Cam Hodges looks for running room against the JWP Bulldogs.

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers’ Homecoming football game against the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Bulldogs turned into a two-day affair when lightning strikes on the night the game was scheduled to be played (Sept. 18) caused the contest to be completed the next day on the afternoon of Sept. 19.

Statistically, the game was close with the Bucs actually producing more yards on offense than the Bulldogs. However, JWP ended up coming out on top in the statistic that mattered, defeating BEA 21-0.

The start of the game had already been delayed by 30 minutes because of a lightning strike when JWP received the opening kickoff and put together a sustained drive of 13 plays covering 51 yards for a touchdown with 5:35 left to play in the first quarter. The PAT kick was good and the Bulldogs had a 7-0 lead.

The Bucs received the ensuing kickoff at their own 17-yard line and returned it 26 yards to the 43-yard line.

BEA picked up a first down on their second play from scrimmage but they fumbled the ball on the next play and JWP recovered at the Bulldogs’ 40-yard line.

JWP was able to run three plays before the game was called because of more lightning strikes.

The field was still damp and there was a light mist when the game resumed at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon with 2:48 remaining to play in the first quarter.

BEA put together a 10-play, 65-yard drive during the second quarter but missed the opportunity to score when another fumble turned the ball over to JWP at the Bulldogs’ 17-yard line.

Neither team was able to score in the second quarter and JWP took a 7-0 lead into the halftime intermission.

BEA was once again able to move the ball in the second half but JWP’s bend-but-not-break defense stymied the Bucs’ ability to get the ball across the goal line.

An interception and return by the Bulldogs gave the visitors good field position at the Bucs’ 18-yard line near the end of the third quarter. JWP needed five plays to get the ball into the end zone for their second TD of the game. The extra-point kick was good and the Bulldogs lead increased to 14-0.

JWP added another touchdown and PAT in the fourth quarter to go home with the 21-0 victory.

The statistics showed the Bulldogs with 14 first downs to 12 for the Bucs. However, BEA held the edge in total yards on offense by a 191 to 171 margin over JWP.

The Bucs rushed for 114 yards and had 77 yards passing The Bulldogs gained most of their yards through the air with 142 while only rushing for 32 yards.

A big difference in the game was turnovers. JWP recovered their one and only fumble while BEA lost both of their fumbles and had two interceptions.

Quarterback Caden Juba led BEA in rushing with 53 yards on nine carries. David Bautista picked up 48 yards on 14 carries and Cam Hodges had 13 yards on four carries.

Juba completed 13 of his 25 pass attempts for 77 yards.

Jack Bell had six receptions for 25 yards, Will Weerts caught two passes for 19 yards, Cam Hodges snagged two passes for 13 yards and Dylan Preuss had two receptions for seven yards.

On defense the Bucs were led by Juba with nine tackles followed by John Nelson with eight, Hayden Prestegard and Ryder Stauffer with seven each and Colton Tolzmann who had five tackles and a sack.

BEA had a bye on Sept. 25. They will return to action on Friday, Oct. 2 when they host the Medford Tigers. They will be on the road on Oct. 8 when they travel to St. Clair to take on the St. Clair/Loyola Spartans and again on Wednesday, Oct. 14 when the Bucs will take on the Maple River Eagles at Mapleton. BEA’s final regular season game is Tuesday, Oct. 20, when they host Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at Wilson Field in Blue Earth.