Fakes, conversions set Badgers up for a win over St. Maries
Badger senior running back No. 22 Mitch Manley breaks open a long run to help the badgers along to a 38-18 victory of league rival St. Maries. —Photo courtesy of LOREN ORR
A game of fakes and two-point conversions set the field for a Badgers Football win on Friday.
Taylor Tompke scored on runs of 25, 54 and 9 yards as the Badgers defeated the Lumberjacks 38-20 in the Intermountain League opener for both schools.
In the first quarter No. 22 senior Mitch Manley ran for 18 yard for the touch down with junior Ozzie Braff No. 44 scoring the first two-point conversion.
St. Maries responded with quarter back Jaden Guidry No. 4 throwing a 62 yard pass to No. 13 Josh Johnson for the touchdown. St. Maries missed the extra point.
Tompke in the first of a series of fakes runs up the middle for the second Badgers touchdown and Braff brought the second two-point conversion. St. Maries answered again in the first half with a touchdown ran by No. 31 Brad Anderson for 59 yards, after St. Maries missed the two point conversion.
After no scoring in the second quarter the teams went into half-time with a score of Badgers 16 and Lumberjacks 12.
The third quarter Badgers Tompke faked again and runs the ball for a 54 yard touchdown and Braff scores a third two-point conversion.
Yet another fake and Tompke ran in nine yards for another touchdown and the two-point conversion this time was missed. St. Maries threw an interception pass to Manley and he ran it for the touchdown and Braff brought in the two point conversion.
The score by the fourth is Badgers 38 Lumberjacks 12. Anderson of the Lumberjacks scored a 27-yard touchdown and they got the two-point conversion, ending the game with a Badgers winning 38 to 20.
After a few adjustments at half time, coach Ed DePriest said the guys played more disciplined and simply wore down St. Maries in the second half.
“We still need to get more pressure on the passer and play better pass defense, but overall, we played well in the second half,” DePriest said.
“The next two non-league games will give us a chance to get more of the guys some playing time and allow some of the guys who are getting dinged up to rest a bit,” said DePriest.
The non-league games will let those who have not seen a lot of time to get some seasoning under fire which will hopefully pay off down the road in league or playoff games.”
“Taylor had a very good game, rushing for 161 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns,” said DePriest. Manley rushed for 119 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.”
DePriest noted that Alek Lopez rushed for 96 yards on 14 carries, and the team rushed for 451 yards for the game.
“For the most part, our offensive line did a much better job getting off the ball and moving our opponent off of the ball,” DePriest said. “I would like to see them sustain their blocks a bit more, but we are improving each week. It was nice to get the win, but we still have a long way and a lot of work to do.”