In a much-needed victory over Apollo Wednesday, the Becker Bulldogs football team rebounded from a four-game losing streak to shoot down the Eagles at home behind three touchdowns from QB Josh Fobbe to WR Kevyn Vilayphanh.
The 22-7 win moved the Bulldogs to 3-5 while Apollo fell to 4-4.
The Eagles, fresh off a 10-point win over Big Lake the week before, struggled Wednesday against Becker’s defense that featured seven sacks of QB Logan Johnson. Apollo also coughed up the ball twice early in the game, giving Becker good field position and resulting in the first quarter’s only score.
Becker started the game throwing the ball, but soon went to the ground game to grind out yardage and slow down the pass rush. Later, on a play action, Fobbe retreated behind his blockers and launched a 36-yard bomb to Vilayphanh, who reeled in the pass despite good coverage. Following a failed two-point attempt, the home team saw themselves ahead 6-0 on the chilly, brisk night.
Things looked a little dicey in the second quarter when Apollo dinked-and-dunked their way down the field in one of their best drives of the game. After Johnson found John Blommel from five-yards out for a score, the Eagles felt good about themselves when they went up 7-6.
Much to the chagrin of Apollo, the “Fobbe to V” show was just getting started.
While Nick Goth, Kevin Andres, Justin Reichle and Austin Berning laid the groundwork on the Bulldogs’ next drive, it was Vilayphanh pulling in another long pass (30 yards) from Fobbe to put the Bulldogs ahead for good. This time, Joey James plowed over the goal line on the two-point attempt to put the ‘Dawgs up 14-7.
Fobbe and company weren’t done yet as later in the second quarter, with just seconds on the clock, the “Fobbe to V” connection happened for a third time when Vilayphanh caught an 11-yarder from Fobbe to push the lead to 13. Another successful two-pointer meant the Bulldogs were heading into the warm lockerroom up 22-7.
Though no scoring occurred in the second half, the fight continued for both teams in the bend-but-don’t-break final two quarters. Apollo’s QB, Johnson, took a beating as teammates had to hoist his body off the ground following the brutal sacks the Bulldogs enveloped him with.
Isaac Koop led Becker with six tackles while Mikey James had five including two sacks, three tackles for losses and two assists. Brayden Weber was all over the field as he recorded four tackles, two sacks, three tackles for losses and two assists. The other sacks came from Brandon Gustafson (two) and Riley Morrell (one).
The two teams ran 126 plays (Becker-62, Apollo-64) with Becker accumulating 347 total yards compared to Apollo’s 184. The Bulldogs were balanced, getting 195 yards through the air and 152 on the ground.
Apollo had 138 yards passing and just 48 yards rushing.
Vilayphanh finished with six catches for 96 yards and the three TDs. Carter Hietala had four catches for 37 yards including one for 17 yards.
Fobbe looked good, despite his limitations in running the ball with his leg injury. He completed 19 passes in 26 attempts for 195 yards and the three scores. His only blemish was an interception in the end zone in which he and “V” were trying to hook up for a fourth TD.
Goth tallied 63 yards on the ground in 15 carries. Berning had 41 yards on five carries including a 30-yard gallop in the second half. Andres carried the ball seven times for 26 yards.
Reichle, unfortunately, suffered a broken collarbone early in the first half and didn’t return in Becker’s final regular season game of the season.
Up Next
Becker will play Tuesday at home against Foley at 7 p.m. in the first round of the 6AAAA playoffs. The winner would advance to play Saturday at the higher seeds home field before playing for the section championship in Monticello Nov. 2.
