the Bulldogs up for their final possession with 2:06 left on the clock and the ball on the three yard line.

McAbee-Thomas had a 14 yard run to get the first down and then another one yard gain to put the team on the 18 yard line. Anderson then rolled out and connected with Schutts for a 16 yard gain, which set the ball on the 34.

The Bulldogs looked to be moving forward in Vikings’ territory after Anderson connected with  Brett Boda for a 13 yard gain and a first down.

Then he dropped back and tossed the ball up to Schutts again for a 31 yard gain and another first down, which put the Bulldogs on the Vikings’ 22 yard line.

Schutts had one more completion for a one yard gain. Anderson’s passes would fall incomplete three times, leaving the ball to rest on the 21 yard line.

The game would end with Rudi taking a knee on the 21 after receiving the ball on downs.

In their final game, the Bulldogs completed 138 yards of receiving and 85 yards of rushing.

As quarterback, Anderson had seven completions for those 138 yards with one touchdown. On the receiving end was Schutts who led the team with 80 total yards on four receptions.

Following was Hanestad who had the one reception for 44 yards. Boda had one reception for 13 yards and McIntyre had one reception for one yard.

Leading in rushing for the team was McAbee-Thomas with 39 yards on ten attempts. McIntyre had 30 yards, Morse had 21, Tyler Draeger had nine and Anderson had four.

The Vikings finished the night with 246 yards of rushing and 18 yards receiving.