Bulldogs’ fourth-quarter offensive explosion leads to blow out win over Vikings

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COLFAX — With all that has transpired these past six months – the Coronavirus, the shuttering of schools, and the cancellation of the spring sports season – just having Boyceville and Colfax take to the Vikings’ field last Friday night for the season football opener was a welcome accomplishment by itself.

As might be expected, the action was neither smooth nor efficient.

For the better part of three quarters, defenses, miscues and mistakes dominated the action as Boyceville held an 8-0 advantage, thanks to a second-quarter fumble recovery deep in Colfax territory that the Bulldogs parlayed into a touchdown and the two-point conversion.

In fact, the two squads were flagged for a combined 27 penalties for 225 yards; Colfax was whistled for 16 of those infractions for 120 yards while Boyceville was hit 11 times for 105 yards.

But by the final stanza, Boyceville had simply worn Colfax down and the flood gates opened.

The Bulldogs, who took advantage of four Vikings’ fumbles and a blocked punt, put 26 points – all on consecutive possessions – on the Bjurquist Field scoreboard in the fourth quarter as they posted a 34-0 whitewashing in the September 25 conference and season opener for both squads.

“It was great to get out on the field under the lights again,” stated an enthusiastic Bulldogs’ head coach Michael Roemhild. “The guys have been working hard at practice and have been waiting to take on Colfax since last year’s homecoming game. They kicked our butt and it left a sour taste in our mouth.”

“We had new starters at all of our skill spots on offense and it showed in the first half. We made some adjustments and in the second half I thought our offense looked much better. It helped that we were able to give our offensive linemen breaks on defense,” added Roemhild. “In the second half, we were fresh and it showed.”

That also bore out in the stats.

Boyceville finished the contest with 248 offensive yards – 160 yards rushing and another 88 passing – to just 116 for Colfax.

Neither offense had success moving the ball in the opening 12 minutes as they traded possessions regularly. Even when the Vikings lost the first of its four fumbles on their second possession of the game, the Bulldogs were unable to take advantage of the opportunity, gaining just five yards before having to punt.

But when Colfax coughed up the football once again, on the first play of the second quarter, Boyceville was not about to let this opportunity go for naught.

Josiah Berg’s recovery gave the Bulldogs the ball on the Vikings 22-yard line. But, after a couple of short gains on the first two plays of the series, Colfax’s Julio Hernandez broke through the line untouched and sacked quarterback Ira Bialzik for a 12-yard loss.

Faced with fourth and 17 at the Colfax 29, Boyceville went to the air and got what it needed and then some.

Bialzik dropped a nicely arched pass into the hands of Jacob Granley who stepped into the endzone for the game’s first score with 9:22 of the first half remaining. Sebastian Nielsen, or Bash as his coaches and teammates call him, plowed across the goal line for the two-point conversion to make it an 8-0 contest.

It would remain that way until the fourth quarter.

Boyceville took possession of the ball with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter and drove 68 yards in seven plays for its second touchdown of the game, a one-yard quarterback dive by Bialzik at the 10:27 mark of the final quarter. Although the two-point conversion run failed, the Bulldogs had some breathing room with a 14-0 lead.

Boyceville would soon get plenty more as it scored sixes on its next three possession.

After Colfax’s fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete, Boyceville took charge at its own 43 and ran down to the endzone with Tyler Dormanen carrying the load. Dormanen turned in runs of seven, 15 and 28 yards on the drive, the final one punctuating the endzone for a third time. Jacob Granely added the point-after-toucdown kick to give the visiting Dawgs a 21-0 advantage with 6:58 to play.

But, just 22 seconds later, Boyceville hit pay dirt again.

Boyceville recovered a Colfax fumble on the kickoff. Starting at the Vikings’ 31-yard line, the Bulldogs needed just two plays to punch the ball into the endzone. Tyler Dormanen picked up 28 yards on the first-down run and with a penalty assessed on Colfax for a block in the back, the football rested on the one-yard line. Nathan Stuart ran across the goal line at 6:36 and Granley booted another PAT to make it 28-0 with 6:36 left on the game clock.

Colfax held the ball for seven plays and a little over four minutes before having to line up for the punt, a kick which the Bulldogs blocked and recovered at the Vikes’ 15.

Once again, it took Boyceville just two plays to convert the turnover into six points. After Bash Nielsen was stopped for no gain on first down, Tate Downey broke free on the very next play and ran it into the endzone from 15 yards out with just 1:38 left in the game. Although Granley’s kick went wide, Boyceville held a 34-0 cushion which turned out to be the final score.

Dormanen and Nielsen led the Boyceville ground attack with 86 and 56 yards respectively. Dormanen finished with a running touchdown as did Downey, Stuart and Bialzik.

“Bash and Tyler were a great 1-2 punch and they started to get their legs under them in the second half, especially in the 4th quarter,” stated Roemhild.

In the air, Bialzik was just three-for-nine but finished with 88 yards and a touchdown. Granley had the 29-yard TD catch while John Klefstad and Braden Roemhild each registered a reception for 35 and 24 yards respectively.

“Ira was only 3-9 but his 3 completions were huge for us,” continued Roemhild. “He hit Jacob Granley for a TD in the first half and then John and Braden in the second half. John had a great run after the catch, not going down until about the fifth tackler. Braden has a nice over the shoulder catch that was almost a TD.”

“Our team chemistry was a key to this game. We have freshmen-seniors starting on both sides of the ball and the guys have come together to do what is best for the team,” concluded Coach Michael Roemhild. “This week was a rough week for the team as we learned on Wednesday that Bash and Nate’s grandma Nancy Duvall passed away unexpectedly. The team rallied around those two and tried to pick up their teammates when they were at their lowest. I am very proud of how our team is close like a family. I know Nate and Bash made their grandma proud last night.”

The Bulldogs next play Turtle Lake this Friday, October 2, which is also their home opener.