Sports

Braves beat Firestorm for second straight win

By Tyler Ohmann

08/28/2012

Senior’s Jeremiah Aberle and Trevor Wettlaufer’s three touchdowns a piece led the Bottineau Braves to their second straight win as they downed Williams County 43-6 on Saturday.

Aberle rumbled for touchdowns of nine, two and two yards and Wettlaufer had runs of 43, 78 and three last Saturday as the Braves blew out the Class A Firestorm.

Wettlaufer ran for 232 yards on 18 carries in the game. Aberle had 20 yards rushing. In total the Braves ran 36 times for 349 yards.

“Overall I thought we took a step forward from our first game.  We looked more comfortable on offense and were able to establish the run early in the game,” stated Braves head coach Rob Bedlion. “The offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage for most of the game and our running backs ran hard and took advantage, putting up very good numbers.”

Alberto Moncero, a senior for Bottineau, kicked five of six extra points through the uprights on Bottineau’s six scores.

The defense tacked on a safety in the fourth quarter, but also allowed the Firestorm’s lone touchdown.

That touchdown came on an eight-yard run by Keenan Hodenfield, but Williams County failed to convert the extra point.

Bottineau held the Firestorm to 121 total yards, most of which came at the end of the game.

“The defense played excellent and never let WC get in a rhythm.  They never let them get their running game going and put them in throwing situations that were tough to convert,” Bedlion stated. “I was proud of how we played but we know we have to keep making consistent progress with region playing starting on Sept. 7.”

This was the third straight year the Braves and Firestorm have met head-to-head in non conference. Williams County won in 2010 with a 14-6 victory. The Braves got the Firestorm back last season capturing a 32-14 win.

Bottineau gets a week off next week, giving them an extra week to prepare for their first West Region game against Bismarck-St. Mary’s.

“Our region is very competitive and if we want to be in the mix at the end of the regular season it will take playing our best football week in and week out,” Bedlion stated.

The 7 p.m. game on Sept. 7 against the Saints will be the Bottineau homecoming game.