The eighth-seeded Blue Earth Area Buccaneers football team traveled to Waterville last Tuesday to face the top seeded Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (WEM) Buccaneers in the first round of the section playoffs.

Unfortunately for Blue Earth Area it was the host Buccaneers who came out on top by a score of 54-28. The loss ended the season for BEA who finished the year with a record of 3-6.

WEM improved their record to 8-1 and advances to the second round of the section playoffs.

WEM jumped out to an early lead needing only one minute for their initial touchdown that came on a 52-yard pass. The PAT kick was good and BEA trailed 7-0.

Two more touchdowns with two failed extra point conversions made the score 19-0 in favor of WEM with 5:34 left in the first quarter.

Koby Nagel took the ensuing kickoff after WEM’s third touchdown and returned it 20 yards to the BEA 40-yard line. Caelan Sanders’ 47-yard pass reception capped off a four play 60-yard drive to put BEA on the board. The PAT failed and the scoreboard read 19-6 in favor of WEM with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter.

The BEA defense stiffened forcing a WEM three and out. Following the WEM punt BEA took over on their 27-yard line.

The maroon and gold orchestrated a 13 play 73-yard drive with Koby Nagel scoring the touchdown on a 20-yard pass reception. Brayden Barnett’s extra point kick was good and BEA now trailed by only six points at 19-13 with 7:29 to go in the first half.

WEM responded with their own sustained drive converting two fourth downs while driving 70 yards in 13 plays to increase their lead to 25-13. Their 2-point conversion attempt was successful to give them a 27-13 halftime lead.BEA received the kickoff to start the second half. Cameron Anderson’s 26-yard kick return gave BEA excellent field position at their 46-yard line.

The visiting Buccaneers wasted no time finding the end zone. Anderson’s 37-yard over the shoulder catch of a Hunter Bleess pass covered the final distance of the 54-yard drive. Barnett’s kick was good to cut the deficit to seven points with the score being 27-20 in favor of WEM.

WEM showed why they deserved the number one seed by putting together three consecutive touchdown drives while shutting down the BEA offense to boost their lead to 27 points at 47-20 with 9:12 left in the game.

BEA did not score again until WEM had added their fourth touchdown of the second half. The final BEA points came on a 7-yard run up the middle by Austin Thielfoldt. Sanders hauled in a Bleess pass for a successful 2-point conversion to make the final score 54-28 in favor of WEM.

Turnovers played a part in the game with BEA turning the ball over four times on two interceptions and two fumbles while WEM did not lose the ball once.

Each team recorded 18 first downs. BEA had 361 yards of total offense compared to 524 for WEM.

Bleess completed 11 passes on 20 attempts for 185 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 59 yards on 10 attempts.

Thielfoldt rushed for 54 yards on six attempts and scored one touchdown.

Sanders had four receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown. Anderson recorded three catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Koby Nagel had one catch for 20 yards and a touchdown.