“As long as we don’t let them jump out front on us and have them get their confidence, we should do just fine tonight,” said Offensive Coordinator Mike Lundeen minutes before Friday’s Homecoming kickoff at Eppard Field. Little did he know, that’s exactly what happened.

 

Becker’s C.J. Schwintek fielded the opening kick at around his goal line, and was swarmed under by the Huskies coverage and was stripped of the ball. The visitors pounced on the fumble and had a first down at the Becker five yard line just 10 seconds into the game. 

 

On the first play from scrimmage, Nick Mergen plowed over the goal line and Albany had a quick, 7-0 lead.

 

Albany’s sideline was ignited. Players pumped their arms together and high-fived as the kicking team set up for another kickoff to the shaky Bulldogs receiving team.

 

This time though, Schwintek picked the ball clean at the 18 and rambled 22 yards to the 40 where the offense set up shop for the first time.

 

QB Michael Veldman masterfully guided the Bulldogs right down the field in eight plays and Schwintek redeemed himself by carrying the ball five times for 23 yards, scoring the home team’s first TD of the game at the 9:17 mark of the first quarter. A successful two-point conversion put the Bulldogs ahead for good at 8-7.

 

Becker’s defense stiffened on Albany’s second drive of the game, stopping them on a fourth and three  at Becker’s 28 yard line and the offense got the ball back in the hands of Veldman and the potent run and passing game.

 

Veldman again guided the offense down the field, this time in just nine plays and WR Eric Blomgren  finished the drive off with an eight-yard reception, his first of his three TDs of the game to put the Bulldogs up 14-7.

 

The two-point extra points attempt failed and with 3:40 left in the opening quarter, Becker had a one touchdown lead.

 

Just minutes into the second quarter, Veldman and Blomgren hooked up again for another TD, this time from 20 yards out and Becker had a 21-7 lead. 

Schwintek, Beau Pauly, Milan Kent and Veldman all contributed on the drive with essential gains on critical downs. Veldman’s only pass attempt on the drive was the 20-yard score to Blomgren.

 

A three and out by the Huskies on their next possession meant the Bulldogs had the ball back in Husky territory and hungry for more. Five plays later, they made the score 28-7 when Adam Rasmussen took in a seven yard pass from Veldman to score his only TD of the game.

 

Albany put together a decent drive the next time they had the ball, using nine plays to get the nose of the ball to Becker’s 44 yard line. However, they went for a fourth and five pass attempt and failed and the Bulldogs were back in business with five minutes left in the first half.

 

It looked like Becker was going to punch in another score when they methodically moved the ball from the Albany’s 44 to the 23. But Becker also tried and failed on a fourth down attempt and the ball went back to the Huskies for the final drive of the half.

 

Albany received the second half kickoff and seemed to have found their stride as they efficiently marched up the field from their own 35 yard line to score their first TD since the 10 second mark of the game to make it 28-14.

 

The Huskies’ sideline and fan base started feeling better about their team as they appeared to be sneaking right back into the game with that latest score.

 

The game stayed that way for most of the rest of the game until the Bulldogs put the nail in the coffin when Veldman found Blomgren from 25 yards out to score the final TD of the game at the 2:56 mark.

 

The Huskies tried one final drive to muster some big play offense, but the defense stood tall and thwarted Albany to wind out the clock.

 

Veldman finished with 226 yards on 12-of-22 passing and four TD scores.

 

Schwintek had 177 yards on 30 carries and one TD while Pauly had 31 yards on four carries and Veldman six yards on four attempts on the ground.

 

Blomgren’s big night included the three TDs as well as 145 yards on seven catches.

 

Dawson Brown and Pauly led the defense with 12 tackles each and Kent had one sack and three tackles.

 

Becker amassed 438 yards of offense compared to just 255 for Albany. Though Albany outrushed the Bulldogs by seven yards (222 yards to 215), Becker out-passed the Huskies 223 to just 33 for the visitors.

 

Becker accrued 27 first downs to Albany’s 15 and there was only the one turnover in the game, that very first play that turned out to be the only mistake the Bulldogs had the entire night.

 

Next week, the Bulldogs travel to Milaca to take on the Wolves at 7 p.m.