Britton-Hecla got back on the winning track with a 59-22 victory over Webster Area on Friday.
The Braves, now 2-1, travel to Florence to meet Florence-Henry this Friday at 7 p.m. Florence-Henry stands at 1-2 and the two squads have played one common opponent. F-H defeated Waverly-South Shore 26-22 last week while the Braves blanked the Coyotes 44-0 in the season opener.
“I thought we came out and executed really well on Friday night, but I want to see us come out and play with more heart and energy from the start this week,” said B-H coach Jacob Skogstad. “I felt like we were a bit flat against Webster Area. Offensively this week, we need to be ready to pick up the blitz. They like to send pressure, so we need to make them pay when they do. Defensively, they have two really good backs, so team defense and tackling will be huge for us.”
The Braves scored 16 points in the final three minutes of the opening period and then exploded for a 30-point second quarter to take charge at Webster. The points came in a variety of ways including a pass, safety, kickoff return, and field goal.
Jace Rein teamed up with Chaz Vietor to get B-H on the board with an eight-yard pass with 2:46 left in the first stanza. Webster Area gifted the Braves with a high snap that went out of the end zone for a safety on the next possession and on the ensuing kickoff Ben Suther scored the first of his three touchdowns with a 53-yard return to paydirt for a sudden 16-0 advantage at the quarter break.
Mitch Burger set up the Braves next score with a pass interception, the first of four B-H thefts for the night, and Suther did the honors from 16 yards out to lead 23-0 with 11:18 left in the half.
Webster did respond with a 63-yard scoring run but after receiving the kickoff Rein connected on a 65-yard bomb to Burger on first down to make it 30-8 at the 9:56 mark. Then after Colt Hanson recovered a fumble on the Bearcats 32, Jack Teveldal grabbed a 26-yard Rein pass to the two and Rein did the honors to lead 37-8 with 9:13 remaining in the half.
The Bearcats completed a 34-yard TD pass to cut the margin to 37-14 at the 6:01 mark but the Braves responded again. On first down Suther broke loose on a 53-yard scamper that was called back on a penalty but the Braves scored on their sixth straight possession when Lofton Heer booted a 29-yard field goal to go with his six PAT kicks on the night. Suther capped the first half scoring with his third TD of the night on a 10-yard run for a 46-14 halftime lead.
B-H scored twice more in the third period. Following Colton Chapins’ interception, one of his two in the contest, Henry Kilker found the end zone from a yard out after the Braves took a 25-yard Heer field goal off the board on a Webster penalty that gave them a first down. Teveldal wrapped up the B-H scoring with a 26-yard scoring run.
B-H held a 399-229 total yardage advantage, rushing for 216 and passing for 183. The Bearcats managed 110 on the ground and 119 via the airways.
Suther led the Braves with 96 yards rushing on just nine carries, Rein was an efficient 7-9 passing with no interceptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns and also used his legs for a score, and Burger was the top receiver, grabbing two balls for 82 yards.
Suther also led the defensive effort with nine tackles and an assist, and Hanson had seven tackles, five assists, and a fumble recovery. Rein, Chapin (2), and Burger all had pass interceptions.
FOR FULL STATS, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL
