Badgers show tenacity in opener
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September 2, 2013 |
By David Brinkman
Voice of the Badgers
The Bonners Ferry Badgers won their season
opener Saturday evening, beating the Libby
Loggers 35-14, but it wasn't a pretty start.
The first quarter was all about rust and
mistakes.
The quarteback missed his first four
passes, the defense missed coverage and the
special teams turned the ball over on their own
three yard line. This could have defined the
team, as they gave up a 40 yard touchdown and
that three yard mistake converted as well,
putting the Badgers in a 14-0 hole.
They looked every bit like a team that has only
been practicing together for three weeks.
The Badgers did what they couldn't last year,
however, they fought through it. They put
together a clock-chewing drive that took up six
minutes of the second quarter. Josh Pluid popped
into the end zone for the score, but it was the
entire team that made the push. Jason Shutes
kicked and the Badgers got closer, 14-7
The defense the team has been so excited about
blitzed and kept Libby from making anything
happen, and then came their turn to shine. After
they put Libby's quarterback into a deer in the
headlights situation, Parker Davis knocked him
hard and Matt Sabin grabbed the
fumble. He ran it over 40 yards for the
touchdown and Shutes put another through. 14-14.
The third quarter saw the Badger defense tested.
After an amazing kick to pin the Loggers deep,
the second drive included a 68 yard run by the
Loggers and then another 15 yards on a run. The
Badger didn't break. They held tight and a
combination of penalties and tenacious defense
kept the Loggers from getting back on the board.
The score stayed that way until the fourth
quarter, and then the Badgers showed what
adjustments can do. Pluid took another one in
after the Badgers marched down the field and the
Badgers finally had their first lead, 21-14.
Libby tried to make the passing game work, but
the Badger backs weren't having it. Every time
one came their way they had the coverage.
Conner Bennett had a text book pass
defense to stall the Loggers and the Badgers
took control again.
Here's where we were all surprised. The Badgers
have a run team.
They have good backs in Pluid, Anthony Skeen,
Bennett and Dylan Unruh,
but the call that came stunned the Loggers and
put the game in firm Badger control.
With the lead and a ball control offense, the
Badgers chose to pass. Christian Trocke looked
and found a wide open Sabin for a 60 yard catch
and run touchdown and 28-14 was our score.
The final few minutes saw the Loggers try
desperately to get something going and each ill
fated attempt was thwarted by a defense that
flew to the ball as a pack.
The final Badger drive was meant to just eat the
clock, but every run up the gut found chunks of
grass and Skeen pinballed his
way in to give the Badgers their final touchdown
of the night, 35-14.
It was, Badger fans, a great night. Not a single
player stood out because they all stood out. The
backs ran hard, the passing game was a nice
surprise. The line held and the defense was on.
The switch to the 5-3 and 3-5 on that side of
the ball looked great.
Next week it's off to Newport. The game will be
able to be heard (the station is fixing last
night's issues) on 1450 KBFI.
The JV will be at home on Thursday at 6 p.m.
They won Saturday night 32-0 in a scrimmage
against the Loggers. Come down Thursday and
support your Badgers. |
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