October 14, 2009

Wolves improve to 7-0 with win over New Salem

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

Brady Lund rushed for 224 yards as he scored three touchdowns as the Wolves rolled over the New Salem Holsteins 21-0 in Region 4 football action last Friday evening.
With the win, Watford City improved to 7-0 on the season with just one regular season game left to play. The win over New Salem ensures that Watford City will have home-field advantage in the first two play-off games.
Watford City will close out its regular season action on Friday when the Wolves host Bowman in a 7 p.m.   contest at Fridley Field.
While Lund carried the Wolves to victory on a cold, brisk night with temperatures around 20 degrees and winds blowing between 20 and 30 m.p.h., Watford City’s defense  turned in another stellar performance holding the Holsteins to just 144 total yards in another Wolves’ shutout.
Watford City’s defense was tested early in the first quarter as New Salem marched the length of the field. But the Wolves made a goal line stand with Trey Jacobson recovering a New Salem fumble on the one-yard line that prevented the Holsteins from scoring. Had New Salem scored on that possession, it would have been the first time that the Wolves had trailed an opponent all season.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Wolves got on the scoreboard in the second quarter on a 20-yard run by Lund followed by a Kalin Mogen PAT to put the Wolves on top 7-0 at halftime.
On New Salem’s first possession of the second half, the Wolves recovered another Holstein fumble, and six plays later, Lund capped off the drive with a six-yard run. Mogen kicked the PAT and a 14-0 lead for the Wolves.
Watford City’s final touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by Lund with Mogen again converting the PAT to give the Wolves a 21-0 win.
“We came out a little flat and didn’t get off the ball and our tackling could have been better,” stated Fred Fridley, Wolves’ head coach. “After New Salem’s first drive we picked it up and our execution on both defense and offense was very good.”
While the Wolves will enter Friday’s game against Bowman, which has only won one game, Fridley says that he doesn’t want to overlook the Bulldogs.
“Bowman has only one win, but we need to put four good quarters together in preparation for the play-offs,” stated Fridley. “They have been playing better in their last four games.”

Individual Statistics:
Rushing: Brady Lund, 31-224 yards; Nick Liebel, 3-28 yards; Trey Jacobson, 3-4 yards; Karson Knudtson, 1-1 yards.
Passing: Trey Jacobson, 2 of 3 for 15 yards.
Receiving: Nick Liebel, 2-15 yards.
Fumble Recoveries: Trey Jacobson, 1; Derek Thompson, 1; Karson Knudtson, 1.
Defensive Points: Ben Haugeberg, 39; Douglas Nordby, 32; Kalin Mogen, 23; Trey Jacobson, 23; Shawn Fulwider, 23; Derek Thompson, 21; Karson Knudtson, 19; Adam Brenna, 15; Cody Fisketjon, 11; Blake Wold, 9; Tyler Flatland, 6; Nick Liebel, 6;  Brady Lund, 2.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER