The Paynesville defense held the speedy Sartell offense to just 263 yards total for the game and held their top rusher for the season to just 40 yards in 20 carries, but Sartell still prevailed with the final score 28-12. Sartell advanced in the playoffs, but lost to Dassel-Cokato on Saturday evening 21-20 in overtime.
The Sabres took the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown and it looked like it might be a long night for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs got the ball on their own 33-yard line and picked up a couple of first downs before they were forced to punt.
The Sabres scored in the early part of the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs then drove 53 yards in eight plays thanks to a Noah Bruntlett 38-yard run. With a second and eight at the Sartell 12-yard line, the Bulldogs fumbled and Sartell fell on the ball on their own 10-yard line to stop the drive. The score at halftime stood at 14-0.
In the third quarter, Sartell scored two more touchdowns and opened their lead to 28-0. The Bulldogs did not give up as Seth Elmhorst picked up a loose lateral and rumbled 57 yards to the Sabres' six-yard line. Three plays later, David Hemmesch, PHS quarterback, found Tyler Wuertz in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass. After a missed extra point, the score was 28-6.
Hemmesch then drove the Bulldogs 87 yards with 4-8 passing. The final pass was a 17-yard touchdown to Josh Bork. A failed two-point attempt made the final score Sartell 28, Paynesville 12.
The loss ended the Bulldogs season with a 3-6 record overall and a 2-4 record in the WCC conference, fifth place.
Paynesville: 0 0 0 12ñ 12
Sartell: 7 7 14 0ñ 28