Bulldogs Blast Bearcats 22-8 – Host  Roncalli Tonight

The Bulldogs host Aberdeen Roncalli tonight, October 10.  It’s Pink Night!  Kick Off is 7 p.m. at A.B. Campbell Stadium. Roncalli sits at 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the region. The Cavaliers  are coming off two losses in a row –one to Groton and one to Webster. Roncalli’s lone win this season came in their game against  Miller-Highnore-Harrold on September 18.

In their game against Webster, the Bulldogs notched their second win in a row just a short ride from home in Webster on Friday, October 3.  Milbank defeated the Bearcats 22-8. Both the Bulldogs’ defense and the offense made big plays. Some didn’t make it into the scorebook –like the 80-yard run to the house that was called back due to a flag – but the exhilaration from the thrills and spills kept fans on their feet.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead when Lance Engebretson caught a bomb from quarterback Braylen Bowsher for a 16-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 6-zip. The PAT failed, but Milbank was in control.  Not to be outdone, the Bearcats went on a 36-yard hike to tie the score at 6-6. They added a two-point conversion to go ahead 8-6, but that would be the only lead the Bulldogs would allow them.

With 1:12 left in the first, Bowsher sent another torpedo skyward and Rick jumped up, grabbed it, and ran 15 yards for the touchdown. Milbank was on top again at 12-8, and that’s where the score stayed to finish out the first quarter.

The two teams alternated possession until midway through the second with 7:23 left on the clock, Sam Rick got oh so close to picking off the ball. Then, on fourth down for the Bearcats, they got ready to punt, but faked it instead and ran for the first down. Webster continued towards the red zone, but Milbank’s D would not let them get past the 26-yard line, and they turned the ball over on downs.

As the first half was coming to a close, Milbank’s defense proved it can also score. With Webster in possession and positioned in their own endzone, the ball went over the head of the intended Bearcat, and Milbank seized the opportunity to score a safety for two points.The board moved to 14-8 in favor of the Bulldogs.

In the third, Bennett Hunt turned on the jets and ran 42-yards for a touchdown. It was his longest run of the night, and it helped to boost his total to 117 yards in the game. Bowsher held on and ran the ball in for the conversion to give the Bulldogs a comfortable 22-8 lead at the end of the quarter.

In the final stanza, both teams worked to achieve first downs, but neither scored. The Bulldogs momentum had begun to ebb at the two-minute mark. Webster got a first down and Milbank was charged with holding. Webster continued to plot one last run to the goal.But that was exactly the time Bulldog Mason Allen swooped in for an interception. Game over!

The Bulldogs amassed 385 total yards – 156 passing and 229 rushing. The Bearcats put up 72 total yards – 70 passing and 2 rushing. Bowsher completed nine of 21 attempts, including one TD for Milbank. 

After Hunt’s 117 yards, Lance Engebretson piled up another 75 yards. Bowsher had 16. Zackary Karges had 14, and Rick added seven. Rick also  pulled down six receptions for 121 yards, including one TD. Allen made one reception for 18 yards.  Hunt had one reception for 15, and Karges had one for two yards. Milbank nailed 20 first downs; Webster got six. 

Carter Gloe and Micah Tostenson each claimed four tackles – three for a loss – along with two assists. Tostenson also made a sack. Hunt also made four tackles  Lawson  Novy pulled down three tackles –all for a loss. He added an assist and a sack. Layten Osowski made two tackles – one for a loss. Engebretson, Rick, and Andrew Karels each had two tackles. Allen made two tackles and an assist. Ethan Seyer had one tackle for a loss. Ethan Owen made one tackle and two assists. Kale Wenzl and Bowsher also recorded one tackle. Franklin Pederson had four kickoffs for a total of 139 yards, with an average of 39. Osowski recorded two punts for an average of 40.

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