B&B outscores Otis-Bison for 8M-II title

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Saturday’s appearance in the 8 Man Division II state championship game marked the third straight for the Baileyville B&B Falcons, and the fifth time since 2000. B&B had won just one of those four appearances, a 24-16 victory over Clifton-Clyde in 2008. 

The Falcons used their experience and big play ability in outscoring Otis-Bison 50-34 to win their second state championship in the past three seasons, and third in school history.

B&B seemed to answer every Otis-Bison big play with one of their own in all three phases of the game. Several of those big plays came after the Cougars had cut the Falcon lead to one possession on three occasions in the game.

And, it started early. 

After Otis-Bison’s initial drive stalled in B&B territory as a result of penalties, Falcon junior running back Mitch Engelken broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run and quarterback Eric Huerter’s two-point conversion put them up 8-0. 

The Cougars would respond with at drive that featured two fourth-down conversions, but Huerter intercepted Cougar junior quarterback Trevor Keller at the goal line. 

Keller, however, would respond with a 27-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Dylan Wissman on the first play of the second quarter to cut the Falcon lead to 8-6.

After the two teams traded punts, B&B got back on the board with an 8-yard Huerter touchdown run on a drive that featured big gains from Engelken and Huerter. Engelken would break free again for a 50-yard touchdown at the 4:19 mark of the first half to give B&B a 22-6 advantage. He finished the first half with 145 yards and two scores on just seven carries.

Otis-Bison would come back with Keller’s second touchdown pass to Wissman to pull within 22-14. 

But B&B would again respond. Huerter completed a 47-yard pass to Cody Heiman on third down and Heiman would score from 4-yards out on the next play to put B&B up 28-14 at halftime.

Otis-Bison received the second-half kickoff and game star back Michael Hlavaty his only carry for a four-yard game. Hlavaty, who suffered an ankle injury in the semifinal win over Ashland, would hobble off the field and be relegated to defense and special teams for the remainder of the day. Keller would finish the drive with a 30-yard touchdown run to pull the Cougars within 28-20. 

But again, B&B would respond as Engelken returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards for a touchdown to put the Falcons back up two scores, 36-20. 

Otis-Bison would stop Austin Schraad on a fake punt attempt on B&B’s next possession, and Keller would hit Wissman again on a 10-yard touchdown pass on fourth and eight to pull within 36-28 with a minute left in the third quarter. 

Again, the Falcons would answer with perhaps the knockout blow on the first play of the fourth quarter.

After Otis-Bison stuffed B&B on first and second down, Huerter hit Heiman again, this time for a 75-yard touchdown pass on third-and-long to put the Falcons up 44-26.

The two teams traded punts, and Keller threw his second interception – this time picked by Heiman with 7:30 left.

B&B would run clock and score for a final time with just over three minutes left to expand their lead to 50-28.

Travis Starr’s Cougars wouldn’t quit, however, as Keller hit Wissman for a 46-yard touchdown connection - their fourth of the day – to result in the final margin of 50-34. 

Engeklen finished with a season high 160 yards on 13 carries as the Falcons racked up 260 yards on the ground. Huerter tied a season high with 145 yards passing on the day.

The Falcons will have a strong nucleus returning in 2011 as Huerter, Engelken, Heiman, and running back Dylan Buessing are all juniors.

Otis-Bison performed admirably in their first state title appearance since falling to Midway-Denton in 1987. 

Keller threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns, but was intercepted twice. Otis-Bison, led by Patrick Piper, would finish with 150 rushing yards in the game.