September 15, 2015

Wolves’ offense dominates Blue Jays

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

Watford City picked up its first West Region football win as the Wolves crushed the Stanley Blue Jays, 29-0, in Class AA football action on Friday.
“We played well against Stanley,” stated Justin Johnsrud, Wolves’ head coach on the key win. “It was a great example of a team win. The defense played very well and the offense controlled the ball and the clock.”
Watford City got on the scoreboard early in the first quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Brett Skarda, but the Wolves would score in each of the next quarters to take the easy win.
Jaydn Ewing would put the Wolves on top, 10-0, at halftime on a one-yard carry with Skarda kicking the PAT.
Watford City’s offense took control of the game in the second half as Brandon Sandvik would score two running touchdowns, while Kason Hartel would pick up the Wolves’ final touchdown run.
“Brandon Sandvik and Kyle Cook ran hard for us,” stated Johnsrud. “They kept their legs moving and were falling forward for another yard or two at the end of each run”
Sandvik opened the second half with a 65-yard touchdown run to put the Wolves on top, 16-0, to end the third quarter.
Sandvik would again find the end zone for Watford City to open the fourth quarter, as he scampered five yards to put the Wolves up, 22-0.
Hartel would cap off Watford City’s first shutout of the season on a one-yard run, with Skarda kicking the PAT.
Johnsrud credits Watford City’s 265 yards of rushing to the Wolves’ offensive line.
“It all starts up front on the offensive line,” stated Johnsrud. “The seven to eight players we rotated in on the offensive line did a great job of getting off the ball and opening up running lanes for our backs.”
Johnsrud was extremely proud of his offensive unit’s last drive.
“Our drive in the fourth quarter started at our 10-yard line and lasted 6½ minutes,” stated Johnsrud. “It was exactly how we want to play the game. Drives like that allow you to control the ball and the clock and really limit the opponent’s scoring opportunities.”
While Watford City’s offense was doing its job, the Wolves’ defense completely shut down Stanley’s running and passing game.
The Wolves’ defense held Stanley to just 146 yards.
“Defensively, we played very well,” stated Johnsrud. “All 11 players on the field have to do their job for your defense to be successful.  And our front seven played great limiting Stanley to just 83 yards rushing and 140 yards for the game.
Defensive point leaders for Watford City were Jarek Hogue, 26.5, Korbin Knutson, Jaydn Ewing, and  Jackson Faller with 24 points each, while Heath Chaffin ended the game with 23 points.
Watford City will be puting its 2-1 season record on the line this Friday when the Wolves travel to Cooperstown to take on the Griggs County Central Dakota Titans.
“The Titans have a good quarterback that can beat you with his arm or his feet, plus they have good size on the offensive line,” states Johnsrud. “We will need another team effort like last Friday night to be successful. We had a great week of practice last week and it carried over to the game. We will continue to work hard and improve this week, and will continue our goal of getting better every day.”
                          1st    2nd   3rd    4th    Final
Stanley              0       0       0        0          0
Watford City     3       7       6      13       29

WATFORD CITY WEATHER