Sports

Braves eke out second win of 2014

By Staff reports

10/14/2014

RAY - The Williams County co-op football team entered Friday night hoping to win the team’s last-ever home game.

Unfortunately for the Firestorm, though, Bottineau High had other ideas.

The Braves picked up their second win of the season on Friday in Ray, but it wasn’t easy by any means. Thanks to a staunch performance from the Braves’ defense and an early touchdown from running back Ethan Kerslake, the Braves ran out 7-6 winners.

With the victory, Bottineau pushed its record on the season to 2-5 overall and 2-4 in Region 3 play. Williams County, which is dissolving into two nine-man teams in Ray and Tioga next season, fell to 2-6 overall and 1-5 in Region 3.

Williams County started the game brightest, although it took longer to score than the Firestorm would’ve liked.

Williams County enjoyed a solid opening drive, but it turned the ball over on downs at the Braves’ goal line. On the very next play, however, a Bottineau fumble was recovered in the end zone for a Firestorm touchdown.

A subsequent point-after attempt by Williams County was unsuccessful.

The Braves then made things right with a slow march down the field. Bottineau ate up plenty of time and turf during a 19-play drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Kerslake.

Braves kicker and quarterback Brody Moum nailed a point-after conversion to give Bottineau a 7-6 lead.

Only the clock on the scoreboard changed from there on, as that 7-6 scoreline remained unchanged.

Kerslake finished the game with 78 yards on 24 carries and the game-winning touchdown. Fellow tailbacks Braden Pewe and Hunter Tooke also left their mark on the game by rushing for 85 and 17 yards, respectively.

Moum had one of his best games of the season for the Braves on Friday. The junior quarterback ended the game 5-for-10 passing for 80 yards.

Bottineau’s defense came up just as big against. Kerslake led the Braves with 15 tackles, two ahead of Casey Tooke with 13 and three ahead of Jayhawk Shriver with 12.

“The team battled to the very end and I was very proud of them,” Bottineau head coach Rob Bedlion said. “We had a lot of adversity during the game with turnovers and some odd penalties called but they kept their heads up and finished.  

“I thought our defense played tough all night, not giving up a single point, and were the most aggressive they have been this season. It was a grind-it-out game and our offensive line and running backs getting 180 yards on the ground was huge for us.”

The Braves will close out their 2014 season at home on Wednesday against Harvey-Wells County.

A win over the Hornets would allow Bottineau to buck its trend  of finishing 2-6 as it has in both of the past two seasons.