Bennington Badgers Dominate Norfolk 58-0, Improve to 5-0

2–4 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas

A football player wearing a blue helmet and a white jersey with blue stripes is evading a tackle from an opponent in a maroon jersey on a football field.
Braydan Kloster jumps past a Norfolk defender to gain some yards.

Coming off a tight, physical win over Creighton Prep, the Bennington Badgers delivered a statement performance Friday night, blanking Norfolk 58-0 in a non-conference road game and improving to 5-0.

The Badgers exploded for 35 points in the first quarter and never looked back, rolling to a decisive victory while setting a school record with five fumble recoveries on defense.

Head Coach Kam Lenhart praised his team’s response and energy from the opening kickoff.

“Our focus all week was putting together a complete game. I thought our players did that from the moment we kicked off the game. It was great to see a fast start, and I’m even more proud that our younger players were able to come in and play with the same intensity and demeanor,” Lenhart said.

A high school football player in a white and blue jersey, number 20, runs with the ball while being pursued by defenders during a night game.

The ground game led the offensive charge. Running back William Gutz (pictured above) rushed for 184 yards and four touchdowns on just 11 carries. Jacob Workman added 45 yards and a score on 11 carries, while quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo contributed 50 rushing yards on four attempts and completed 3 of 4 passes for 40 yards. Mason Bluhm went 5-for-7 for 30 yards through the air.

Braydan Kloster hauled in two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, and Lane Molacek returned a kickoff 55 yards for a score. Additionally, Kaleb Tysor added a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery. Jake Crawford handled the kicking duties, converting all eight extra-point attempts. 

Lenhart credited the offensive line and receivers for paving the way.

“It was a combination of our OL and WRs blocking through the whistle while our running backs did a great job at getting vertical quickly,” he said.

A high school football game in progress, showcasing a tackle where a player in maroon is being brought down by a player in blue. Other players are visible in the background, highlighting the competitive atmosphere.

The defense was equally dominant, holding Norfolk to zero points and forcing five fumbles recovered by Demarcus Perkins (pictured above), Kaleb Tysor, Jay Stahlecker, Cohen Detjens and Chase Ladenburger. The unit also recorded three sacks from Perkins, Cooper Heller and Brody Lichty.

“They played very fast as soon as the ball was snapped and did a great job taking the ball away. Our defense broke the school record for most fumble recoveries in a game with 5,” Lenhart said of the shutout effort.

Through five games, Lenhart sees clear growth in his team.

“When we play a complete game, we are a very tough team to beat. Our players are doing better every week by focusing on their job and making sure they do it to the best of their abilities. We have to continue to take steps forward in this area to get to where we want to be,” he said.

A high school football game in progress, featuring two players in white uniforms with blue accents exchanging the football, while another teammate stands nearby. The field appears wet, with a lively atmosphere.
Mason Bluhm hands the ball off to Vincent Carosella to start the play.

With the regular season halfway complete, Bennington turns its attention to another road test against Kearney this Friday. Lenhart identified specific areas for improvement as the competition intensifies.

“I would like to see our offense become more balanced in the run/pass game. I think doing so will cause a great challenge for any opponent we face. Defensively, we have to continue to improve in the area of tackling. We want to see our missed tackle percentage go down every week,” he said. “Lastly, we still have opportunities to take the ball away that we are missing. Any chance we have, we have to capitalize on those moments!”

A high school football game in progress, featuring players in blue and white jerseys tackling an opponent in a maroon jersey on the field.
A football player in a white jersey with 'Bennington' printed on it is throwing a football while being pursued by a defender wearing a maroon jersey. The scene takes place on a football field in an evening setting.
A high school football player in a blue uniform evades two defenders in a game, with a crowd of spectators in the background.
A football player in a white uniform with blue stripes, wearing a helmet, prepares to pass the ball on the field during a night game, with two opposing players crouching in front.
A football player in a blue uniform prepares to kick a football held by a teammate on the field, while an opposing player in maroon approaches in defense.
A football player in a white uniform with blue accents, wearing the number 20, runs with the ball while evading defenders on a sports field at night.
A football player in a blue and white uniform running with the ball on the field, surrounded by other players in action.
A football player in a blue jersey is being tackled by an opponent in a maroon jersey on a field.
A football player in a blue and white uniform evades an opponent in a maroon uniform during a night game on a well-lit field.
A football player in a white uniform evades a tackle while running with the ball, as other players in blue and maroon jerseys pursue him on a well-lit field.
A football player wearing a blue and white jersey runs on the field during a night game, with teammates celebrating in the background.
A football player wearing a white and blue uniform evades a tackle from a player in maroon while running with the ball during a game at night, with spectators in the background.
A nighttime high school football game scene, featuring players in blue and maroon uniforms. One player in blue is lying on the ground, while others are engaged in a tackle, with a referee observing the action in the background.
A high school football game in progress, with a player in a maroon jersey being tackled by defenders in blue and white jerseys on a wet field.
A high school football game scene with players in blue and maroon uniforms. A blue player is being tackled by two maroon players while another maroon player is in the background. The field is illuminated under the night sky.
A tense moment in a nighttime high school football game, featuring players in blue and maroon uniforms. A player in blue (#1) attempts to tackle an opponent wearing maroon (#58) as teammates look on, revealing the intensity of competition on the field.
A high school football player in a blue jersey evades a referee while running on the field during a nighttime game. The crowd in the background is watching the action closely.
A high school football game scene with players in action. One player in a maroon jersey is diving toward the goal line while being tackled by defenders in blue jerseys. Spectators are visible in the background, and the field is illuminated at night.
A group of high school football players in white and blue uniforms celebrating a touchdown on a night game, with spectators in the background.
A high school football player wearing a white and blue jersey, number 48, prepares to throw a football during a night game. Other players and spectators are visible in the background.
A high school football player wearing a blue helmet and jersey runs with the ball, while teammates support from the left. The field is illuminated and wet from rain.
A football player in a blue uniform, number 25, is attempting to navigate through a pile of players during a game. Several players from both teams are engaged in the tackle.
A football player wearing blue and white uniform prepares to kick the ball during a game, with teammates lined up behind him on the field at night.
A high school football player in a blue jersey with the number 48 runs on the field while being pursued by a player in a maroon jersey with the number 47.
Three football players in blue and white uniforms running on a field during a night game.

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