The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Carrington's Grady Shipman (in white) dives to break up a pass intended for Bottineau receiver Gabe Nero. Shipman started at quarterback for the Cards, but it was the play of his opposite, Ryder Pollman, that helped the Braves secure a 26-14 win in the season opener played in Rolette.
CHS defenders Jake Otto (44) and Ryder Bickett (foreground) put pressure on Bottineau quarterback Ryder Pollman. Pollman completed six passes in 13 attempts for 114 yards, but four of those came for touchdowns.
The Bottineau Braves, in their one season of nine-man football in 2021, came tantalizingly close to advancing to the Dakota Bowl.
Dreams of showcasing their abilities on the Fargodome turf were dashed by eventual state champion LaMoure/Litchville-Marion in the semifinals, 20-6.
The Braves and Coach Zach Keller made the move back up to Class 11B this year, and Carrington was their first opponent out of the gate.
CHS played competitively with a quality opponent, but fell to 0-1 with a 26-14 loss Friday night, August 19. The game was played at Rolette due to ongoing renovations at the Bottineau County Fairgrounds field.
"We saw a lot of good things, but we saw a lot of things that need work," Head Coach Kyle Smith said. "We're a very inexperienced team as far as varsity repetitions, so a lot of the issues we had are typical of a young team, and are correctable."
The Cards had some early success in the passing game on their first drive, as junior signal-caller Grady Shipman had three straight completions to start the game on a 10-play, 38-yard drive, but the Cards' progress ultimately stalled on downs on the Bottineau 37-yard-line.
That put the Braves on the field, and their talented quarterback and receiving corps went to work.
On their second possession, senior Ryder Pollman connected with junior wideout Carson Haerer, and made several moves to run past the Carrington defense for a 47-yard catch and run to get BHS on the board, 8-0. Haerer would also add the two-point run.
Carrington got on the board after a bad punt snap by the Braves set themselves up in prime field position at the Bottineau five. It took two plays for Hudson Topp to punch it in from two yards. Jack Paulson's extra point kick was blocked, and the score sat at 8-6 in favor of Bottineau.
With momentum following a Hudson Schmitz interception, the Cards couldn't take advantage, punting away on the next series.
Bottineau then struck again for a six-play, 56-yard scoring drive that ended with senior receiver Gabe Nero making a nice play on the ball in the end zone for a 19-yard score. Haerer had another big play on the drive to set it up.
Even with playing well at times, the Cards couldn't match the Braves' big play offense, and trailed, 14-6, at the break.
"Bottineau was much more aggressive than we were early in the game," said Smith. "They return a lot of starters, and our inexperience really showed early."
The Braves' defense put the Cardinal offense in a vice grip in the third quarter, forcing a negative net yardage of -11 yards on seven plays, including a fumble.
Eli Bristol would add a touchdown catch in the third quarter, covering 22 yards, and Haerer hauled in his second in the fourth.
Pollman finished by going 6-for-13 in the air for 114 yards and four scoring strikes, and his only blemishes were two picks by Schmitz.
The Bottineau defense hounded Shipman into completing just one of his next 12 passes after the opening possession.
In the fourth quarter, sophomore Josh Bickett went under center, and Shipman moved to receiver. Bickett uncorked a big play with his legs, a 55-yard run to pull within 12, 26-14, after the Kael Kovar conversion.
CHS' one golden chance to come back following a turnover petered out when another Bickett touchdown was called back on a holding penalty. Later in the series, Nero sealed the game for the Braves with an interception and 47-yard return.
In his quarter of action, Bickett completed his other four passes, finishing with 41 yards in the air.
"There were flashes of urgency in the fourth quarter, but we need to learn to play like that the entire game," said Smith.
Bickett led the Cards in rushing with 45 yards, and Logan Weninger ran for 28 yards on five carries. Schmitz was the top CHS receiver with four catches for 33 yards.
On defense, Topp had 13 combined stops, eight unassisted, and Weninger and Kovar added six solo tackles and McCoy Beckley five. Ryder Bickett had CHS' only sack.
Bottineau also had an effective running back by committee approach. Gabriel Deschamp led the Braves with 16 rushes for 68 yards, followed by Haerer (8-55) and Jacob Shriver (6-49).
Haerer led the receivers with 70 yards on three receptions.
Carrington (0-1) went back to work for their first game in the new "Stadium '22", welcoming Rugby (0-1) to town for a pivotal Region 2 contest.
The Panthers fell to HWC in their season opener (see related article), 34-14.
"They've got one of the bigger quarterbacks you'll see [Brody Schneibel]. He's 225 pounds," said Smith, who added that Rugby has some good athletes and playmakers as well.
This upcoming Friday, the Cards travel east to Hillsboro to face last year's 11B runners-up, the HCV Burros, at 7 p.m.
Class 11B Region 2 Football
Bottineau 26, Carrington 14
Cgtn. 0 6 0 8 - 14
Botno 8 6 6 6 - 26
First Quarter
Bottineau: Carson Haerer 47 yard pass from Ryder Pollman (Haerer run)
Second Quarter
Carrington: Hudson Topp 2 yard run (kick blocked)
Bottineau: Gabe Nero 19 yard pass from Pollman (pass failed)
Third Quarter
Bottineau: Eli Bristol 22 yard pass from Pollman (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
Carrington: Josh Bickett 55 yard run (Kael Kovar run)
Bottineau: Haerer 14 yard pass from Pollman (run failed)
Carrington Statistics
Offense
Passing: Grady Shipman 4-15-39 yards; J. Bickett 4-5-41-INT
Rushing: J. Bickett 2-45-TD; Logan Weninger 5-28; Topp 4-15-TD; Ty Johnston 3-9; Kovar 4-8; Corbin Clifton 1-1; Shipman 1-(-5)
Receiving: Hudson Schmitz 4-33; McCoy Beckley 1-20; Weninger 1-11; Johnston 2-10; Shipman 1-5
Defense
Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Topp (8-5); Weninger (6-5); Kovar (6-2); Beckley (5-5); Schmitz (3-0); Brock Jungels (3-6); J. Bickett (2-1); Carson Ova (2-0); Ryder Bickett (2-2); Clifton (1-1); Dylan Bachmeier (1-0); Shipman (0-1); Johnston (0-1); Luke Christianson (0-2); Callen Garber (0-1); McKade Zink (0-1)
Interceptions: Schmitz 2
Sack: R. Bickett
Tackles for Loss: Topp, Weninger
Bottineau Statistics
Offense
Passing: Pollman 6-13-114-4 TD-2 INT
Rushing: Gabriel Deschamp 16-68; Haerer 8-55; Jacob Shriver 6-49; Pollman 6-14; Will Demontigny 2-8; Cooper Beckman 1-0
Receiving: Haerer 3-70-2 TD; Nero 2-24-TD; Bristol 1-20-TD
