SANFORD – The Sanford High School football team played at home for the first time this season on Friday, but it had a tough task as the Mustangs hosted perennial powerhouse Haxtun at the SHS field.
The Fightin’ Bulldogs proved their reputation in a big way as they defeated the Mustangs by a score of 60-0.
Haxtun just had too many weapons on offense.
“There’s a reason they’ve been in the Final 4 and the championship game the last four or five years now,” said Sanford coach Cody Reynolds. “They’re a solid program.”
The Bulldogs scored one all but one of their possessions.
“Coming in, I found only two plays where they actually punted,” Reynolds said. “One of those games they lost. But they have a very potent offense.”
It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to get on the scoreboard as it took only three plays to get into the end zone. Quarterback Carter Lock ran the ball 40 yards to get into Sanford territory, and Grant Statz scored the first touchdown on a 1-yard run. Statz also scored the two-point conversion and Haxtun led 8-0 just 32 seconds into the ball game.
The Mustangs got just short of midfield on their first possession but punted the ball away. Statz scored his second touchdown of the night, this time on a 17-yard run, and he again scored on the two-point play and Haxtun increased its lead to 16-0.
The Bulldogs then got the first takeaway of the game as Collin Cone intercepted Trason Gartrell. They scored on the next play with Statz running 50 yards for the touchdown. Tate Michael scored on t5he two-point conversion and Haxtun had a 24-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs scored one more time in the first quarter with Cone running 66 yards for the touchdown. This time the two-point conversion attempt was stopped, but Haxtun led 30-0.
The Bulldogs increased the lead early in the second quarter as Statz scored his fourth touchdown, this time on an 11-yard run. The two-point attempt came up short but Haxtun led 36-0.
A Sanford fumble led to Haxtun’s next touchdown. Ryan Davis went to the end zone on a 23-yard run, and he also scored the two-point conversion. The Bulldogs led 44-0 and the rest of the game was played under a running clock.
Haxtun got one more score before the half with Cone tossing a 63-yard scoring strike to Kanin Koberstein. Cone scored the two-point play and the Bulldogs had a 52-0 lead at the intermission.
Sanford got onto the Haxtun side of the field on its first possession of the second half. However, the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the scoring late in the third quarter with Cone throwing a 34-yard touchdown to Madden Larsen. Cone then threw to Koberstein for the two-point conversion.
Sanford again entered Haxtun territory on its next drive, but once again turned the ball over on downs.
The Mustangs got their first stop of the night late in the game, and once again attempted a scoring drive. But they again turned the ball over on downs as the game ended.
Sanford managed only 136 yards of total offense with 111 coming on the ground. Gartrell led the running game with 71 yards on 24 carries. Rylan Mortensen was next with 24 yards on seven carries.
Gartrell completed only one of 10 pass attempts for 25 yards. J.D. Faucette had the only reception.
Haxtun, however, rolled up 464 yards of total offense – 351 rushing and 113 passing.
The Bulldogs had two 100-yard rushers. Statz ran for 107 yards on six carries, and Cone had 100 yards on four carries.
Cone also completed three out of four passes for 96 yards.
Sanford (1-2) will host Fowler this coming Friday at 7 p.m.
“Fowler’s a strong team and they’re always tough,” Reynolds said. “They’re a solid team as well.”
Haxtun 60, Sanford 0
Haxtun 30 22 8 0 – 60
Sanford 0 0 0 0 – 0
First quarter
H – Statz 1 run (Statz run), 11:28
H – Statz 17 run (Statz run), 4:47
H – Statz 50 run (Michael run), 3:48
H – Cone 66 run (run failed), 1:45
Second quarter
H – Statz 11 run (run failed), 10:47
H – Davis 23 run (Davis run), 10:17
H – Koberstein 63 pass from Cone (Cone run), 3:56
Third quarter
H – Larsen 34 pass from Cone (Koberstein pass from Cone), 3:04
