The Belmond-Klemme football team with a 19 point second half rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit to win at AGWSR on Friday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ. It was the Broncos first win over AGWSR since 2002. AGWSR before the game recognized 10 seniors.
AGWSR found the endzone first on their opening drive with a 65 yard touchdown sprint by Bo Starr, the PAT was blocked and it was 6-0 in the first quarter. The Broncos on the next play from scrimmage had a 72 yard house call by Braeden Wright, to take a 7-6 lead. AGWSR had two big moments in the second quarter to take the lead and keep it going into halftime, Starr rushed in for his second touchdown from 61 yards and completed a two point conversion, then the Cougar defense had a goal line stand inside their own five yard line, to keep AGWSR ahead 14-7.
The Broncos answered with a third quarter 48 yard receiving touchdown by Griffin Paulsen and a eight yard touchdown catch by Braeden Dougherty midway through the fourth to go up 20-14. AGWSR took the lead back at 21-20 on another explosive play by Starr with a 47 yard touchdown catch with 5:42 to go. B-K on the ensuing drive engineered the game winning drive, as Braeden Wright dove into the endzone for the go ahead touchdown and a 26-21 lead with 2:41 to go. The Broncos forced an AGWSR turnover on downs on their final drive to hang on for the win.
Belmond-Klemme Head Coach Josh Faaborg on their second half rally and playing with a next man up mentality.
“A great fought battle, I think really by both sides,” says Faaborg. “We had to light a little fire under our guys at halftime. I think we came out a little flat. The guys really responded well to our halftime message. They came out with a new fire and put together a great second half. Really proud of our next man up mentality. Obviously missing some of our key guys in key spots, a lot of our experience and the guys that stepped in behind them put a fantastic game together last night. Really proud of the win.”
AGWSR Head Coach James Koop’s takeaways from the matchup and playing as a team.
“It’s the best the offense has looked all season. It was a disappointing finish, because the plays we were making the first three and a half quarters, we just could not step up and make on either side of the ball to finish the ball game,” says Koop. “Still plenty of work to do. There was a lot of good things. As I’ve told the team all year, there’s been a lot of frustrating things, but the positive things happen when all 11 guys are doing good things. The negative things happen when we’re all doing things we could do better.”
Braeden Wright had 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Jose Alfaro was 10/14 for 155 passing yards and two touchdowns for the Broncos.
Bo Starr led AGWSR with 215 yards of offense and three touchdowns (two rushing and one receiving)
Belmond-Klemme (2-5, 1-4 A-2) will host West Fork next Friday. AGWSR (1-6, 1-4 A-3) will be at North Butler next Friday.
