Badgers show tenacity in opener |
| September 2, 2013 |
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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. |