Patriots on a roll

Friday the 13th did not fare well for the Wheatland Bulldogs as they faced off against the US Patriots at Croell Field in Sundance. With a gutsy call on 4th down, the Bulldogs faked a punt deep in Patriot territory but were unable to come up with the yardage needed for a first down, leaving the Patriots in great field position to start the game.

With block downfield by Reece Barritt, Jayden Caylor was able to capitalize and run the ball into the end zone to put the Patriots up 6-0 and 10:25 left on the clock.

A short kickoff by the Patriots started the Bulldogs on the 33-yard line but their luck continued to go from bad to worse as the stellar Patriot defense tipped the ball and Josiah Rudloff came up with an interception. The Patriots took over once again inside their own 40-yard line and a big push up midfield by Caylor, put the Patriots at 1st and goal.

The Bulldog defense was able to stop the Patriots at the line, but a facemask on fourth down by the Bulldogs gave the Patriots new life on the 3-yard line. With 6:53 left on the clock, Jess Claycomb carried it in for another Patriot touchdown.

The Patriot defense continued to be a dominating force on the field as Jayden Caylor blocks the Bulldog punt and the Upton-Sundance offense returns to the field, taking over on their own 47 yard line. With 1:01 remaining in the first quarter, Claycomb has another lead block for Caylor and the Patriots were in the endzone yet again.

A successful two-point conversion increases the score 20-0. As the quarter drew to a close, another big hit on the Bulldog quarterback by the Patriot defense would cause a fumble and set the Patriots up in excellent field position for one more score before the buzzer rang.

The second quarter finally brought the teams to the other end of the field as a dominant Patriots defense kept the ball from crossing the 50-yardline for more than just a play or two in the first quarter. The Bulldogs started out stringing together two first downs, but a pick six by Claycomb and a successful two-point conversion by Caylor resulted in more points for the Patriots as the score increased to 34-0.

The Patriot ground attack continued as three runs and a targeting penalty gave them a first and goal. Caylor then went to the outside for a touchdown and up the middle for a successful two-point conversion, making the score 42-0 with 4:52 left in the half.

The Bulldogs started to gain momentum as they worked their way to the 40 and a facemask penalty on the Patriots brought the Bulldogs up to the 19, but holding penalties and incomplete passes would not get them any closer and the Patriots would take over, once again, at the 25 yard line.

As the first half wound down, the Patriots passing game would get going. A long pass to Braden Bruce got the Patriots to their own 35-yard line. With 1:01 left on the clock, Upton-Sundance was in no hurry and called a timeout to discuss their 4th and seven on the 15-yard line.

A back shoulder pass to Claycomb would bring the US-Patriots into the end zone making the score 50-0. The Wheatland offense would take over one more time before the half wound down, but Patriot Josiah Rudloff recovered a fumble by the Bulldog quarterback, and Jaydon Caylor was in the endzone one more time for the Patriots as the clock ran out on the first half, making the score 56-0.

As the Friday, 13th harvest moon rose with the start of the second half, the Bulldogs’ chance of victory sank into the sunset. Caylor would return Wheatland’s kickoff 80 yards to start the third quarter increasing the score to 62.

The second half brought many new Patriot numbers onto the field and the Bulldogs into the end zone with 6:27 left on the clock making the score 62-7. Wheatland tried to make one last push towards the end zone but Patriot Kye Taylor would intercept another pass with 2:30 left in the fourth, bringing the Patriot offense back onto the field to run down the clock.

Friday the 13th turned out to be a lucky night for the Upton-Sundance Patriots as they walked away with the 62-7 victory over the #3 ranked 2A Wheatland Bulldogs.

The Upton-Sundance Patriots look to improve their 2-0 record as they take on the Tongue River Eagles in Dayton on Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m.

Stats from the game:

Rushing:

Caylor - 18/185 (5 TDs)

Claycomb - 11/60 (1 TD)

E. Jones - 4/17

K. Fletcher – 5/12

Kruger – 2/6, Amann – 2/2

Receiving:

Brayden Bruce – 1/38

Claycomb – 2/28 (1 TD)

Passing:

Kruger – 3/5/66 (1 TD)

Return Yards:

Punt – Nathan Baker – 1 for 3 yards

Kickoff – Jayden Caylor – 1 for 80, 1 TD

INT – Jess Claycomb – 1 for 38, 1 TD

Top 5 Defensive Points:

J. Caylor – 25 points, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked kick

K. Taylor – 20.5 points, 1 INT

J. Rudloff – 13.5 points, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT

E. Mills – 13 points; B. Bruce – 13 points