What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope
What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope
QUARTERBACK Owen Knode looks for an open receiver at Adam Wernsman Field under the Friday night lights. The Bulldogs defeated the Merino Rams, 64-20, to remain undefeated this season. Knode, a senior, registered 184 yards on the ground with five carries and three touchdowns in the Plains League contest.
The Haxtun Bulldogs remain unbeaten as the team rolled to an impressive 64-20 victory over the Rams in a Plains League match up at Adam Wernsman Field Friday night. The Bulldogs are one of just three teams who remain undefeated in eight-man gridiron action in all of Colorado sports. Mancos boasts a 5-0 record, Haxtun improved to 6-0 over the weekend and Vail Christian holds a 5-0 overall record.
Haxtun opened the first quarter with a 69-yard touchdown run from Michael Gerk to put the Bulldogs on the board first. Quarterback Owen Knode kept the ball and took it into the end zone in the two point conversion to give the home team an early 8-0 advantage. Before the end of the first quarter, the Rams added their first six points of the game from a pass in the air. The Bulldog defense denied their point-after attempt to stay on top, 8-6.
It was all Haxtun as the Bulldogs put up 20 unanswered points in the second quarter. Knode found openings for two rushing touchdowns before half time, as did senior running back Isaac Andersen, to give the Bulldogs a 28-8 advantage at the half.
The Bulldogs took charge early in the third with another quarterback keeper from Knode for a 59-yard run and his third rushing touchdown of the game. He kept the ball for the point-after attempt giving his team another two on the board. Merino would sneak in a one-yard run and the point after attempt for another eight but it wouldn't matter. Haxtun scored three touchdowns before the end of the third for to hold a 56-14 lead heading into the final 12 minutes of play.
With just five and a half minutes left to play, Haxtun added another eight points for a total of 64 in the contest to take the Plains League victory by a 44-point margin.
"We had a few young guys really step up on defense this week and played really good," Head Coach JD Stone said after his team's win over the Rams. "Offensively, our read and run-pass option game was clicking on all cylinders."
As a team, the Bulldogs completed 39 total plays including 13 first downs. In the air, Knode completed five of nine passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, he put up an impressive 184 yards from five carries and two touchdowns. He averaged 36.8 yards per carry.
Gerk carried the ball eight times for 111 yards and one touchdown. Grant Statz racked up 82 yards from two carries and one rushing touchdown. Andersen, a senior ball carried, registered 76 yards from 10 carries including one touchdown on the ground.
Kyle Fryrear caught on pass in the air for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, three Bulldogs led in tackles with 10 on the night. Gerk, Statz and Andersen each registered 10 tackles against the Rams. Maclin Tempel tallied seven tackles followed by David Avery with five and Keegan Colglazier with four.
Coss and Tempel each registered two sacks on the Merino quarterback.
This week Haxtun will travel to the home of the Sedgwick County Cougars. The match up in Julesburg will put the 3-1 Cougars against the Bulldogs in a much anticipated Plains League contest.
Sedgwick County lost their season opener to Dundy County, 42-14, but recently picked up wins over Hoehne, Merino and Akron. The team was scheduled to play Denver Christian last week but the Thunder ended up forfeiting the contest.
"This coming week we need to do all the little things right," said Stone. "Sedgwick County finds a weak spot on your team and the will attack it."
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