Sports

Braves unable to get past Cardinals

By Tyler Ohmann

10/09/2012

It has been the same old song for the Bottineau Braves the past five games: move the ball, stay close, but eventually fall at the end.

It was no different last Friday as the Braves hosted the Carrington Cardinals with playoff implications looming for both squads.

Despite moving the ball up and down the field and having a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Bottineau fell 20-7 to the visiting Cardinals, who solidified their spot in the West Region playoffs with the win.

At 0-5 the Braves are now mathematically out of the mix in the region.

“We battle, we battle and this is just how it comes out,” said senior defensive end/fullback Jeremiah Aberle. “It’s tough, but we have heart and we fight all four quarters.”

Bottineau’s defense was unable to stop Carrington on the first drive, as the Cardinals drove down the field, gaining chunks of yards at will. They ended the drive with a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
Bottineau answered after stopping the Cardinals on a fourth down from their own five. The Cardinals tried a fake punt, which was stopped by Bottineau, giving them a short field.

Bottineau’s Jesse Klebe, filling in for a hobbled Trevor Wettlaufer, put in the Braves’ lone score shortly thereafter.

The Cardinals would score again in the third quarter to take the lead.

Bottineau would get one more chance to tie the game with 1:58 remaining the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback Tanner Bickford led the Braves down the field, using both the legs of a revitalized Wettlaufer and a couple passes.

Bickford was in the game for Harrison Aide, who left earlier with a fractured wrist, and is likely out for the remainder of season.

The Braves were down to their final two plays, and Bickford got under pressure and a Cardinals defensive lineman was able to hop in front of a rushed pass, which was returned for a touchdown to give Carrington the win.

Despite a five-game losing streak, Aberle feels the team is still a strong unit.

“We come together more every week,” Aberle said. “We’re more of a family, and it’s awesome.”

Bottineau fell to 2-5 with the loss and 0-5 in West Region play. Carrington improved to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in region play.

Bottineau has two more game remaining on their schedule. They will travel to Dickinson to take on Trinity next Friday at 6 p.m. central time.

“We want to come out with a win, it might be tough, but we want a win,” Aberle said about Trinity.

Bottineau will then host Belcourt in the annual “Braves Cup” match at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Oct. 16.

“That’s going to be a fun game,” Aberle said.