OUTLOOK — The LCBI Bisons have enjoyed a more prosperous football season this year, garnering a record of two wins and one loss in the six‑man 1A conference league.
Before hosting the Hanley Sabers in home action on Thursday, Oct. 2, the Bisons’ game record so far this year saw one loss against the Sabers back on Sept. 12 at a score of 46‑15 before LCBI started picking up victories on Sept. 19 against Gull Lake at a score of 60‑8 and another win against Central Butte on Sept. 26 at a score of 61‑22.
However, the rematch against the visiting Sabers on Oct. 2 was certainly a test for the Bisons, and ultimately, the end result showed that Hanley is still a fierce opponent that LCBI has yet to defeat in game action.
The first quarter saw a nice catch at the 10:22 mark on the clock by LCBI #87 Eli Hundeby, leading to a first down for the team. The Bisons carried the momentum, with #28 Tyler Wright managing to carry the ball within inches of the end zone. This allowed LCBI to do just that afterward, with #8 Knute Gjesdal nabbing the first touchdown of the game for the home team at the 8:19 mark, with the convert being good. However, this spurred the Sabers to dig deep and find a way to forge ahead swiftly, as they recovered a fumble to take the ball back and went on to score three touchdowns over the next few minutes, with #88 Maddox Haraldson scoring two at the 5:03 and 3:29 marks, both convert kicks being good, and #23 Barrett Kempton scoring a touchdown for Hanley to end the quarter, convert being good.
The second quarter saw the action on the field slow down quite a bit compared to the previous portion of time, as the Bisons were hoping to make a comeback. Things were looking good for LCBI when #28 Wright scored his second touchdown of the day at 5:18, convert being good. However, Hanley came right back two minutes later with another touchdown by #23 Kempton, convert kick being good. As time ticked away, the Sabers remained in control, and with 12 seconds left in the first half of this game, #80 Brady Anderson scored a touchdown after making an impressive catch, convert kick being good.
At the half, the score was 40‑16 for Hanley.
Things picked up in the third quarter, with the Sabers in control at the 10:50 mark with a touchdown scored by #62 Cody Moyle, convert kick being good. However, LCBI turned things around just 23 seconds later when #28 Wright nabbed a touchdown on a long run downfield, convert kick being good. The comeback for the home team was short‑lived, though, as Hanley #88 Haraldson scored a touchdown in a long run down the entire field, with the convert being good. The Sabers were then able to recover a fumble by the Bisons in order to maintain control of the ball, which led to #7 Grayson Libke making a touchdown for the visitors, convert good. A few minutes later, Sabers #80 Anderson scored another touchdown for his team at 3:44, convert good. As the minutes ticked down, LCBI dug deep and answered back with another touchdown of their own scored by #87 Hundeby with just 25 seconds left, convert good.
Taking things into the fourth and final quarter, the Bisons kept things rolling with another touchdown at 10:18 by #87 Hundeby on a long run down the field, convert being good. The last touchdown of this game would be made by the visiting Sabers, as #80 Anderson scored at the 7:47 mark, convert being good. From there, both teams fought for possession of the ball and position on the field as the clock ticked away.
When all was said and done, the Hanley Sabers left the field the victors at a score of 80‑40 over the hosting Bisons.
Hanley’s next game will be on Oct. 9 when they host Central Butte, while LCBI will visit Gull Lake the same day to take on the hosting Lions. LCBI’s next home game is scheduled for Oct. 17 when Central Butte comes to town.
