Moving on to championship

PEETZ -- At the semi-finals level of playoffs, a high level of competition is expected. Fans weren't disappointed Saturday as the Peetz Bulldogs battled the Kit Carson Wildcats for the right to the championship game.

The teams couldn't have asked for a much better day with balmy temperatures and just enough wind to remind everyone they were on the Peetz plateau.

The contest started with recognition of veterans present at the game as Saturday was Veterans Day. The game ball was delivered to the field by 1995 Bulldog Nathan Gillham courtesy of a North Colorado Med Evac chopper. The game then took off with the Bulldogs receiving the opening kickoff. Seconds later, the Bulldogs had the first points on the board. Three downs in 45 seconds and Peetz was up 8-0 with the extra-point attempt.

Kit Carson countered at 4:43 in the first quarter. The extra-point attempt missed and the game was at 8-6.

A few seconds later, Peetz runs most of the length of the field, setting up the next Bulldog touchdown. Catching a pass under pressure, the Bulldogs increase their lead to 14-6. With 2:48 left in the first quarter, Kit Carson tied the score at 14 each. With 2:09 left in the first, Peetz scored again for a 22-14 game.

The second quarter started as the second less the penalties incurred by the Bulldogs in the first minutes of the game. At 6:16 in the second quarter, the Bulldogs tallied another touchdown for a 28-16 spread. Peetz then covered its own kickoff, setting up yet another touchdown.

"We played really well," Peetz coach Scott Sorensen said after the game.

With the last seconds falling off the clock, Peetz intercepted a Kit Carson ball for a touchdown. The extra-point resulted in a 38-14 half.

Early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs increased their lead to 46-14. The Bulldogs then tackled the Kit Carson ball carrier, recovered the baled and set up a touchdown for a 54-14 game.

Kit Carson answered back late in the third for their own point drive for a 54-30 third quarter.

Peetz scored one more time for a 62-30 game.

Peetz was penalized six times for 37 yards while Kit Carson was penalized four times for 25 yards.

Peetz had a total of 138 yards passing and 188 yards rushing. Senior Tre Fehringer completed four of five attempts and scored twice rushing for a total of 32 yards. Junior Bryson Long completed two of three for 97 yards and one touchdown. Senior Hunter White completed one of two for nine yards.

In the rushing game. In the rushing game, Long carried the ball 10 times for 39 yards and one touchdown, senior Hunter White carried the ball 10 times for 71 yards, senior Helmuth Wenneker carried the ball 10 times for 41 yards and one touchdown, senior Jake Curlee carried the ball three times for 13 yards and one touchdown and junior Zachary Holtz carried the ball three times for 24 yards.

Wenneker also caught two touchdown passes and 71 yards while Long caught two for 22 yards and one touchdown. Bryson Long lead the team with 158 yards, followed by Wenneker with 112 yards.

As a team, the Bulldogs earned 406 yards offensively. White had 71 yards rushing, Wenneker had 71 yards receiving and 41 yards rushing, junior Xavier Runge had 44 yards receiving.

Defensively, the Bulldogs recorded 53 tackles lead by Hunter White with 14, senior Jake Curlee with 10. The Bulldogs also caused two interceptions for 50 yards, and five sacks for 50 yards loss.

Meanwhile at another part of the state, Cheyenne Wells and Stratton/Liberty were battling it out for their chance at the final round. Stratton/Liberty defeated Cheyenne Wells 46-14. Peetz travels to Stratton, Saturday, Nov. 18 for the championship game.