A HARD FOUGHT WIN.

 

By Justin King

 

 

In the Boise Generals locker room Saturday after a 17-14 win over the Magic Valley Bulldawgs, a collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the room. Had they just played well enough to win or did Magic Valley bring their brand of football to Boise?

 

The answer is the Magic Valley Bulldawgs (1-5) were under dogs but did not play like it. All game their defense played together and relentless. Bringing just over 20 guys to the game, they threw their bodies around all over the place, limiting what the Boise Generals (3-3) wanted to do. Led by Jacob Bogner the Bulldawgs were ready for this particular challenge.  This reporter knew this game would be good and it was.

 

The Generals scored first on a Steven Petty 31 yard field goal. On the first drive the Generals threw the ball well.  Austin Issacson threw for 25 yards hitting a few different receivers. The Generals were poised to score a touchdown on their opening possession which coming into the game was a team goal. The drive stalled on the 10 yard line, which set up the field goal.

 

Magic Valley received the kickoff Bogner returned the kick 26 yards. The Bulldawgs’ quarterback Tim Brayton who threw for 70 yards on the day was immediately under pressure from the first snap (that theme stayed true all game long). Defensive star Mike Mapu, ended their opening drive with a strip fumble recovered by the Generals’ Ben Holmes.

 

The Generals struck quickly. After some good runs from Britt Hall and Daniel Jenkins, Issacson hit Jerry Smith on a 26 yard touchdown pitch and catch to put the Generals up 10 -0.

 

That 10 point lead lasted 14 seconds. Bogner took the kickoff 96 yards to the house. Magic Valley missed the extra point try that made the score 10-6. The Generals fumbled the very next kickoff. The Bulldawgs were back in business on the 50.  Brayton threw his best passes of the day on their second drive hitting Josh Goddard on a 15 yard strike.  Brayton accounted for all the yards on the drive rushing for 10 yards and hitting 2 receivers for 18 yards. The drive stalled on a rare rushing attempt by the Bulldawgs. The field goal unit came in and missed the attempt keeping the score 10-6, Boise.

 

That is how the score would remain until the second half. Both defenses became stingy.  A mistake by the Generals gave the ball to the Bulldawgs on the Generals 15 yard line with a minute to go in the half. Spencer Bruchard intercepted a ball in the end zone (first of his two  on the day) that ended the Bulldawgs’ drive.

 

In the 3rd quarter the Generals scored on their opening possession. Issacson hit Smith again for a 36 yard gain to set up a Jenkins 5 yard touchdown run.

Penalties and turnovers became the star of the game for what appeared to be the entire 4th quarter, marring what was otherwise a very entertaining game.