Boyceville Bulldogs begin 2019 football season with 35-0 victory
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Laura Giammattei, Sports Correspondent
INDEPENDENCE — An impressive exhibition of versatility behind the ball breathed life back into the Boyceville Bulldog football team as they commanded a 35-0 shut-out victory over Independence/Gilmanton in a non-conference season opener Friday, August 23 at Independence High School.
A good start for the Bulldogs who did not win a game a year ago.
The final outcome did not come easy. Early on, the Bulldogs suffered some technical struggles, racking up more penalty yards than offensive yards in the first two quarters.
“We were very undisciplined in the first half,” head coach Michael Roemhild said. “You could tell we weren’t in the best game shape and there was still some confusion when it came to play execution.”
Despite a lack of discipline, Boyceville managed to tack 14 points onto the board late in the first quarter. A blocked kick was returned for a touchdown by Preston Coombs with 2:55 on the clock. Brenden Sempf followed up with a 12-yard run to the goal line just as the quarter came to a close. Kicker Jacob Granley secured an extra point following both touchdowns.
With no further scoring in the second quarter, the Bulldogs returned to the field with renewed energy, regaining their composure and cutting down on penalties. Right off the bat, quarterback Connor Sempf found Logan Knudtson on a 61-yard touchdown reception. The Bulldogs attempted their first 2-point conversion, but were unsuccessful.
Much of the remainder of the quarter displayed solid defensive play from both teams, but the Bulldogs pushed through once again, as Connor Sempf connected with brother Brendan Sempf on a 20-yard pass for another six points. With another completed extra point from Granley, Boyceville led Independence/Gilmanton 27-0 heading into the final 12 minutes of regulation. Nathan Stuart wrapped scoring up with a 6-yard touchdown run following a slow march upfield in the fourth quarter.
Boyceville displayed a commanding offensive game in both rushing and passing, tallying 147-yards and 113-yards respectively. B. Sempf led in rushing yards with 87 on 10 plays, followed by Trevor Hollister with 31. The Bulldog defense held the Indees to just 43 passing yards and 49 rushing yards.
All in all, Roemhild was happy with the final result, but knows they have a lot of work to do if they want to continue staying in the win column. “The guys had been waiting for tonight,” he said. “They wanted to go 1-0 this week and that’s exactly what they did. We know we have a lot of things to work on, but it was fun watching these guys put to work what we have installed the past three weeks. They wanted to be a change to this program, and they took the first step nicely by getting that first win. That is something that hasn’t been the norm for the past two years.”
Roemhild said they will take this week to prepare to come up against a tough Clear Lake team this Friday at home. The Warriors defeated Glenwood City 30-0. The Bulldogs look to intensify their practices this week and must fix their mistakes from Friday’s game if they hope to be 2-0 heading into the conference opener against Glenwood City at home on September 6.