Any time Sidney Boros touches the ball — whether it is on kickoffs, punt returns, screen passes or handoffs — the odds are pretty good he’s gonna break one. And break one he did — actually three times —  Tuesday as Becker routed Princeton in the first round of the Section 6AAAA playoffs, 42-12.

 

With the win, Becker advances to play at Delano Saturday at 7 p.m.

 

In their second game of the year back on Sept. 8, the Bulldogs faced the Tigers a week after outscoring Chisago Lakes, 56-44 in the season opener. Becker easily dispatched of the Tigers then (56-0), so Princeton came into Tuesday’s game as a heavy underdog.

 

The game started very poorly for the Tigers as on their second play from scrimmage, Nick Mittelstaedt jumped in front of the receiver and intercepted the pass at Princeton’s 43 yard line. It took Becker just six plays to garner a score as Josh Fobbe found Lucas Dertinger in the corner of the end zone for six.

 

Dertinger was swarmed by two Tiger defenders — but he out-muscled both of them for the ball and the score. The drive was highlighted by Boros’ 24 yards on the ground and a pin-point pass from Fobbe.

 

On Princeton’s next possession, they went three-and-out and Becker got the ball back at their 39-yard line. Coaches Dwight and Mike Lundeen slipped a twist into the game and inserted WR Alex Blomgren in the backfield next to Boros. Blomgren’s first run was for no gain,but then he rambled for nine, then four before the drive brought the Bulldogs to the six-yard line. Blomgren got the call again and he punished the Tiger tacklers as he crossed the goal line for Becker’s second score.

 

Princeton finally  started finding their stride on their next possession, holding the ball for 16 plays — culminating in a field goal attempt from 30 yards out. The kick didn’t make it 20 yards and Becker took over on downs.

 

It was Boros time.

 

On the first play from the 18, Boros took the handoff from Fobbe and dashed past everyone enroute to an 82-yard score. With the extra point, the Bulldogs were up 21-0 with 6:56 to go in the first half.

 

This time, Princeton used all four downs to try and muster some offense — but they failed. Becker stopped them on fourth and four at their own 49 and the Bulldogs took over.

 

Again, it was Boros time.

 

A screen pass to Boros looked innocent enough, but he followed his blockers, calculated the options and burst through the defense for a 51-yard TD. It was  28-0 with 4:29 still left on the clock.

 

Things got worse for Princeton as Jacob Chase fumbled on second down and Travis Ferris pounced on the loose ball at the Tiger 46.

 

Fobbe negotiated a brilliant drive down the filed, managing the clock and utilizing Boros, Blomgren, Austin Hemmelgarn and Kevin Andres on runs. Blomgren almost scored from 17 yards out with seconds to go when he was tackled at the three-yard line. Fobbe dropped back as the clock timed out, ran around the end, but just failed to make the dive across the goal line as time expired.

 

Becker’s first possession of the second half began at their own 20 and the Bulldogs went six plays before punting to Princeton’s 27.

 

The Tigers felt rejuvenated as they converted two first downs and drove to Becker’s one-yard line before QB James Flicek leapt into the end zone. Their two-point conversion attempt failed and with 6:44 to go in the third, the Tigers trailed 28-6.