Longhorns Hook Badgers

This past Saturday, the Badgers traveled to Ft. Benton to battle the perennial-ranked Longhorns. The Badgers had prepared all week, knowing this contest would be a knock-down, drag-out fight. The Longhorns won the toss and deferred to the second half, sending the opening kickoff to the Badgers. Peyton Hauk returned the kick to the 15-yard line, and the Badger offense took the field. After three hard runs, the Badgers came up short on yardage and punted back to the Longhorns. The Longhorns worked the field against the Badger defense, finding success running the ball on the edges and in the passing game, scoring first and bringing the score to 8-0.

On the next Badger offensive possession, the team moved into Longhorn territory on a Brant Ligameri reception. On 4th down with 12 yards to gain, Ian McKamey hit Peyton Hauk on a 30-yard reception up the sideline that electrified the crowd and put the Badgers into scoring position. The Longhorn defense stiffened, and the Badgers failed to capitalize on the field position. At the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard read Longhorns 8 – Badgers 0.

Ft. Benton got the ball back, and the Badgers fought hard to contain them. The Longhorns’ air attack was sharp as they worked their way down the field for another touchdown. The Badger defense held up, and the 2-point attempt was unsuccessful. With the score at 14-0, the Badgers worked to gain back momentum. The offense sustained a 7-minute drive with multiple McKamey runs and short passes, driving deep into Longhorn territory. On 4th and goal, the scrambling Badger quarterback couldn’t get enough room between the Longhorn pass rush to find his target in the end zone, and the Badgers failed to convert. The Longhorns went on a run from there, mainly through the air, scoring on several unanswered drives.

In the second half, the Badger highlights were tough runs from Sterling Byrnes and Trevor Standley, and consistent QB play from McKamey. The Badger defense scored on a safety when Brant Ligameri converged on a Ft. Benton player trying to recover a muffed punt snap in the end zone. On the next offensive drive, McKamey scored on a 5-yard scramble. The clock expired with the final score favoring the Longhorns 48–8.