First-half scoring splurge lifts unbeaten Bulldogs to big win over E-PC Wolves
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by Joel DeWitt
Sports Correspondent
ELMWOOD — For the first time this year, the Boyceville football team looked up at the scoreboard and found themselves trailing in a game. Despite the fact it was Friday the 13th, panic didn’t ensue, the earth didn’t stop turning, and the sun rose in the east the next morning.
For context, Elmwood/Plum City scored on the opening play of their contest with Boyceville on September 13 and led 6-0 with only 16 ticks off the clock. However, the Bulldogs somehow managed to recover from this disaster and score on six of their first seven possessions to lead 44-6 at intermissions en route to a 44-14 victory.
While a not so real disaster was diverted, it proved to be a wake-up call to the undefeated Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0).
“It was good to see how we would respond after being hit in the mouth and being down right away,” commented coach Michael Roemhild. “Nobody panicked. We just fixed a few things and went out and the boys did their job in all aspects of the game.”
After returning the opening kickoff to their own 40-yard line, the Wolves’ Dylan Zellinger connected with Logan Auth for the 60-yard touchdown to put Elmwood/Plum City up 6-0 at the 11:44 mark of the first half. However, the euphoria didn’t last long for the Wolves as the Bulldogs responded with a punishing rushing attack.
Ten Bulldog rushers racked up 295 rushing yards on 30 carries and accounted for three of six touchdowns on the night. Carson Roemhild led all rushers with 83 yards on a single carry. That carry came late in the second half and resulted in a touchdown with 1:00 left in the half.
Zach Hellendrung followed close behind with 71 yards on five carries and a touchdown. While the rushing attack was the dominant aspect of the offense on the night, the passing game was nothing but efficient.
Roemhild connected on 6-of-7 passes for 125 yards and three touchdown passes. Landyn Leslie was his favorite target, catching three passes for 89 yards and all three touchdowns.
Trailing by six, the Bulldogs returned the kickoff to near midfield. After Roemhild connected with Owen Rydel for 25 yards, Leslie carried the ball 23 yards into the end zone to knot the score at six apiece with 9:57 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion put the Bulldogs up 8-6.
The next Bulldog drive would be even quicker. After Jake Bialzik recovered a fumble on the Wolves’ 24-yard line, Hellendrung took the second-down handoff 23 yards to the end zone for the touchdown to extend Boyceville’s lead to 16-6 with 8:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Following a three-and-out by Elmwood/Plum City and a long punt return to the Wolves’ 28-yard line, Roemhild wasted no time and connected with Leslie for a 28-yard touchdown on the first play to extend their advantage to 24-6 at the 6:20 mark of the first quarter.
Boyceville tacked on one more touchdown in the first quarter. With 2:02 remaining, the Roemhild to Leslie connection worked their magic again as Leslie hauled in a pass from Roemhild and took it 40 yards for the score to go up 30-6.
Despite the 24-point advantage, the Bulldogs added two additional touchdowns in the second quarter. Roemhild connected with Leslie for the third time, this from 21 yards out, with 11:42 remaining in the first half to increase the led to 38-6.
“Carson Roemhild and Landyn Leslie had a great connection tonight,” indicated coach Roemhild. “I though Carson really threw the ball well, and Landyn did a great job of getting open.”
With a minute left in the half, Roemhild found an opening in the defense and rushed 83 yards for the score to take a 44-6 led into intermission.
Elmwood/Plum City added a late touchdown in the fourth quarter but couldn’t muster much more as the Bulldogs cruised to the 44-14 win.
“When you score 44 points in a half and only run 21 plays, I would say something was working,” praised coach Roemhild. “I thought our offensive line did an amazing job.”
The Bulldogs will take their high-powered offense six miles west on September 20 to face rival Glenwood City. The Hilltoppers are 3-1 on the year and are coming off a 38-14 loss to Grantsburg. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.