BY JACOB BRUBAKER
Hays Post
KENSINGTON — Week 9 brought bracket game action to the Area Game of the Week as the Quinter Bulldogs, who placed 3rd in District 6, payed a visit to District 5 runner-up Thunder Ridge Longhorns. Thunder Ridge entered the game at 7-1, while Quinter’s record stood at 3-5.
The Longhorns where the first to receive the ball and they wasted little time in putting up points as senior Reece Struckhoff scampered for a 55 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. The ensuing conversion was good, making the score 8-0 in favor of the home team.
The first possession for Quinter resulted in a fumble, recovered by the Longhorns. Several plays later, Struckhoff found Dylan Bice open in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The conversion failed, but Quinter gave up a safety on the next possession, resulting in a 16-0 Longhorn lead less than 3 minutes into the game.
The Bulldogs continued to fight, but struggled to get any offense going throughout the remainder of the first half. Quinter was forced to punt 5 times in the first half, allowing Thunder Ridge to build a 44-0 lead with a minute and a half remaining in the first half. The Longhorns forced another punt to get the ball back with just under a minute. Thunder Ridge turned to a passing attack to try to find another score. They found it with just around 30 seconds left when Dylan Bice found Reece Struckhoff on a 12-yard touchdown pass to put the Longhorns ahead 50-0. That’s how the score would stay, ending the game at the half by the 45-point rule.
Quinter’s offense struggled to get going as star running back Tucker Gillespie finished with 9 carries for 11 yards, he contributed a fumble recovery on defense.
Reece Struckhoff finished with an impressive 218 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 10 carries. He also was 2/4 passing for 78 yards and a score. Struckhoff totaled 7 touchdowns, with his final score being a receiving touchdown. Dylan Bice added 65 yards receiving with a touchdown catch, he also threw for 101 yards and a touchdown. The Longhorn defense grabbed 3 interceptions, including one by Dalton Bice, who also had 2 tackles for loss.
The Quinter Bulldogs end their season at 3-6. The Bulldogs have reason for optimism heading into next season as they only have 2 seniors on the roster and should return a good core of position players.
The Thunder Ridge Longhorns hit the road next week to take on the champion of District 6, Grinnell-Wheatland. The Thunderhawks defeated Northern Valley 44-30 to set up a battle of 8-1 teams with the Longhorns.