Bennett County Booster

Warriors boot Rangers 26-6 in football

Posted Local at Aug 27, 2011

Dalton McCollam scored the games first touchdown.

Bennett County kicked off the 2011 high school football season with a 26-6 win in Hill City Friday night, breaking away from a scoreless first half to run away with the game with 26 straight points after the break. The Rangers scored on a freak punt play that accounted for the lone Hill City score late in the game.
Both teams struggled on offense in the first half, but the Warriors were their own worst enemy, fumbling the ball away after showing some progress.
On their second drive of the game, the Warriors moved to the 39 of the Rangers and fumbled the ball.
On their next possession, a 38 yard pass play from Kray Krolikowski to Eli Livermont set the Warriors up at the 25 of Hill City, but the Warriors fumble the ball back to Hill City on the next play.
Bennett County’s defense was tough all night and shut down the Rangers, forcing another punt, but Krolikowski tried to pass deep again to Livermont but was intercepted near mid-field for another Warrior turnover.
The Rangers tried going deep with their passing game but Jon McDonnell intercepted the ball, giving it back to the Warriors, and Bennett County was near the fifty yard line again. Krolikowski was intercepted on the next play and the ball was back in the Rangers hands with 1:03 to play in the half, but the Warrior defense kept it scoreless going into the half.
The Warriors started the second half moving the ball well, marching towards the Rangers goal, but fumbled the ball at the 15 and the Rangers recovered it.
The Rangers made a key mistake and went for a first down on a fourth and one at their own 35 and the Warriors shut them down, taking over with excellent field position.
On the next play, Dalton McCollam burst through the line for a 27 yard run to the eight yard line. McCollam would eventually punch it in from two yards out for the games first score with 4:20 to play in the third quarter. The Wade Porch kick after was no good.
On Hill City’s next possession, they fumbled the ball to the Warriors at their own 18 yard line. Kray Krolikowski scored on a quarterback keeper from 13 yards out to give the Warriors two scores in a minute of play. Wade Porch booted the extra point through for a 13-0 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors were on the move again but once again, fumbled the ball back to the Rangers at the 27 yard line of Hill City.
After another Ranger punt, Bennett County marched to the five yard line where McCollam score with 5:50 to play in the game. The Porch kick after was good for a 20-0 lead.
The Rangers fumbled the ball at their own 10 yard line on a fourth down desperation play and Bennett County took advantage of the mistake as Brad Hahn scored on the next play for a 10 yard rushing touchdown. The kick after failed making it a 26-0 game.
With two minutes to play, Hill City punted but it hit a Warrior player and a Ranger alertly scooped the ball up and ran it in from about 50 yards out for the only Ranger score of the game. The run after touchdown was no good, making the games final score 26-6.
Bennett County’s defense was outstanding all night, but the Warriors fumbled the ball five times, losing all five fumbles, and had a pair of interceptions on offense. Bennett County had very few penalties, showing good discipline for the first game of the year.
Complete game stats will be in the Bennett County Booster.

 See photos in the photo gallery.