Held to just 152 yards of total offense and nine first downs, the Benton/Scales Mound varsity football team kicked off the 2012 season with a 26-6 loss to Belmont last Saturday afternoon on the campus of UW-Platteville.
Under first-year head coach Matt Wiederholt, the Zephyrs had a hard time getting their offense on track.
Trailing the Braves 14-0 at halftime, Benton/Scales Mound had accumulated just one first down in the entire first half.
They wouldn't find the end zone until late in the fourth quarter when junior quarterback Stephen Korte converted on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.
Of the Zephyrs' 152 yards of total offense, senior running back Franki Carlborg rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries, for an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
Korte completed 1-of-10 passing attempts, the only one going to Carlborg for no gain. He also was picked off once.
The Braves finished Saturday's season opener with 380 yards of total offense, rushing for 344 and passing for 36 on 1-of-1 pass completions.
The Braves had two rushers go over the century mark, as Kyle Van Bogaart rushed for 138 yards on 15 carries, while Brandon Wedig rushed for 151 yards and three TDs on 17 carries.
This Friday night the Zephyrs (0-1) will look to get into the win column when they travel Cassville (0-1), who is coming off a 53-8 loss to Pecatonica/Argyle.