Sports

Sioux start season with pair of region blowouts

By Bottineau Courant Staff

09/03/2013

The Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn Sioux opened their season in a big way this past week. Sioux fans had plenty of cheering to do as WNG earned two blowout victories over region opponents.

First on Tuesday night the Sioux opened their season with a home game in Glenburn against Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood.

The Sioux scored four times in the opening quarter as they ran all over the Mustangs in WNG’s return to nine-man debut, earning a 46-6 victory.

Senior Hawkin Smette scampered in from 20 yards out to set the tone right away. Fellow senior Hunter Braaten hit sophomore Chase Conway for a 54-yard score to make it 14-0 early in the first.

Later in the first Braaten scored with his own legs as he ran in from 26 yards out. Braaten was not done in the opening quarter though as he scooped up a fumble and returned it 94 yards to rip the game wide open.

WNG scored three more times in the second quarter to total 46 points. Reese Schell hauled in a toss from Braaten for a score. Brennon Lovell ran in from three yards out later in the quarter. Schell found the end zone one more time on an eight-yard run.

The Mustangs would get on the board though late in the second as Ryley Brown caught a pass from Connor Brackenbury to make it the final of 46-6. Neither team scored in the second half.

WNG had 278 total yards of offense, 157 on the ground and 121 through the air.

Braaten was their leader as he went 5-for-9 for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran three times for 33 yards and a score. Defensively he led the team with two fumble recoveries. He also had five tackles.

Another leader was Conway, who finished with seven tackles, three for a loss, and three grabs for 69 yards on offense.

Things went similarly on Saturday afternoon as the Sioux traveled to Kenmare to take on the Kenmare-Bowbells-Burke Central Honkers.

It was all Sioux throughout as they jumped up to a 36-0 lead at halftime. When all was said and done the Sioux earned their second blowout victory with a 52-0 shut out.

Braaten again led the Sioux as he scored three times on the ground, once on an 80-yard punt return and also tossed a 29-yard score to fellow senior Ethan Miller.

Conway also added a rushing score as did Schell.
The defense for the Sioux was superb, especially from Braaten, who had 17 total tackles, six for a loss, a fumble recovery, a pass deflection and a sack. Smette had an interception and Conway added 16 total tackles. Dustin Weeks forced a fumble.

Offensively Braaten finished with 366 all-purpose yards: 148 on the ground, 105 through the air and 113 return yards.

Conway again did well as a pass catcher, as he hauled in four receptions for 65 yards.

The Sioux improved to 2-0 with the win.

WNG’s next action is at 7 p.m. on Friday as they host New Town in Westhope in a search to improve to 3-0.