The Becker Bulldog football team hosted their first home game of the season against crosstown rival, Big Lake.

Becker was coming off a week one win over Spring Lake Park, this following Chisago Lakes canceling their opener with Becker and Delano dropping last week’s game — both due to COVID-19 concerns.

Big Lake came into the contest 0-2 after playing Rocori in their first matchup (losing 24-8) and Hutchinson the second week (losing 24-7). It got no easier as they descended upon Becker last Friday night for a chilly encounter with the #6-ranked, Class AAAA Becker Bulldogs.

Big Lake had little chance Friday as Becker dominated on both sides of the ball.

The Bulldogs ran 54 plays and garnered 331 totals yards. Big Lake ran 46 plays for just 61 yards. Becker amassed 15 first downs to Big Lake’s seven.

The game started slow as both teams worked to get their cleats to grip the frozen turf and for the crisp fall (winter?) air to not be a bother. Near the end of the first quarter, Becker finally broke through when Carter Callahan plowed through several defenders from four yards out to dent the scoreboard. The extra point failed when the snap soared through the holder’s fingers and into kicker Zack Bengtson’s hands. Bengtson attempted a pass to the end zone but it dropped to the field for “no good.”

Much of the second quarter played out like the first, with a few more penalties and a couple turnovers. Very late in the half, QB Ryan Bengtson found Landen Goebel from 25 yards for the team’s second score. Luke Eigen completed the scoring with an incredible diving catch in the back of the end zone to put Becker up 14-0 with just seconds to go.

Again, the Hornets played valiantly despite the final score, but they just couldn’t break the plane of the end zone against Becker. Mitchell Louden was outstanding for the Bulldogs as he finished with 10 tackles, two QB sacks, one blocked punt and a blocked pass attempt. Joe Goth and Brayden Weber also had QB sacks as Becker tallied 35 tackles.

Becker finished with punting just once while Big Lake toed the ball six times.

Big Lake’s QB Brandon Stern attempted 11 passes and completed just four for 21 yards. He led the team in rushing with 24 yards on eight carries and he was the victim of one interception.

The Hornets gained just 47 yards on the ground compared to Becker’s 198 and their receivers only netted 21 yards on four receptions while Becker had 135 yards on eight catches.

In the third, Bengtson found Caden Dewall from 32 yards out to put the Bulldogs up by three scores. The two-point attempt failed and the home team marched into the final 12 minutes with a comfortable 20-0 lead.

Callahan and Mason Rach completed the scoring for Becker in the final quarter as Callahan pushed the pile for a one-yard TD and Rach galloped for eight yards for the final tally. Callahan finished with 66 yards on 10 carries and two scores while Kyle Millard notched 69 yards on six carries.

Up Next

For Becker, the road gets extremely difficult as they face Rocori (ranked #5 in Class 4A this week then head to Hutchinson (ranked #1) to play Friday, Nov. 6. They close out the shortened, six-game season with a home game against Willmar, Thurs., Nov. 12.

Big Lake will take on winless Delano today (Sat.) for Homecoming, then play at Willmar Nov. 6 and host Chisago Lakes Wed., Nov. 11 to end the regular season.