LIVINGSTON - It could have been a shootout, instead of a blow-out.
Had the Boscobel football team finished off a couple of early drives with touch-downs, the Bulldogs would have hung with Iowa-Grant on Friday.
As it was, the Panthers, playing at home, came away with a 41-0 drubbing of Boscobel in a SWAL battle.
"If we had scored on our two opening drives," said Bulldogs coach Todd Fischer, "the whole facet of the game would have changed."
Using a running game that gashed the Panthers up the middle, Boscobel drove deep into Iowa-Grant territory twice in the first quarter but did not score.
Having stopped the Bulldogs on fourth down on both occasions, the Panthers then strafed Boscobel with a strong aerial attack that generated 20 quick-strike points.
Blake Welu threw for three touchdowns in the first quarter, one a 70-yard scoring strike to Cashton Laufenberg to make it 7-0 on Cody Rider's kick for the extra point.
Welu then connected with Brandon Pierick on a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0, before throwing a 12-yard pass to Logan Bollant for the Panthers' third score of the first quarter.
Down 20-0, things got worse for Boscobel, as the Bulldogs gave up a safety on a punt attempt and Derek Peat ran for touchdowns of 4, 54 and one yards to complete the scoring. Peat ran for a game-high 167 yards, while Bollant finished with 106.
But, it all could have so much different had Boscobel put the ball in the end zone early on.
"The whole first half could have changed," said Fischer. "If we score on a couple of drives, it could have changed their game plan, it would have changed our attitudes. We showed we could run the ball early on, but we made some key mistakes (to stop drives). Iowa-Grant is a good team. There are some things to feel good about. To control the line of scrimmage when they have some big boys, that's got to make the guys feel good."
For the game, Boscobel gained 111 rushing yards, led by Chase Varvil's 55. Iowa-Grant rushed for 271 yards and had 17 first downs, compared to the Bulldogs' eight. Greg Bell caught one pass for 11 yards from quarterback James Marks to lead Boscobel in receiving.
On the year now, Boscobel is 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the SWAL. I-G improved to 3-0, 1-0 in the SWAL.
The Bulldogs travel to Southwestern on Friday for another SWAL showdown. Iowa-Grant will travel to Darlington Friday afternoon.
Iowa-Grant 41, Boscobel 0
(from Friday, Sept. 2 @ Iowa-Grant)
Boscobel 0 0 0 0 - 0
Iowa-Grant 20 15 6 0 - 41
IG - Cashton Laufenberg 70 pass from Blake Welu (Cody Rider kick)
IG - Brandon Pierick 31 pass from Welu (Riderkick)
IG - Logan Bollant 12 pass from Welu
IG - Safety
IG - Derek Peat 4 run (Rider kick)
IG - Peat 54 run (kick failed)
IG - Peat 1 run (kick failed)
Team statistics: First downs - B 8, IG 17. Rushing - B 36-111, IG 36-271. Passing yards - B 10, IG 192. Passes - B 2-7-0, IG 5-7-0. Fumbles lost - B 0, IG 0. Penalties-yards - B 1-5, IG 2-25.
Individual leaders: Rushing - B: Chase Varvil 14-55; IG: Derek Peat 19-167, Logan Bollant 12-106. Passing - B: James Marks 2-6-0, 10; IG: Blake Welu 4-6-0, 127. Receiving - B: Greg Bell 1-11; IG: Brandon Pierick 2-45.
