×
×
homepage logo

Bucs end regular season with a win

Defeat Wolverines 67-36, will face Maple River in playoff opener

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Oct 22, 2024

BEA’s Joe Bell forces a fumble during the Bucs football game against Sibley East on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Fans at Wednesday night’s football game in Blue Earth between the Buccaneers and the Sibley East Wolverines may not have been able to see the comet that is currently supposed to be visible in the sky to the southwest, but they were able to watch a comet on the football field in the form of Blue Earth Area quarterback Jacob Grandgenett.

The senior signal caller streaked up and down the football field for 280 rushing yards to help the Bucs get their first win of the season, 67-36, over the visiting Wolverines. It was the last game of the regular season.

“Jacob is a difference-maker,” BEA coach Randy Kuechenmeister said after the game. “I was happy for the guys to get the win.”

The seedings for the Section 2AA playoffs were announced on Thursday, Oct. 17.

“We got the sixth seed,” Kuechenmeister commented. “We will play No. 3-seeded Maple River on Tuesday, Oct. 22.”

In the game against the Wolverines, the Bucs scored the first 10 times they got the football.

BEA kicked off to start the game and forced Sibley East into a fourth down and three yards to go situation.

The Wolverines attempted a fake punt but the Bucs tackled their ball carrier short of the first down at the Sibley East 28-yard line.

It only took one play for Grandgenett to break free and run for a score down the Sibley East sideline. The extra-point kick failed and less that two and a half minutes into the game the Bucs were on top 6-0.

BEA stopped Sibley East on their second drive and this time the Wolverines punted the ball away and the Bucs took over on their own 30 yard line.

Once again it only took one play for the Maroon and Gold to score. Grandgenett burst through the line and past the linebackers and then outraced the defensive backs to reach the end zone for a 70-yard touchdown run. Grandgenett ran the ball in for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter.

BEA scored their third TD of the night with 2:49 left to play in the opening quarter.

This time Grandgenett ran the ball in from 16 yards out to cap off a five-play, 42-yard drive. Grandgenett completed a pass to Branson Hauskins for the two-point conversion and a 22-0 lead.

The Bucs added one more score in the first quarter. With only 26.6 seconds left, the Bucs were at their own 33-yard line. Grandgenett dropped back to pass and Hauskins hauled the ball in at the Wolverines’ 40-yard line before sprinting into the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown reception.

The extra-point kick was blocked and the first quarter ended with BEA leading 28-0.

By the time the first half ended, the Bucs had expanded their lead to 54-14.

With many BEA reserves entering the game in the second half, Sibley East had some success moving the ball.

At the end of the third quarter the Bucs led 67-30 which meant the fourth quarter was played with running time.

The final statistics showed BEA having 20 first downs, 509 yards rushing and 72 yards passing for a total of 581 yards.

Sibley East finished with 15 first downs, 147 yards on the ground and 140 yards in the air for a total of 287 yards of offense.

Grandgenett only rushed the ball nine times but he averaged over 31 yards per carry to finish with 280 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Brayden Rhey had 15 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns, Timmy Nagel had six carries for 56 yards and one score and Caden Juba had three rushes for 46 yards.

Grandgenett attempted four passes and completed two for a total of 72 yards and one touchdown. Hauskins had one reception for 67 yards and a touchdown while Jose Salinas added one catch for five yards.

The defense was led by Carter Rosenau who had seven tackles. Joe Bell finished the game with three and a half sacks while Omar Gomez received credit for half a sack. Caden Juba had an interception.

LSH 56, BEA 32

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers football team had their highest point output of the season when they scored 32 points on Oct. 11 against the Le Sueur Giants. Unfortunately, it was not enough and the host Giants came out on top 56-32.

Le Sueur got on the board first on an 18-yard run by quarterback Brody Berndt. Their extra-point attempt failed but the Giants held a 6-0 lead.

BEA’s quarterback, Jacob Grandgenett, evened the score early in the second quarter when he scampered into the end zone from 24 yards out. The extra point failed and the score was tied at 6-6.

The score did not stay tied for long. LSH took the ensuing kickoff and mounted a five-play, 69-yard drive resulting in a 36-yard touchdown run by George Doherty. James Wagner ran the ball in for the two-point conversion to put the Giants on top 14-6.

It was the Bucs’ turn to march down the field. BEA received the LSH kickoff and engineered a seven-play, 70 yard drive which culminated with Grandgenett scoring on a three-yard run. BEA’s two-point conversion failed and LSH remained in the lead 14-12.

After receiving the BEA kickoff, LSH drove 70 yards in eight plays with Wagner on the receiving end of a 15-yard touchdown pass from Berndt. The extra-point kick was good and the first half ended with the Giants leading the Bucs 21-12.

There was plenty of scoring in the second half with LSH scoring five touchdown to three for BEA.

The Bucs’ three second-half touchdowns came on drives of 65, 60 and 58 yards.

Statistics for the game showed that LSH had 26 first downs to 18 for BEA.

The Giants also had the edge in total offense by gaining a total of 432 yards to 346 for the Bucs.

BEA gained 325 yards on the ground and 21 yards through the air while LSH had 241 rushing yards and 191 passing yards.

Grandgenett rushed the ball 23 times for 224 yards and four touchdowns. His longest run was 58 yards. Caden Juba rushed the ball four times for 55 yards, including a run of 49 yards. Gage Barker had four carries for 31 yards.

Grandgenett was 4-for-12 passing for 21 yards. Branson Hauskins had three receptions for 17 yards.

Leading tackler for BEA was Carter Rosenau who was in on 15 tackles and was credited with one quarterback sack. Hunter Viland had eight tackles, Manny Granillo seven, Gage Barker and Grandgenett each had six and Chase Gambell had five.

The Bucs had three turnovers during the game.