Quarterback Jack Mekalson takes off around the corner during the first half of Thursday’s football game against Goodridge/Grygla in Battle Lake. The Bulldogs won the game by a score of 20-0.
Tyler Christensen pulls down a Charger runner during Thursday’s 9-man game in Battle Lake.

A new era of football is underway at Otter Tail Central as the Bulldogs opened their 2023 season against Goodridge/Grygla. The game was the first for OTC as a 9-man football program, after spending the past several seasons in Class A.

The Bulldogs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard when Jack Mekalson threw his first of two touchdown passes in the first half when he compelted a 29-yard pass in the end zone to Teigan Bjerke to give OTC a 6-0 lead over the Chargers. 

With just 4 seconds remaining in the first half, Mekalson connected with his second touchdown pass of the half and Lane Dilly converted the two-point conversion to make the score 14-0 at halftime.

Mason Dalluge follows a lead block set by Christopher Fronning on Thursday night.

The final score of the night was on a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Mekalson with just 9:45 left int he game to make the score 20-0. 

The Bulldogs had a fairly balanced attack on Thursday night as they rushed for 143 yards and had 178 yards through the air (due to the Labor Day holiday the individual stats were not available at the time of press).

OTC will take their show on the road this week as they travel down Highway 210 to take on the Underwood Rockets in Underwood.