BOSCOBEL — It’s been a tough season on the gridiron for the Boscobel Bulldogs. That changed last Friday night with a Homecoming win against rivals Riverdale, 46-34.
The Chieftains started strong, gaining a 14-point lead by the end of the first quarter. They continued to gain ground, bringing in another 6 points while holding the Bulldogs offense in check. That changed as the end of the first half approached, beginning with a big run from quarterback Tommy Monroe to gain the Bulldogs their first touchdown. When a defensive pass interference call gave the Bulldogs one more play and no time left on the clock, they put the opportunity to good use with a 13-yard score, bringing the score 26-14, Riverdale.
Changes in the lineup seemed to coalesce, and Boscobel hit the field in full steam to start the second half. The Bulldog defense kept the Chieftains down through the third quarter, allowing them no additional scoring. The Bulldogs offense scored another touchdown early on. When Riverdale fumbled the ball later in the quarter to return possession to Boscobel, Chase Kull took a long run to bring Boscobel up another six points. Gaining the two-point conversion, Boscobel finished the third quarter tied 26-26.
A pair of turnovers in the fourth quarter gave Boscobel the lead, 46-26. Riverdale was able to slip in another touchdown and conversion before the clock ran out, leaving the Bulldogs in possession of the win, and the paddle, at 46-34.
“It was really nice to see the adjustments pay off as we were able to move the ball effectively against them and our defense stood up and made big plays and some key stops.” said Coach Joey Martin. “Our kids believed in each other, we played the second half with emotion, and we started celebrating the big plays. I really feel that this group is meshing better than ever before. When they play with emotion, they play more physical; when they play more physical, we are more successful.
“Riverdale did not give up. They were definitely ready and prepared for this game as the first two series by them proved. Coach Curt Thompson does a really nice job with the Riverdale program. You know going in that those kids are going to be well coached and very well prepared for whatever battle is present.
“We were fortunate to be able to get a lot of our kids in to play - including several freshman. This is important as we move forward, keeping our upperclassmen fresh and allowing our younger kids to build for the future.”
Quarterback Tommy Monroe threw nine passes with five completions for 31 yards.
Monroe led in rushing with 183 yards in 15 attempts, followed by David Zart with 11-122. Casey Swenson with 13-74, and Chase Kull 6-30.
Dallas Marks led in receiving with four receptions for 25 yards, followed by Britan Waterman with one catch for six yards.
The win against Riverdale is the first conference win for the team, giving them a 1-4 conference record and 3-4 overall.
The Bulldogs travel to Mineral Point this Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Pointers are currently 3-2 in conference and 5-2 overall.
“We have so many good things going and I think our kids are really excited about the challenge this week in a very talented Mineral Point team,” Martin said. “Our coaches will continue to put endless hours in studying, planning, and preparing for the next task at hand. I am very thankful to have such a wonderful staff that is so devoted to these young men.”
To view the Boscobel Dial's photo album from the game, click the link to visit the album.
