Bulldogs fall 31-8 to sixth ranked Cowboys in homecoming game
Sports | Published on October 7, 2026 at 5:35pm EDT | Author: Kendall Koenen
0By Chad Koenen
Publisher
A 10-8 game midway through the first half, the sixth Breckenridge Cowboys were able to pull away with a late touchdown in the second quarter and a pair of touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to come away with a 31-8 win over Otter Tail Central on Friday night.
The Bulldogs put themselves behind the eight ball a bit in the first quarter following a pair of costly fumbles, which led to 10 Cowboy points. Todd Bjerke put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when he caught a 14-yard pass in the end zone to make the score 10-6. The Bulldogs converted the two-point conversion to make the score 10-8 in favor of Breckenridge. Unfortunately, the Cowboys broke loose later in the quarter on a long 38-yard touchdown run to make the score 17-8 heading into the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Cowboys put the game on ice with a pair of touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to come away with a 31-8 win.
As a team, Breckenridge outgained the Bulldogs by a 279-161 margin, with both teams finding a bulk of their success on the ground with Breckenridge accounting for 254 yards rushing and OTC rushing for 130 yards.
The Cowboys also held an advantage by picking up 18 first downs, compared to just seven for the Bulldogs.
Erik Stans led the way passing as he went 4-7 for 31 yards and a touchdown, while he also led the team with 55 yards on the ground. Keaston Thorpe finished with 45 yards rushing on just nine attempts. Bjerke was the leading receiver with 14 yards on one catch.
With the loss the Bulldogs fall to 2-3 on the season as they travel to Parkers Prairie on Friday night to take on the 3-2 Panthers team. The Panthers are receiving votes in the state rankings as they have won three straight games after falling to fourth ranked Upsala-Swanville 30-8 in the opener and sixth ranked Breckenridge 7-6 on Saturday, Sept. 12.
In the past three weeks the Panthers have defeated New York Mills 42-8, Menahga 56-18 and Frazee 33-6. They come into the game averaging 29 points per game on offense, while surrendering 13.8 points per game on the defensive end of the field.
OTC is averaging 14.4 points per game on offense, while giving up 21.2 points per game on defense.
PASSING (comp-att-yds-td)- Erik Stans 4-7-31-1, E. Misegades 0-1
RUSHING (att-yds)- E. Stans 8-55, K. Thorpe 9-45, T. Loghry 3-14, R. Christensen 4-8, D. Rogers 2-8
RECEIVING (rec-yds)- T. Bjerke 1-14, 1 TD, M. Brandborg 1-11, K. Thorpe 2-6