Blue Earth Area’s Parker Meyers (10) breaks a tackle on the opening kickoff return on his way to a long return. Teammate Caleb Langager (22) looks to make a block. The next play following the return by Meyers, quarterback Ashton Lloyd scored from 40 yards to give the Bucs an early 8-0 lead.

Following an opening kickoff return by Parker Meyers, BEA quarterback Ashton Lloyd scored on the first play from the line of scrimmage to give the host Buccaneers a 6-0 lead 25 seconds into their game against the Windom Eagles which was played at Wilson Field, in Blue Earth, on Thursday night, Sept. 1.

Ironically, it was a broken play with a fumble in the backfield which bounced right back to Lloyd who took the ball and broke through the left side of the line and scampered to the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown run.

Parker Meyers ran the ball in for a two point conversion and an 8-0 Bucs’ lead.

It would not be the last big play for the BEA offense which tallied 578 yards during the game.

The Bucs found the end zone again with 7:37 remaining in the first quarter when Meyers ran the ball in from 10 yards out. Another successful two-point conversion made the score 16-0 with BEA on top.

Windom got on the board with their own big play with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter. A pass from quarterback Quintin Tietz to receiver Tucker Renquist covered 40 yards and made the score 16-6 following the failed extra-point kick.

It only took BEA 14 seconds to score again.

Another good kickoff return gave BEA the ball in Windom’s territory at the 40-yard line.

Lloyd dropped back to pass and found receiver Jack Norman running down the Bucs’ sideline.

Norman caught Lloyd’s pass and then proceeded to break a tackle to score BEA’s third touchdown of the first quarter.

The Bucs converted another two-point attempt with Caleb Langager crossing the goal line with the ball. The home team now led 24-6 with 2:32 to go in the first quarter.

A quick three-and-out by Windom gave BEA another opportunity to put points on the board before the end of the opening quarter and the Bucs struck again.

Meyers used his blocking to break free for a 43-yard touchdown run on the last play of the first quarter.

A successful run up the middle added two more points to the Bucs’ lead, which increased to 32-6.

After pinning the Eagles back near their own goal line on the ensuing kickoff, the Bucs gave up a long pass which resulted in a 79-yard touchdown. Once again, the Eagles failed to convert their extra-point attempt and the score was 32-12 with 11:36 on the clock in the second quarter.

It would be almost nine minutes before either team would tally any more points.

A 14-yard run by Lloyd followed by a successful run by Meyers for the two-point conversion increased the Bucs’ lead to 40-12 with 2:38 left before halftime.

It only took 37 seconds before BEA struck again.

This time it was a Lloyd to Meyers pass which covered 35 yards to put the Bucs on top 46-12. Norman kicked the ball through the uprights to make the score 47-12 with 2:01 left in the opening half.

BEA got the ball back one more time before the clock ran out in the first half.

The Bucs went into their two-minute offense when they took possession with 1:24 showing on the clock. After moving the ball to the Windom 25-yard line, Lloyd connected with Meyers for a 25-yard touchdown with 15 seconds showing on the clock. The extra point attempt failed, giving the Bucs a 53-12 halftime lead.

“It was good to be back on the field. We executed pretty well but we saw some things we need to work on,” BEA head coach Randy Kuechenmeister said. “We were able to use a variety of players and get some other players onto the field to gain some experience.”

The Bucs would add seven more points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth quarter while holding Windom scoreless in the second half.

BEA’s defense held Windom to 188 total yards.

Meyers led the Maroon and Gold in rushing with 79 yards on five carries and two touchdowns. Reserve Brayden Rhey gained 65 yards on 12 attempts. Lloyd rushed four times for 64 yards.

Lloyd was 11-for-15 passing for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Meyers had five receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns.