Bulldogs have a rough night against the Burns ground game

WHEATLAND – Despite a cold and wet night a good crowd was in attendance on Friday evening as the Bulldogs welcomed the Burns Broncs to town to help them celebrate Homecoming. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs it was the Broncs that ended up doing the celebrating as Burns played their best game of the season in a stunner at Bulldog Stadium.
Burns received the ball first and on the first play from scrimmage Burns Senior running back Boe Clayson got the ball on a broken play and ran 59 yards for the touchdown. After an extra point kick by Keenan Manlove the Broncs led the Bulldogs 7-0.
The Bulldogs offense struggled throughout the night to get anything going; however the same could not be said for Burns running back Clayson as at 5:12 left in the first quarter he scored his second touchdown of the night on a six yard run. The extra point kick by Manlove made the first quarter score Burns 14, Wheatland 0.

The first quarter problems continued for the Bulldogs, this time on special teams when a high snap on the Bulldogs punt led to a turnover on downs and the Broncs getting the ball only fourteen yards from their end zone.  A few plays later Burns quarterback Kaden Lakin ran the ball 16 yards for a Burns touchdown and with another made extra point the score was 21-0 Burns.
In a first quarter that seemed to last forever the Bulldogs gave the home crowd something to cheer about as the offense was able to move the ball against the Broncs. At 1:17 left in the first quarter Junior running back Adam Suko took the ball into the end zone to get the Bulldogs on the board. Senior kicker Payton Hanni kicked the extra point through and the score was Wheatland 7-Burns 21.
The second quarter was once again controlled by the dangerous legs of the Broncs duo Lakin and Clayson as a big 38 yard run by Clayson set up Lakin for a touchdown run at 8:42 left in the second quarter. After the extra point the Broncs led the Bulldogs 28-7.  The Bulldogs defense held firm for the rest of the second quarter and the halftime score was Burns was 28-7 over Wheatland.
The Burns outstanding running back Boe Clayson came into the game against Wheatland with a respectable 381 yards on the season but at halftime had already amassed 205 yards on seventeen carries against the Bulldogs defense.  
In the third quarter the Bulldogs defense  played much better, however they still had trouble keeping Clayson under wraps as with 3:50 left in the third quarter he scored on a five yard run to make the score 34-7 Burns. The extra point by the Burns sure-footed kicker Keenan Manlove was made and the score was 35-7 Burns.
Unfortunately a comeback victory did not look like it was in the cards for the Bulldogs whereas with 8:10 left in the in the fourth quarter Clayson scored his fourth touchdown of the night giving the Broncs the 41-7 lead over the Bulldogs. The extra point by Manlove was once again good making the score 42-7 Burns.
The final score of the game was Wheatland 7, Burns 42. Wheatland had problems overcoming the big first quarter by Burns and the impressive ground attack that they presented. Burns running back Clayson ended the night with 38 carries for a devastating 332 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.
 Despite the loss the Bulldogs are still in the running for a home-field playoff game as they are 2-1 in conference play. The Bulldogs look forward to continuing what has been a good season so far with a home game against the Hot Springs County Bobcats on Oct. 4. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.