OTC to host playoff game on Saturday in Battle Lake

Photo by Chad Koenen
William Schwartz chases down Hancock quarterback Brady Luthi during Wednesday’s regular season finale in Henning.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The fourth ranked Otter Tail Central Bulldogs capped off a perfect regular season with a 37-6 win over Hancock on Wednesday night. The win improves the Bulldogs to 8-0 in their first season of 9-man football as they prepare for the Section 4 9-man playoffs, which begins this week. 

Anthony Rousu and Chris Fronning attempt to posses an Otter Tail Central squib kick during last Wednesday’s game against Hancock.

OTC wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard on Wednesday night as Mason Dalluge caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jack Mekalson. It was the first of three touchdown receptions for Dalluge in the first half on Wednesday.

Later in the first quarter, Dalluge caught his second touchdown of the game when Mekalson found him on a 12-yard pass to take a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Chris Fronning scored on a 20-yard run to make the score 22-0, before Dalluge scored his third touchdown of the game when he caught a 17-yard pass from Mekalson to make the score 30-0 at halftime. 

Mason Dalluge catches one of his 3 touchdown passes in the back of the end zone on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs continued to find success on the ground and the air on Wednesday when Fronning scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run to give OTC a 37-0 lead. 

Hancock scored its lone touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter to leave the final score at 37-6. 

OTC held Hancock to just 130 yards of total offense in the game, while amassing 296 yards of their own. OTC picked up 17 first downs in the game, compared to just 8 for the Owls. 

Mekalson led the way offensively by going 9-19 through the air for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns. Braxtyn Cameron went 1-1 passing for 6 yards.

Lane Dilly led the team rushing with 73 yards on 14 carries, while Fronning rushed for a pair of touchdowns and 52 yards on 11 carries. Cameron rushed 2 times for 27 yards, Memphis Nelson rushed 2 times for 13 yards, Mekalson rushed 2 times for 4 yards, Dalluge rushed 1 time for 4 yards, Cayden Dittberner rushed 2 times for 4 yards and Xavier Lewis rushed 2 times for 1 yard.

Senior Cayden Dittnerber races down the sidelines after catching a pass on Wednesday night.

Dalluge had a big night receiving as he caught 7 passes for 92 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dilly caught 1 pass for 15 yards and Dittberner caught 2 passes for 11 yards. 

The Bulldogs, who are 8-0 on the season, received the top seed in the Section 4 9-man playoffs. They received a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will host either fourth seeded Hancock or fifth seeded Rothsay on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Battle Lake. 

The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to the section championship game, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 11:30 a.m. in the FargoDome.

On the other side of the bracket, second seeded Border West will host seventh seeded Ortonville in the opening round, while third seeded Underwood will host sixth seeded Hillcrest.