The Paynesville Bulldogs football team won their first game of the 2000 season on Friday by beating the Benson Braves 24-0 in Benson.The Bulldogs finally put it all together for a game and handled the Braves the entire game.
The game started with the Bulldogs dominating the first quarter while racking up 110 yards rushing and taking a 6-0 lead on a 25-yard pass play from Logan Louis to Nic Glenz.
At right, sophomore Milan Virant (23) ran 19 times for 125 yeards on Friday night.
The Paynesville defense limited the Benson offense to just 15 yards in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Bulldogs dominated again with the running of Milan Virant and Josh Trees. The Bulldogs were able to control the ball for most of the quarter.
Trees scored on a one-yard run to make the score 12-0.
The Bulldogs' defense continued to stuff the Benson offense as the Braves managed only 15 yards in that quarter as well.
The Bulldogs led 12-0 at halftime.
The third quarter started with the Bulldogs' defense stopping the Braves on three downs, and the Bulldogs taking the ball 51 yards in nine plays to score their third touchdown. Quarterback Chris Fuchs got in the end zone on a eight-yard run to make the score 18-0.
The defense held again for Paynesville, as Virant had an interception to keep the score 18-0 in the Bulldogs' favor.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs intercepted two more passes, by Nic Glenz and Adam Schaefer, who returned his 55 yards for another touchdown. That made the final score 24-0.
The Paynesville offense used its ground game to control the ball, run out the clock in the fourth quarter, and preserve the victory. Virant ran for 125 yards and Trees had 90 on the ground for the Bulldogs.
On defense, the Bulldogs completely dominated the Braves. The Bulldogs allowed only 78 yards rushing and 114 yards of total offense to Benson. The Braves managed little more than two yards per play.
Attempts at passing were even worse, as the Braves completed only one pass in 20 attempts. The Bulldogs caught more Benson passes than the Braves did as Paynesville defenders had three interceptions. The Bulldogs also had three sacks.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, had 304 yards of offense and scored a touchdown in each quarter.
The Bulldogs are now 1-3 for the season, and 1-0 in the conference. The West Central Conference has switched alignment for football this year, with the Bulldogs playing in the division for schools with smaller enrollments.
On Friday, the Bulldogs will travel to Morris for a game against the Tigers at 7:30 p.m.
| Paynesville | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -- 24 |
| Benson-- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- 0 |
Scoring summary
Pay-Nic Glenz 25 pass from Logan Louis (pass failed);
Pay-Josh Trees 1 run (pass failed);
Pay-Chris Fuchs 8 run (pass failed);
Pay-Adam Schaefer 55 interception return (pass failed).
Individual statistics
Rushing (attempts-yards-TDs): Milan Virant 19-125; Josh Trees 22-90-1; Adam Schaefer 9-32; Chris Fuchs 9-32-1;
Passing (completions-attempts-yards-TDs): Logan Louis 1-2-25-1;
Receiving (receptions-yards-TDs): Nic Glenz 1-25-1;
Interceptions: Glenz; Virant; Schaefer;
Tackles (solo-assists): Joe Nosbush 6-8; Schaefer 3-4;
Sacks: Aaron Lang; Ryan Glenz; Marty Lieser;
Fumble recoveries: Lang; Glenz; Nosbush.
Team statistics
Paynesville
Rushes-Yards - 59-279
Passing yards - 1-2-25
Total offense - 61-304
Total first downs - 12
Penalties - 9-86
Fumbles - 2
Benson
Rushes-Yards - 32-78
Passing yards - 1-20-36
Total offense - 52-114
Total first downs - 6
Penalties -1-15
Fumbles -3